How to explain inconsistent first-year GPA?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm a freshman at a very selective liberal arts college applying to Northwestern and G-town</p>

<p>I sent both schools my lousy first semester transcript (3.45 ish). And now, I'm preparing to send them a midterm report (3.8 ish).</p>

<p>I will very likely finish second semester with a 3.8+ GPA and a 3.6+ cumulative average.</p>

<p>HOWEVER, I won't be able to send my final transcript until approximately a week after both schools begin their review processes.</p>

<p>So I'm planning to send a midterm report to show to show my improved grades. I thought it might be wise to include a very short letter explaining my situation (perhaps explaining that I took some of the most demanding courses available to freshmen), since I feel like the most logical (or at least most generous) step for the admissions committee to take would be to say "try again next year when we have more grades."</p>

<p>I really don't have anything to lose at this point, since I have a feeling I'm currently in the "deny" pile: how can I address this, and beg them to consider my second semester grades with more weight, in a letter that I can include with my midterm report??</p>

2

<p>All nearly verbatim from my academic advisor:
Admission officers love positive trends, especially in your freshman year. Many freshmen take a whole semester to adjust to the faster, tougher pace of college, so by seeing a positive trend they can assume you became well-adjusted and will continue to show good performance.</p>

<p>I would send them a letter explaining that your classes weren’t challenging. You could say you weren’t prepared and were blindsided by all the work, or something of the like, and now that you’re adjusted, you’re ready to keep improving. However, I don’t know that they’ll pay much attention to it, or even read it. These guys are under such heavy load, I’m positive they’d rather just see a rise in numbers than a letter assuring them your performance has improved.
Just my opinion, though.</p>