<p>It’s not all about the grades. You also need to have outstanding community service accomplishments and academic awards. Nonetheless, many colleges don’t even look at your freshman year, and for the ones that do, getting good grades in more difficult classes is more important anyways.</p>
<p>On another note, I must ask the OP a question. Why do you even want to go to Columbia? The point of this question is not to denounce Columbia. What I want you to figure out is your motive for going to a top ranked school. If you browse the web, you will be able to find plenty of stories about students who do not attain stellar grades in high school, yet are admitted to top tier schools. They have one thing in common: all seek knowledge voraciously. The way you report your success in classes (and lack thereof) with percentages makes you seem like you care about grades more than the actual content of the courses. I don’t mean to condemn your pursuit of excellence, as I too enjoy seeing my hard work reflected in good grades. You may find that my words come off as naive- as if I have some innocent view that grades are not even important, in the long run- but I hope that you realize during your high school career that, in fact, that the opposite belief is naive, namely that getting good grades, attending top schools, and, eventually, becoming wealthy, will make you happy.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t mean to come off as a philosopher, or even someone who truly understands knowledge and happiness. I just want to make sure that you’ve got the right motives for what you’re doing. No offense, by the way.</p>