Is a 3.5 GPA Freshman year bad?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi. So I go to a really tough school, it’s the top high school in Texas #23 nationally, basically there is only one person with all A’s in our grade (not bragging or anything just providing some context). I have a 3.5 UW GPA and a 3.8 Weighted GPA. I’m looking to get into colleges like Rice University, UC Berkeley, UT Austin, Duke, Vanderbilt. I feel like this GPA is way too low for colleges like this, however I have extracurriculars to support it. I’m currently the historian of my class, I have joined UNICEF, Debate Club, and HOSA. We don’t have any sports so there’s no route that way. Outside of school I have started an online community and organization that changes set perceptions about the Middle East. I also like to travel and photograph different areas that people rarely visit. I have also secured a spot to study abroad during the summer of my junior year.
So my main question is, that if I maintain an upward trend and get good SAT/ACT scores, will I have a high chance of getting accepted into said colleges? (I know UC colleges have different ways of doing stuff and they don’t regard freshman year)

Thank you so much!

2

You’re probably not competitive for Berkeley. 94% of admitted freshmen had a higher GPA than that.

You seem to have quite a few extra-curriculars. Would it help to spend more time on your classes to get that GPA up and do less of the ECs?

3

Your GPA doesn’t define everything. It’s only freshman year. Colleges would rather see you go from a 3.5 to a 4 than from a 4 to a 3.5. You’re doing fine just keep working. And why are you making this thread? Don’t mean to be harsh, but what is this thread going to do? Say: “No you’re not”, “Yes you are”. What will our answers do to help you?

4

You can still get about a 3.9 uw so I wouldn’t worry too much. I know UCB looks at 10th and 11th grade GPA so just do your best from now on.