<p>I'm currently just a sophomore in high school, and I'm worried that my freshman GPA might hurt my chances at Princeton and other colleges i might want to apply to. Princeton is my first choice (at least now, i know it is WAY to early to single out a school) because i've met many alumni who are very accomplished, and also because of the atmosphere and location. I'm worried because in my freshman year i got a 3.3 GPA. Luckily, some teachers at my school allow you to make up some grades, so i might be able to get my freshman year GPA up to a 3.5 or so. So far this year, my GPA is a 3.8 taking some very difficult classes (4 AP, 3 honors) and I'm still working on study habits to try to improve further. I'm pretty confident that i'll be able to put together an impressive application when the time comes, but my GPA will never be higher than around a 3.7/8 unweighted, or about a 4.1-4.2 weighted. I run track and play basketball and golf all very well (varsity track and golf this year, basketball next year), i have an internship lined up at a toxicology lab at the U of U for once i turn 16, and i test very well. I've also played piano for 9 years and won quite a few awards for it. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there is any truth to schools like Princeton not considering Freshman GPA as a factor, and also if anyone knows what i can do now to make up for a low-end GPA.</p>
<p>You’re in luck, Princeton doesn’t consider grades from freshman year. Worry aborted :).</p>
<p>Eatingfood is right - Princeton doesn’t look at your freshman grades.</p>
<p>Is it a 3.3 unweighted?</p>
<p>It’s true that Princeton doesn’t even look, and you seemed to have stepped it up.</p>
<p>But remember- Freshman grades DO count towards your class rank at your school, and rank is very important.</p>
<p>Yes, 3.3 is unweighted freshman GPA. Im not quite sure what type of GPA is required at my school to be in the top 10% but i know that they give you class rank based on your weighted GPA. I’ve heard students say that if you have about a 4.1 weighted you can be in the top 10% here. They weight our grades by adding .02 to your GPA for every full year of an honors class you take and .04 for every full year of an AP class.</p>
<p>^
Ideally, try to aim for top 5%.</p>
<p>Freshman grades do not count. And if your freshman grades are markedly worse than the rest of your grades, the admissions office will realize the effect this will have on your class rank. They only use class rank as a means to an end, the end of determining your academic performance, and will adjust their perception of whatever the number happens to be according to the narrative told by your application. You should be fine.</p>
<p>I’d be more worried about a 3.8 this year. Wait, wait, don’t jump on me!.. A 3.8 is perfectly respectable, but in sophomore year, it doesn’t bode well for the typically more difficult junior year. </p>
<p>As far as rank goes, check princetonreview.com, but I don’t think any of their kids were below 10% class rank in high school, so you need to be up there.</p>