Low Gpa at the End of Sophomore year-college?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I just finished my sophomore year of high school and I will be starting junior year in the fall. I had a 3.7 gpa in my freshmen year but my sophomore year grade brought my grades down a lot. I moved houses and schools a month before semester 1 finals this year. the new school was “ahead” in all the class because they skipped a lot of chapters that my old school spent time going over. I tried really hard to get my grades stable but it was incredibly difficult under the given circumstances. I failed Precalculus, had a D in Chemistry, French and AP Euro, a B in Adv English and As in Advanced Theater and Yoga (both classes that don’t really count) leaving my sophmore year semester 1 gpa at 1.6 and overall gpa at 2.9. The new school was a horrible school with physical fights between students a few times a day, police officers are present on campus all the time to control the students, it was incredibly racist and bathrooms were labled with “colored” and “white” (honestly it was just completely horrible). However, the school is considered “decent” because they offer tons of difficult classes. I hated my new school and I hated myself for failing. I felt as if things were completely hopeless and I had struggled with depression for awhile but it was insane once i got to this school. I was pushed around and once a girl punched me in the face for being brown and “a terrorist”. I tried harming myself and my parents moved me out of that school and back into my old school. Due to just the entire mess of that year, I did horrible on my second semester as well. I got a C in AP Euro and French, an B in Advanced English, and an A in Theater, Yoga, and Chemistry. bringing my overall UW gpa to a 3.75 and a weighted gpa to 3.1. I want to raise my gpa before college applications but people are saying its impossible in just 2 semesters. I doubt colleges care about my personal life and I have completely ruined my future.

Next year I’m doing AP Lang, US history, Forensic Science, Theater Tech, Production Assistant (basically TA for lower theater classes), French 3 and retaking first semester of chemistry.

The summer between sophomore year and and Junior year (now) I’m doing Calculus 1 at the community college (I got into the class and it replaces failing Pre-Calc), and doing French and AP Euro online. I might do Chemistry after school throughout the year at the community college and do AP Human Geo at the school (which i’m interested in)

ECs:
Link Crew (help new students)
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind coach for younger students
Working on getting my Gold Award in girl scouts
President of Four different school clubs
In Marching Band (colorguard)
On a competive dance team
Long Theater resume
Did psychology and sociology at the college and got As in both
Math tutor at a day care center
president of the youth program at a local non-profit
Held a fundraiser on my own and raised enough money for a eye foundation to conduct over 85 eye operations on poverty stricken patients who can’t afford it.
Directed and wrote 2 plays that have been produced
Consular at a Art camp
Have over 1,000 hours of community service ( I’ve been volunteering since the age of 7)
IQ of 142 (qualified for Mensa but am not certified yet)

Stats:
ACT: 30
GPA: 3.0
AP Euro: 2/5 (this was a bad year)

Extra:
I am an indian citizen who lived in USA since age 2. I come from a single income family of four. I live in Bay area, California in a fairly rich community. i will be the first in my family to attend college in USA

Do you think I might have a Chance at schools like Syracuse, Boston, NYU, and Emerson despite a low gpa? Can I raise my gpa in 2 years?

2

Based on reading your info, DON’T put yourself down for failing. A lot happened to you that was out of your control (i.e. moving homes and schools and the situation at school). Honestly, try your very best this junior year. Even if you can’t bring it up to a level that’s preferred by other schools, an upward curve is still decent. I want to make this clear: you DID not ruin your future. The world is cruel and unfair, but you should never let it bring you down.

Now, apart from that, you mentioned that you want to go on the east coast to places like syracuse, boston, and nyu. Since you live in cali, I would add on csu’s to your list (maybe uc’s if you’re willing). However, picking a college should wait until after junior year (like what I did). Right now, I recommend you focus on your schoolwork: you’ve got a lot on your plate. Also, decide where you want to be after you graduate college. What will you do? Be an engineer? Go on to med school? Be an accountant? The possibilities are endless. Also, keep on doing those EC’s, they’ll help a lot!

When it comes time for your college application, if you did great your junior year and the first semester of senior year, I would say you’ve got a decent shot at syracuse. If you’re thinking about Boston (University or College, not sure which one you want), it may be out of the picture. NYU is also a mixed bag. However, sticking with a CSU might be the best route for you (in my opinion).

I hope this helps and best of luck! You can do it!

3

@Aria1415 - It sounds like you’ve had a really difficult year, but there is no reason to doubt your ability to get accepted into the schools you listed.

To agree with @JMS357, the primary issue that you need to focus on are your grades next year. Prove that your experiences last year were an exception, and that you can do the work. If you can get even close to your freshman grades and do well on the SAT/ACT, schools will appreciate your struggle and give you a pass on your grades last year.

Don’t fall behind. Find a teacher or teachers you can relate to, and get them to help you if necessary. If you have to, limit EC’s and keep your grades up. Good luck!

4

And this is why there is an additional information section as part of the application. I also had a dip in grades, as a result of a concussion that took me out of school for a month, and I plan on writing on there about it. You have to be very vivid about the conditions there. Zone in on the moment when the girl called you a terrorist. If you write well enough, you will win the hearts of the admissions officer, and that will greatly help you with overlooking the dip. I also don’t think I can stress enough how important it is for you to also get straight A’s your junior year.

Good luck. All hope is not lost. You have a fighting chance here!

5

though elite schools are probably out for you, there are lots of other options. Do your best and things will work out fine.