I got 2.34 GPA. My final grades were:
CP English 1: C+ (77)
CP Algebra 1: C- (71)
CP Environmental Science: C (74)
CP US History: B- (82)
CP Spanish 1: C (76)
Intro To Agriculture: C- (72)
Health and PE: A- (92)
This honestly was the worst year academically this year, and I struggled to get good grades, I would study and study and still get bad grades. I did feel as if I could’ve done a lot better in US History, as I probably would’ve done worse if I didn’t get mostly A’s on my tests. I know I could’ve done better with my grades, as I finished with all A’s and B’s in my 8th grade year. But honestly I do have a problem with procrastination, as sometimes waited until the last minute to do my project. And I also tended to forget to do my homework, although in the 2nd half of the second semester I improved on that. Honestly my biggest worry was Math, as I studied a lot but I never understood the material, even when I went for extra help. My Mom wanted me to drop down to a regular Math course, but I knew doing that would kill my college hopes, so I decided to stay the course, although she made me drop down next year from CP Biology to a basic Biology course, due to my CP Environmental Science grade. But honestly I do want to improve my grades and I even made my sophomore my year to do great academically. So my question is, how can I improve next year on my grades next year, and are my college hopes gone? And should I take College Biology, and if I don’t can I go to college?
What state do you live in?
If you can’t handle the courses then don’t take them.
^ agreed. I just dropped AP Bio.
The best (and preferred) option is to retake some of the classes if you can.
If you obtain a 4.0 for the next 3 years you will finish high school with a 3.585 UW, assuming you take all the same credits. By the end of junior year you should have a 3.446 UW.
Depending on the colleges you apply to, some won’t even factor in your freshman year, and upward treads are always preferred.
Good luck!
TheSlacker16: I actually had a 2.25 GPA, I calculated it wrong. But do college take in account your first semester of your senior year?
I like in NJ, so I don’t have many options. I’m considering trying to get in schools like Rowan, Kean,
William Paterson, etc
If you think taking in account first semester of senior year may hurt your chances, it might be a good idea to do early decision or early action. Most of the time, the date they will give you their response is before your first semester is finished. If you think it’ll go well, then wait for regular decision which generally means they won’t get back to you until after first semester is finished, so they will take those grades into account.
I just went through this with my nephew, who ended up with lots of options in state and out. First of all, take a deep breath. It’s okay, I promise. Really! Like my nephew, my niece and my daughter (all seniors this year, two from NJ) you will not be going to Ivy but to good, solid B level schools. Consider yourself lucky…pressure is off! so chill! Colleges look from last to first…meaning freshman year is not that defining and can be explained away with a good essay. So, what will matter is your grades from now on. My advice is to take classes where you know you can be successful and do not overreach this year. Get good grades in cp courses. Get your confidence back. And advocate for yourself…ask teachers for help, get a tutor, take a study skills class over summer or just read a book about study skills and emulate it. I cannot underestimate the advocate role. As a NJ mom I can say that The school system in NJ is a mess and depending on your school, it may be more damaged than others and inflict more damage on you as a student. You need to demand a good education. Don’t be shy to ask teachers for clarification and help.
Junior year is where you take some risks and stretch a bit…to where you can be successful. Remember you have SAT’s or ACT’s to take. If you do well sophomore year, you will be ready to stretch a bit. If you do well sophomore and junior year, and do decent on your standardized tests…you won’t have to stay and go to a NJ state school! They are way too expensive…some of the most expensive in the nation. I get going to TCNJ or Rutgers, or maybe to William Patterson for Jazz, as they are solid schools for the money…but for the same money, you can go to a private school in NJ or outside. do well the next two years and do well on standardized tests (please don’t stress out) and you will have many choices. You can still get merit scholarships!
As for my nephew…he got a 2.0 freshman year, did okay but not great sophomore, took some AP’s freshman and junior in history and English…still ended up with a borderline 2.9 GPA, got a 1700 on SAT’s, he had lots of schools in his native Virgiania plus a scholarship from U of Hartford, as he was geographically desirable for them. He’s chose Virginia Commonwealth, and will be going in the Fall. His parents were overjoyed because they were so scared due to GPA. So fear not! As long as you are going to B level schools, you will have many choices…as long as you do as I said and do well this year!
Thank you so much ^