<p>I am an upcoming junior this year with a very rigorous courseload next year consisting of about 6 AP classes. However, for the first semester of my freshman year, I attended a high school which presented time management problems which i feel affected my grades. I consequently earned a 3.43 unweighted GPA, but a 4.0 weighted GPA. However, major transportation problems led me to transfer to a nearer school for the 2nd semester of freshman year. Thereafter, for 2nd freshman semester and all of sophomore year, I earned a 4.0 UW gpa and 4.4 W gpa. Will that one bad semester eliminate my chances of being possibly accepted to any ivy leaguers, Stanford, or top universities? Sorry pretty general question...</p>
<p>i really doubt it would. you have demonstrated an"upward trend" so that might help. but imo it’s all about who you are holistically. I’ve got a relatively “weak” GPA by american standards but i may still apply to some top schools. why? because i have what some may consider killer ECs/awards/leadership positions and a 62 in french at my school is equal to a B (which i once got)and is often the highest grade, it’s weird but i think it all comes down to who you are as a person- all the little pieces of the puzzle :)</p>
<p>Wow thank you so much. I’m kinda relieved now 
Yeah my ECs and awards etc are shaping up pretty well. I guess now it’ll only depend on my SAT/ACT scores and essays.</p>
<p>what are your ECs like? look i know ppl on CC tend to overstate some things and freak ppl out. but im an INTERNATIONAL student and quite honestly i was in a state of despair till my cousin (also an international) got into a number of ivies this pass year- she’ll be going to yale. plus i hav another friend who goes to columbia- based on what these girls have told me grades do matter a lot but it’s also about your particular situation and context as well as you as a WHOLE person!</p>
<p>I understand what you mean. As for my ECs im very unsure if they’re too “all over the place”. I mean whether i should start to focus on one idea or continue with a variety of activities:
-2 years varsity golf (I’m gonna be a junior so) co-captain last year. Probable captain next year.
-Member of school golf team which went undefeated to win league title.
-Competed in several nationally ranked golf tournaments, placing top 6 in all.
-Volunteering at a hospital as nurse’s assistant.
-Member of PTAC; an advisory committee which performs a wide array of tasks to help the citys society.
-Created a club which fights poverty for veterans of war suffering from PTSD or other debilitating conditions.
-Organized an annual entrepreneurial singing competition for young local talents in indian music (this will be it’s 11th year).
-NHS member
-Member of MESA; a math & science school competition group.
-Tutored in several subjects at local library.
That should be it :/</p>
<p>OMG!!! i play golf as well…actually got them to revamp the golf club at my school :D</p>
<p>and no…i think that as long as you are genuinely interested in all that you are doing then stick to it! but be sure to maintain your grades as well ;)</p>
<p>Alright i see what you mean. Thank you for all your help :)</p>
<p>I’d really focus on golf and try to attain some big awards with that. (Maybe win another national tournament?) Make that your passion that you pursue. You may be lacking academic extracurriculars though. I’d suggest trying to win some competition in your MESA club, colleges will enjoy that you’re not just a member of MESA, but you actually put time into it and seem to care. As far as your GPA as long as its over 3.8 overall I wouldn’t worry too much about freshman year. Colleges just want to see that you meet an academic bar, and honestly that bar isn’t too high. Once you’re over the bar, its up to your extracurriculars and essay to do the rest.</p>
<p>A gap in your GPA can definitely hurt you, but if you’re going to screw up, I think freshman year is probably the best time to do it. It’s a lot easier for them to look past Bs in freshman courses than it is for junior/senior courses.</p>