<p>I am a junior next year interested in bowdoin and my app stuff looks pretty good my only problem is my freshman year grades…I was generally a B student in normal classes. Soph year i started taking a few harder courses and got straight A’s definitely showing an upward trend in my grades. Does this bad freshman year trend hurt my chances?</p>
<p>i don't think a few Bs freshmen year are going to hurt chances significantly. bowdoin will like the upward trend.</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>Bowdoin admissions is competitive but an upward trend is a good sign and average freshman grades can probably be offset somewhat by either the kind of school you go to (if its very competitive/ high achieving) or if you are unique in a particular way (racially or geographically). If neither applies to you, than I would just emphasize that upward trend and talk about how hard you worked to improve and how it payed off, etc. That way you can let the admissions people know that you're aware that you're freshman grades were weak but at the same time keep a positive dialogue going by talking about your positive traits (hard work, ambition, willingness to challenge yourself).</p>
<p>WHat changed you? Why'd you suddenly take harder classes and do better? Write about that. Talk about it in your interview.</p>
<p>bc i wanted to get into a good college haha but the lack of stellar grades has led to me being placed in only average classes and has hindered my ability to have a really challenging courseload so...its kindof an issue</p>
<p>Why do you want to get into a good college? What's it like to be stuck in a less challenging track? Talk about stuff that reveals your underlying values, feelings, and sensibility. Like, are you intellectually curious, are you stuck between choices about what kind of person to be. You don't have to make it cheesy or a sob story, just that you are thoughtful and motivated. That you are not just another applicant.</p>