So I am a junior at a PLTW (Project Lead the Way) high school right now. Freshman and sophomore year was a rough time for me with my parents getting divorced, and living with my alcoholic dad. I understand many others have gone through far worse, and done far better. Please don’t take this as an excuse.
I now have a 2.7 GPA, and ideally would like to get that to somewhere around a 3.3. This year I am piling on four AP courses, and three PLTW courses, plus pre-calc and trig. First quarter grades were posted and I got a 4.1
I figure if I can get about the same grade at semester, and second semester my GPA should be about in that 3.1-3.2 range. Then next year as all pretty much be taking all APs, and I can get a 4.5, then my weighted gpa will be 3.5 or so.
A 3.3 gpa isn’t bad for this strength of schedule, but had I been more careful freshman and sophomore year I could have easily gotten myself a 4.0+ GPA.
My question is, will colleges not just look at my gpa but actually look at the fact that I had some major screw ups and then drastically improved?
First of all, let me offer my sympathies for your rough time.
OK, now, let me reassure you: just as “there’s a lid for every pot” there is most definitely a college–in fact a host of colleges-- for every single student.
I have no idea of the weighting that would require which numbers to get you to that 3.3. But realize, of course, that the further you are into high school, the more there is to make up for… large gains tend to be difficult to come by.
Don’t sweat the old “should coulda woulda” thing. You did what you did for the reasons you’ve stated. Colleges will see the improvement and, in the lack of other information, chalk your poor frosh and soph grades up to immaturity. They like improvement, and they’ll see that in your transcript.
Definitely talk to your guidance counselor about this so that s/he can make note of your hardship in her report to colleges. An upward trend is great! You will get into good schools. Just be realistic when applying.
Work hard on test prep for your standardized tests. Solid test scores and an upward trend in grades are a good combo for a lot of schools. You won’t get into the very tippy top schools. But that is okay, there are tons of good colleges.
Finances may be a bigger obstacle, though. Divorced parents throw a wrench into the financial aid calculations. If either parent has significant assets and/or income, or their new spouses do, colleges expect them to pay for part of your education.
My condolences - you’ve done well given what you’ve gone through, and I’m happy to see that you’re challenging yourself now. You’ll succeed wherever you end up. Good luck
