Screwed Up Freshman Year. Doing Better Now.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>The 2011-2012 year was really bad for me. Horribly bad. I was very depressed around that time, reclusive, and had a lack of motivation. I got over it. I know it's all my fault and there's nothing to blame.</p>

<p>I have and had plans to go into decent colleges. My top three are, OSU, UCLA, and NYU. I know kinda far-reach.</p>

<p>Anyways, last year my grades were ****. I ended up with a 2.7gpa. I took several rigorous classes, all Honors. (school doesn't offer AP for freshmen and soph.)
I am a sophomore now and I have improved decently. I think not well enough, but better.
I took all honors classes again, and 2 classes above my grade level.
I've also joined clubs, I'm in varsity track, I've done some essential out of school stuff too. I've started going to a ACT bootcamp my school offers. I plan on taking it this December.</p>

<p>So, the first quarter I ended up with a 3.5gpa. Is that good. I'm still doing a lot better. I'm shooting for 3.8+. </p>

<p>My main question is, if I continue improving, will I still have a chance at good colleges? My dream ones?</p>

<p>-thank you</p>

<p>TL;DR: Screwed up freshman year. Doing better this year as a sophomore. Do I still have a chance?</p>

2

<p>It depends how you end up doing the rest of this year and next year. That 2.7 is going to hurt your chances long run, but wait and see. Come back in a year or two.</p>

3

<p>Your freshman year will hurt your chances, but if you keep improving and keeping up your grades, it will not destroy them.
It’s good that you challenged yourself with tough classes, colleges will recognize that. Also try to have a few good EC’s, but mainly focus on your studying and make sure that you keep your grades up from now on!
Good luck (:</p>

4

<p>I was in the same boat at you.
I got a 3.2 frosh year and a 3.5 second semester soph year. Ever since then I’ve gotten 3.9 and 4.0.
It has really hurt me in the long run and I wish I could take it back, but I’m still applying to some rigorous schools. Some schools don’t look at freshman year, and an upward trend is very important. If you can get 3.8+ for the rest of your high school years (and I know you can), then you can go almost anywhere if you try.</p>