<p>I am a rising junior and extremely stressed about my freshman year. That year I had a series of B's and C's tarnish my transcript and GPA. After that horrendous year, I vowed to myself that I was to turn my grades around for the better. And I did. I received grades of 93 or higher on all AP and honor classes and begin heavily volunteering and working. After a highly successful sophomore year, my rank exponentially increased over 217 people. Pulling my GPA from 3.44 to a 3.87 (weighted 4.0 scale, odd system). In terms of EC's I shadowed a lawyer and worked for his firm in New York as a intern for freshman year summer and sophomore year summer and became involved in Science Club, the Debate team, UIL, Teen Court, and countless others activities. As a rising junior, I begin to speculate on doubling my productivity, joining the IB program, holding a officer position in a club, and going to nationals for the Junior World Affairs Council competition, not to mention signing up for several summer programs. For testing, I managed to pull my SAT score form 1550 to 2010 (Sophomore year, planning on taking one more), made a 5 on the AP Human Geography exam and a 5 on the AP World History exam. Even with this improvement, I knew a nasty freshman year would pull me down in terms of admission. Especially to my dream school, Rice University. So what I want to ask in my first and maybe last past post on CC, is will my freshman year truly break my admission? All objective answers are welcome and thank you in advance.</p>
<p>No, it won’t kill you. But are you from TX? It’s so, there are some hurdles that you wouldn’t have outside of TX. If Rice is your dream, focus on the PSAT this year, and aim for NMSF. They love their National Merit applicants.</p>
<p>What’s your cum GPA? If it’s around a 3.6 to 3.7, by senior year (if you have a rockin’ junior year) you could bring you GPA up to even a 3.8. </p>
<p>I had a 3.6 GPA freshman year, and a 3.8 GPA this year, so my GPA is a 3.7 although I want to bring it up to a 3.9. I’d find it possible if I wasn’t taking AP Chemistry next year, but if you’re not taking super difficult classes, I think you have a really good shot. I’m taking two AP’s and the rest honors, but my classes other than APCh are fine. </p>
<p>Either way, colleges like improvement and if you’re getting better and better each year, they’ll definitely notice. Keep up the good work!</p>
<p>Definitely not! Two years ago, in my local high school, there was a student that was accepted into Harvard. He gave a lecture about how he started out high school as a below-avg student, but eventually rose up in the ranks of classes and clubs to become salutatorian and accepted into Harvard. Colleges may see it as a sign that you are truly determined, and that you have actively matured. It would be a good idea to explain the GPA jump on your college essays, though.</p>
<p>I don’t think your freshman year will destroy your chances! You have definitely shown a tremendous amount of improvement. Continue with it and keep progressing.</p>
<p>Thank you all! @Sakacar3 @DAIMYO @CallmeC @angelacao @z0e101 @BlueEle
Your assurances are greatly appreciated:) Oh and @Sakacar3, I am from TX:)</p>
<p>Thanks @ClassicRockerDad , I find your advice helpful, but society, parents, and life expect me to go to a high tier college, Rice just happens to fit my personality type. Anyways, thanks for the advice. I’ll try not to stress.</p>
<p>Another mantra I’ve heard is pressure is good, stress is bad. </p>
<p>By all means work hard and try to go to a high tier college. But realize only so much is within your control. There is a danger in using college admissions results as a measure of your self-worth. Those results are not objective. You are worth a heck of a lot regardless of those results. </p>
<p>Society, parents and life will just have to live with your best effort. There are less subjective things that you can aspire to that are within your control. Figure them out and aspire to them. </p>
<p>I say just try to keep your grades decently up (try for at least a 3.5 unweighted) and focus on building your extra curriculars and SAT score. Tbh your SAT is actually already quite high and if you just boost it a tiny big more I think you’d be set in that realm. Also know that your grades aren’t completely everything, and in general not to freak out so much. You are probably a great student and even if by some crazy chance you get into Rice, you are still an awesome person who will go far in life simply because of your incredible work ethic. Don’t stress so much, and try to breathe this summer. Don’t feel like you have to do anything, especially when it’s the society around you pressuring you. You’re your own person!</p>