The Significance of an Upward Trend

<p>I was wondering how much weight a severe upward trend can carry in admissions. In my case, I went from 2.7 freshman year, to 2.94 sophomore year, to a 3.7 this year in an extremely competitive private prep school. Every single one of my semesters has risen. Also, my Suggested sat score from my Psat rose significantly.
I would hope that colleges would have a high opinion of this because it shows effort. Also, why would colleges care about my freshman year? They are taking the student that I am today, not the one I was three years ago.</p>

<p>opinions? comments?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Apparently there is no significance???</p>

<p>Well, an upward trend is better than a downward trend but worse than a constant high level of achievement.</p>

<p>But why do colleges care more about what you did four years ago than what the applicant does at his current state?</p>

<p>Colleges certainly care more about 11th year grades than 9th, but logic says they'll much sooner look at an applicant with a trend of 3.4 / 3.5 / 3.6 than one with a 2.7 / 2.94 / 3.7 trend. Really need to look at how your colleges of interest evaluate transcripts; some say they don't consider 9th grades (but they can still see them!).</p>

<p>Bumppo or anybody: Any sense as to whether most colleges are willing to discount or ignore 9th grade grades. My S had a bad freshman year, due to changing schools mid-year. He has been an A/B student since, but had some Cs in the 9th grade. Very strong ECs (non-BS ECs)</p>

<p>Most all colleges consider 9th year grades. Only a few exclude them in doing their own recalc of a GPA (but, again, even those can still see the 9th year grades). Of those that consider them, they'll all say an upward trend is better than a downward one (duh!), but the reality is that top tier schools get applicants that started and continued with high GPAs/ranks. That said, top teirs still accept some applicants who start relatively low and shoot upward, but those applicants usu have something pretty special about their stories. My D had a bad soph year due to changing schools; she also missed lots of days due to serious health issues. She had an upward trend after soph year, strong essays, above avg ECs and a stellar ACT. Her reach schools rejected her because (I believe), even with her upward GPA trend, she just couldn't overcome her overall GPA/rank (i.e., she was below their 25% threshold).</p>

<p>It depends on the college, and what he has to show for it. Points if he can work some sort of explaation into his essay. A friend of mine started about 50th in our class of 500, went up to 8th, and got into Columbia.</p>

<p>thanks.
Am i at a disadvantage if my school doesnt rank?</p>

<p>according to my counselor, upward GPA trend helps a bit ONLY if the colleges notice it (well duh they have to notice it :D).
I have a upwards trend of like 3.4/3.65/3.75, fresh/soph/junior respectively.
So i'm HOPING the schools i apply to will notice <em>rolls eyes</em></p>