<p>There isn't really much to this. I had a very unsuccessful freshman year, 3.0 GPA taking all honors and 1 AP class. I am currently a sophomore and I am approaching school much differently than freshman year and am expecting 3.7-3.9 GPA for this year, and hopefully I can achieve that during my junior and senior years also. </p>
<p>I don't know what started it, but I really want to get into a top college, I want my parents to be proud of me for something. I am in no way a bad kid, I've never done anything to upset them, but I also don't think I've made them very proud either. </p>
<p>I don't think I'd need financial aid honestly, I come from a very wealthy family. Say I were to get my goal of 3.7-3.9 GPA for my remaining 3 years of high school. Would a top college understand that I just didn't transition into high school well? </p>
<p>And on another note, is EC stuff really that important?</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate if someone could answer some of my questions. Thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>Honestly, top tier schools accept applicants who have had almost perfect grades the whole year, so with your 3.0 GPA, I doubt you’ll be able to get into the very very top schools, but you can try for the lower tiers (Cornell, Duke) if you keep your grades up and have outstanding ECs. Most colleges like to see an improvement in your grades, so if you keep improving, that should be good. </p>
<p>ECs are relatively important in that fact that they help you stand out among a pool of applicants who all have good GPAs and SAT scores. Try to go for a few activities for 2 or 3 years to show commitment.</p>
<p>Colleges definitely take notice of an upward trend in your GPA. Your 3.0 might seem completely off from the standards that you may see on CC, but maintain your goal of a 3.9 and there’s reason you wouldn’t have a shot at a top college.</p>
<p>Maybe start thinking about ways that you can improve your chances now, if you’re really passionate about going to a top college. Perhaps you can start studying for standardized tests?</p>
<p>That makes me fee a whole lot better. I am going to take the PSAT this year as a sophomore for even more practice, haha. I have been studying and I feel fairly confident. Later this year I plan to begin studying for my SAT. It’s a long way away, but a good grade is important if I want to consider a top college with my freshman GPA. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the help! I will also look into EC clubs at my school.</p>
<p>some schools will see the freshman year grades, but not take much note of them. Heck, some people are still practically physiological children at the start of high school!</p>
<p>Other schools will simply not take freshman grades into account at all, as in, they compute a GPA for 10, 11, 1st half 12 only, with the emphasis increasing on each semester closer to current.</p>
<p>It is true that some schools really allow for very little slip up, like HYPSM. But as you go down the prestige ladder, schools make much more allowance for a rough start.</p>
<p>As to ECs, it is really better to find something you’re actually passionate about and get involved to a degree that you make a difference, than to artificially impassionately involve yourself in various activities for college application purposes (where your presence doesn’t significantly impact the activity). You can consider the latter a form of prostitution.</p>