<p>I know every college is different, but how do coleges generally view upward trends, in both GPA and rigor of the courseload? Do they view it has, : Maybe this person is just peaking", or "Wow he really screwed around, this other person was serious all throughout high school?" Or do they just want a little bit of everybody, bringing luck into it?</p>
<p>Yeah I kinda wanna know about this too. I hear it doesn't really help much.</p>
<p>In terms of accepting one person over the other, I'm guessing the solid student with consisten good grades. I do know that the UC's factor in an "upward trend" into the admissions process somehow (I think they accept you based on a certain number of points?).</p>
<p>What about a slight downward trend? Does that hurt an applicant at all, even if he/she maintained a decent GPA?</p>
<p>slight downward trend meaning straight A's then all A's with 1 B?<br>
I don't think it matters that much especially when you're taking more and more AP classes.</p>
<p>Yeah, I got all A's freshman year, all A's and 1 B sophomore year, and all A's and 2 B+'s this year. But the B+'s are technically A's (90-93%) because my school grades on the six-point scale. By the end of junior year, I'll probably have a 3.9 UW and a 4.05 W.</p>
<p>Do colleges take the time to look at the transcript itself? If they look at my GPA, they won't see that it's declining...</p>
<p>I think they probably look at both. Your unweighted GPA is high enough so that your slight downward trend won't matter. At least that's what I think.</p>
<p>colleges do look at patterns in grades... an upward trend will absolutely help you- they definitely do not look at it as "someone who originally screwed around"</p>
<p>If you're talking top schools, it doesn't matter much. They want all great grades throughout. Once you get below top 25, and to schools that accept more than 50%, it will help. It says potential is growing.</p>
<p>A downward trend is typical. Most high schools get harder as you progress. Many who get all A's as freshmen get lower grades later, especially as they start to take APs and IBs. Again, it will kill you at top colleges but be expected at schools below the top.</p>
<p>upward trend is good, but a 4.0 is better</p>
<p>I got almost all B's for the first three semesters of school. Then I got straight A's for 2 semesters. I think I can pull it off for another 2 semesters. </p>
<p>My GPA however is a 3.6 UW and If i continue getting A's it will be 3.7 when I apply to college. </p>
<p>If I didn't have such terrible grades back then, I would be Val at my school. My rank is 22/365 or just out of top 5%. </p>
<p>Am I basically screwed for HYPMS? Lets say everything else checks out. (as in 700+ on all Sats, 32 or better on the Act, Good EC's, a hook.)</p>
<p>What if my Sat's etc. are slightly lower but my ECs are slightly better? Thanks!</p>
<p>I basically rose to being the top of my class. I had a 4.9w last semester. I'm hoping HYPMS will deem me worthy of their school.</p>
<p>(Wow I sound kind of pretentious in this post, don't I? Dont' worry, I'm a nice guy ;))</p>
<p>P and S don't count freshman grades. That said, SATs in range would be 750 plus.</p>