<p>Unfortunately, I have a 3.65 GPA thanks to an abysmal freshman year. This also means I have a poor class rank ( top 15% )</p>
<p>( I'm asian )
Freshman: 3.0 - 1 AP
Sophomore 3.75 - 1 AP
Junior Year - 4.0 - PACKED schedule. 4 AP's Two math Classes.</p>
<p>Great test scores.</p>
<p>Clearly I have an enormous upward trend. If I did half as good freshman year as I did sophomore and junior year I wouldn't be having this issue. </p>
<p>I'm applying to a few schools that ignore freshman year ( Carnegie Mellon ). If freshman year was wiped off my record I would have a solid 3.9.</p>
<p>I would lIke to be ambitious and wild and apply to super reaches like Northwestern ED and Georgetown. However isn't it kinda meaningless to schools of that caliber with my GPA? The only reason I'm not a 100% positive that northwestern is a waste is because of my upward trend.</p>
<p>TLDR;
How much leniency does an upward trend provide? Would a 3.65 from an asian be forgivable from a top 20? ( USC, Emory, Ect. )</p>
<p>Upward trend is better than its alternative. But upward trend is less favorable than a solid, continuous 4.0.</p>
<p>I go to Northwestern, by the way, and you should know that GPA is only a portion of what they consider. If you have outstanding recommendations, character, essays, and extracurriculars, you can atone for a poor GPA. </p>
<p>Most schools are pretty forgiving about freshman grades if your subsequent grades are strong, along with other aspects of your application. If finances aren’t a concern, look at the UCs - they calculate GPA based on sophomore and junior year, and your UC-weighted GPA should be pretty competitive. </p>
<p>I am in a similar situation with my freshman year and middle school GPA (3.37) from high school classes. As @CentralFC said, colleges would rather see a 4.0 across the board.
Schools are most forgiving of freshman year vs any other year, they will obviously be less critical of the fact that it was freshman year, but they will not let it slide. </p>