<p>While reading about GPA and bad starts, on one hand I have read that why would anyone hold a 14 year olds feet to the fire for a bad freshman year. A successful return to a high gpa as a sophomore to senior will be enough providing you create a stellar story in the other criteria being considered: SAT/ACT scores, E/C, Community Service, Leadership, Essay, Competitions (National Merit Scholar, Intel Science Fair, Olympiad) , Life Experience, Legacy Elite. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I have read that the school ranking is all important. The top 4% of your school does include your freshman GPA. That is the point Xfer14 is making in paragraph 3.</p>
<p>I found this quote here at this forum about schools disregarding 9th grade gpa, but double check:</p>
<p>“CARNEGIE MELLON, UC’S, PRINCETON STANFORD… UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR JOHNS HOPKINS and dartmouth barely looks at freshman year”</p>
<p>Immediate strategy includes every opportunity for the AP class bump to GPA and rigor. Foreseeable problem is not being allowed into some AP classes because you don’t meet the prerequisite grade in the earlier freshman class. Biology/AP Biology. </p>
<p>Take more classes than the standard 7 classes each year and that will increase your GPA. How? Every summer take accredited H.S. classes online at Florida Virtual School, or elsewhere like a H.S. Algebra 2 Honors class or AP class.</p>
<p>Take an early SAT and ACT cram course to optimize your testing skills and try like heck to own the PSAT National Merit Scholarship in junior year. <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/index.php”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/index.php</a></p>
<p>Get your guidance counselor working for you.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>