Will Freshman Year Ruin My Chances

<p>I am currently a High School. Lately I have become very worried of my GPA due to my Freshman. Back when I was a Freshman I had a very tough time adjusting socially and academically to high school and ended up with a 2.9 GPA with no honors that year. My sophomore year I began to grow and got a 3.8 GPA with 2 honors classes. Then my Junior year I completely expanded socially and academically and had a 4.4 GPA with 3 AP classes and a honors course. I also took up a lead role in Mock Trial and began an internship at a law firm. On my AP Tests I received AP US History:5 AP Environmental Science:5 AP Language:4 I also self studied AP Euro:5 and AP Human Geography:4
On my SAT I received a 2015.<br>
Clearly I was able to become a better student. However, my GPA 9-11 grade is only a 3.73 due to my freshman year. My GPA 10-11 is a 4.1 by comparison. I am also nervous that due to my social problems early on in high school (Freshman and Sophomore year) I did not do enough Extra Curricular activities including National Honors Society.
Will my mistakes early in my high school career be forgiven? Do you think I will have a good shot to be accepted to a school of the prestige of George Washington? Finally should I mention my growths in my application essay and any interviews I choose to do? Thank you.</p>

<p>While schools love to see straight 4.0s, an upward trend is also a sign that many colleges look for so this one year won’t ruin your chances. Regarding George Washington university, your scores fall within the range of their 25/75 percentile although boosting them will certainly help. Looking at their common data set they most heavily weigh gpa and course rigor so continue taking difficult classes. Your essays should revolve around who you are, so if that is a story that is important to your identity then go ahead and talk about it. However don’t force the topic for the sole purpose of trying to explain your situation, it is more common than you think. </p>

<p>Link to their admission common data set:
<a href=“Institutional Research | The George Washington University”>Institutional Research | The George Washington University;

<p>I was also concerened with my freshman grades because it really messes up my class rank. There are so many average students who are ahead of me just because of this one year.</p>

<p>GWU: Match/High match</p>

<p>I don’t know if an explanation would help in your case, but I think GWU would be forgiving about this, especially since this was freshmen year. The upward trend was significant, I think it’s a high match, but I don’t know anything about your extracurriculars from junior year.</p>

<p>I think you could definitely get into GWU! If you explain it in an essay or you have your counselor explain it, that might help. Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1586584-chance-me-some-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1586584-chance-me-some-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good to know you’re currently a high school!.. Wait, what? Lol!
Also, how do you manage to get a 2015 on your SATs?? where does that 5 come from??
Anyways, I don’t think colleges care that much about your freshman year grades, and you have a really good shot. I’d say match.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies. Would somebody tell me where I stand with U of Virginia, U of North Carolina, Vanderbilt, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and U of Michigan?</p>

<p>I think you have a really good shot at GW! I live pretty close and a lot of people I know who go there have equal profiles. Not too sure about the other schools since I’m not as familiar with their admissions so you can take this advice with a grain of salt, but I think they’d be pretty big reaches.</p>

<p>Probably not Berkeley (guessing a reach), but Davis might be a match-ish.</p>

<p>Like many have said, I think the upward trend in grades will show colleges how much you were able to improve, and won’t be a bad thing at all. SAT is decently good for a top school, however not having good ECs and essays will definitely hurt you. You say you didn’t do enough ECs freshman and sophomore year. However if you turned that around like your grades and did some impressive ECs that were important to you/your growth (and maybe explain one in an essay), I think this will push you over the edge and give colleges a look at who you really are. So kudos for the big improvement in grades, now just make sure ur ECs and college essays are good.</p>