Hey guys! I'm a high school junior, and I started off with a rough freshman year (2.6 GPA). Since then, I've been working hard to improve my academic performance, and I managed a 3.8 GPA during my sophomore year. Will colleges understand and appreciate the upward trend in my grades or just focus on my overall low GPA? Thank you!
Hi there! It's great to hear that you've made significant improvements in your academic performance. An upward trend in GPA is definitely something that colleges will notice and appreciate. While your overall GPA does matter, many college admissions officers also look for signs of growth and improvement over time. They understand that a student's high school experience can be a journey of personal and academic growth.
Your upward trend will be even more noticeable if you continue to earn high grades in your junior and senior year. You can also help prove your overall academic aptitude with high scores on the SAT or ACT, so consider taking one of those tests even if the schools you're considering are mainly test-optional. And, if your low grades freshman year were due to a stressful situation in your family or personal life, such as an illness, it could be a good idea to mention that in the "additional information" section of the Common App, to give admissions officers as much context as possible.
Just keep working hard, and you'll have a good chance of being a competitive applicant even with your lower freshman year grades. Good luck!
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