Stanford and freshman year grades - do they look at them?

Does Stanford University consider freshman year grades when evaluating college applications? How heavily do they weigh that first year in terms of admissions decisions?

Hi there! When reviewing applications, Stanford University does take into account your freshman year grades, as they are a part of your cumulative high school GPA. However, it's important to keep in mind that colleges generally understand that students may have an adjustment period during their freshman year.

As a result, they typically place more emphasis on your academic performance during sophomore, junior, and senior years, as well as evidence of an upward trend in grades. This means that if your freshman year wasn't as strong as you'd hoped, but you showed improvement in later years, the admissions committee will likely note your growth and progress.

That being said, it's not just about the numbers – Stanford and other highly selective institutions use a holistic review process, which means they'll also be evaluating factors such as your extracurricular involvement, essays, recommendations, and other aspects of your application. So, while your freshman year grades do matter, they're just one piece of the bigger picture that admissions officers will be considering.