Freshman Year

Yes, it will certainly hold some weight. Make up for those by getting better grades in the coming years. Extra currics play a part as well, be consistent in your efforts. I would make sure to score 1500+ on the SAT, and get a 4.0+ GPA. Those are the cutoff points for Ivy's––and even then, your admission is not guaranteed.

Best of luck!

Thank you, quick update!

I have a C+ now. Do you think that it’s better?

Thanks.

Hey @Ss8209741,

Since you're only a freshman, don't worry too too much about your D+ (you shouldn't stress out too much, bc that doesn't really help in my experience). If you can try to get your Earth Science grade up to a C or B range in the next few months, that would definitely help you. If not, then showing improvement year to year is super important too - so stay on top of your science classes next year and beyond :)

If you wanted to study science/geology in college, then having a D+ in earth science would be a huge red flag for any college. BUT, since you're thinking about computer science or information science, that is less of a concern. You'll definitely want to show improvement though.

The ivy schools are super hard to get into, so it's great that you're starting to think about your grades now. It's also great that you have some other schools on your radar because there are SO many great schools out there (especially with computer science programs) that you could be a great fit for! And your grades will matter for all of those schools too!

It might be worth asking yourself WHY you are struggling with your Earth Science class. If you can figure out the reason, then you will know more about yourself as a student/learner and can make some changes for your next few years in high school, like staying after class for extra help, speaking up when you're confused, or different studying strategies!

Hope this helps!