Do Colleges Look at Your Freshman Year

 

Grades? The Honest Truth:

 

When you start school college seems like a long way off. You're busy learning your way getting used to a tough schedule and making friends. It's totally normal if your grades weren't perfect at first.

 

As you get into your sophomore and junior years you start thinking about college applications. You might wonder: "Did I mess up my chances of getting into my dream school because I didn't do freshman year?"

 

The truth is, most colleges look at your whole high school record but they don't make their decision based on just one semester. They look at everything. Here's how colleges evaluate your grades and how you can do well.

 

The Facts: Your GPA Includes Freshman Year

 

Your transcript shows your grade from the moment you started high school. Unless your school district says otherwise those early grades count.

 

Some Colleges Care More About Progress

 

Some big school systems and top universities look at things. For example the University of California and California State University usually don't count freshman year grades when they calculate your GPA. They focus on your sophomore and junior years.

 

What Colleges Want to See: Getting Better

 

Colleges don't just want grades. They want to see you getting better. They know that high school can be tough.

 

If you did okay freshman year but got much better by year that's great. It shows that you can handle work. Consistent improvement shows that you're growing and can handle college-level work.

 

How to Do Better After a Rocky Start

 

You can't change what happened before. You can control what happens next. By doing in your final years you can boost your overall standing.

 

  • Try classes: If you did poorly in an easy class do well in a harder one. This shows that you can handle work.

 

  • Explain what happened: If you had problems that affected your grades tell colleges. They want to know.

 

  • Track your progress: Plan. Use a tool to see what grades you need to reach your target GPA.

 

Your Grades Aren't the End of the Story

 

A tough start, in school doesn't mean you can't go to a great college. Your potential isn't defined by one year of grades.

 

Visit CalcGrade.com to see where you stand and plan your GPA. By figuring out what you need to improve you can make a plan that focuses on your future.