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Are my 9th-grade grades important in relation to my GPA when applying to colleges?
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5 answers
Jennifer Fischer
Product Manager
27
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Your 9th-grade grades play a crucial role in shaping your high school GPA and also reflect the kind of student and young adult you're growing into. Good grades indicate that you've acquired essential skills and knowledge that will come in handy for college. However, if your 9th-grade grades aren't as impressive, don't worry! You still have time to bounce back and show your resilience.
Applying for college might seem intimidating, but always remember that the primary thing college administrators look for in applicants is their potential for success. Be it your GPA or other test scores, they want to make sure you're well-prepared and ready to meet the higher academic standards of college life.
Applying for college might seem intimidating, but always remember that the primary thing college administrators look for in applicants is their potential for success. Be it your GPA or other test scores, they want to make sure you're well-prepared and ready to meet the higher academic standards of college life.
Kaitlyn Ciak
Model Risk
7
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kaitlyn’s Answer
9th-grade grades probably are not that important as long as your overall GPA is still okay, especially if you can show that your grades in 10th + 11th grades have improved. That being said, you'll probably apply to schools at the beginning of your senior year, so your GPA will only consist of your grades from 9th-11th grades, so you do not have that much time to turn things around if you are trying to raise your GPA significantly.
However, keep in mind that schools will consider other factors as well when making admission decisions, such as your extracurricular involvement, SAT/ACT scores (if required), and your personal essay. The importance of your GPA depends on the school you will be attending, but I don't think you need to stress too much. You still have a couple years to bring it up, and plenty of other ways to make yourself seem like a great candidate.
However, keep in mind that schools will consider other factors as well when making admission decisions, such as your extracurricular involvement, SAT/ACT scores (if required), and your personal essay. The importance of your GPA depends on the school you will be attending, but I don't think you need to stress too much. You still have a couple years to bring it up, and plenty of other ways to make yourself seem like a great candidate.
Nicholas Garcia
Risk and Reg Consulting
6
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Nicholas’s Answer
Hello!
I am speaking from experience. On a 4 point scale, my GPA was in the low 3's in 9th grade. I was not a diligent student, unfocused, and couldn't be bothered to care about school. This was a stark contrast to my grades in end of the 10th grade,11th, and 12th. I took 4 AP courses in 11th and 12th and had a 3.8 GPA (unweighted), and made the dean's list in those final 5 semesters of high school. Before my second semester of 10th grade, I heard some advice from my friend's dad. He told me that each semester of highschool equally matters. This really put things into perspective for me and made me regret and think about what I was doing in school. Because of this advice I was able to get my act together and do better in my last semesters of high school. Come college application time, I got into 2 of my top 3 schools and 11 out of the 13 I applied to. It is worth noting that I did not get into my top pick.
My overall GPA was dragged down by my poor performance in my first 3 semesters, which was why I think that I didn't get into my top pick. However, getting into the 11 other schools is likely allocated to the improvement I showed in my last years. Colleges understand that highschool is the epitome of a marathon and not a sprint. It is 3 and a half years of long hours, studying, and serious balance that they are taking into account. Most schools understand that not everyone is perfect, so if you show improvement after a poor freshman year (or poor semester, poor performance in a single class), it will show the admissions boards at universities that you seriously care. They will likely think that this is a fluke. Remember that 3 years of great performance almost always outweighs one year of poor performance. If you had a bad freshman year, it's all good! Look back at the semester and evaluate what you did well and did poorly in. Continue the things you did well in and improve the things you did poorly in.
As I said earlier, high school is a marathon and not a sprint. Don't be discouraged by a poor year or semester and try to figure out how you can improve. I hope that this helped!
I am speaking from experience. On a 4 point scale, my GPA was in the low 3's in 9th grade. I was not a diligent student, unfocused, and couldn't be bothered to care about school. This was a stark contrast to my grades in end of the 10th grade,11th, and 12th. I took 4 AP courses in 11th and 12th and had a 3.8 GPA (unweighted), and made the dean's list in those final 5 semesters of high school. Before my second semester of 10th grade, I heard some advice from my friend's dad. He told me that each semester of highschool equally matters. This really put things into perspective for me and made me regret and think about what I was doing in school. Because of this advice I was able to get my act together and do better in my last semesters of high school. Come college application time, I got into 2 of my top 3 schools and 11 out of the 13 I applied to. It is worth noting that I did not get into my top pick.
My overall GPA was dragged down by my poor performance in my first 3 semesters, which was why I think that I didn't get into my top pick. However, getting into the 11 other schools is likely allocated to the improvement I showed in my last years. Colleges understand that highschool is the epitome of a marathon and not a sprint. It is 3 and a half years of long hours, studying, and serious balance that they are taking into account. Most schools understand that not everyone is perfect, so if you show improvement after a poor freshman year (or poor semester, poor performance in a single class), it will show the admissions boards at universities that you seriously care. They will likely think that this is a fluke. Remember that 3 years of great performance almost always outweighs one year of poor performance. If you had a bad freshman year, it's all good! Look back at the semester and evaluate what you did well and did poorly in. Continue the things you did well in and improve the things you did poorly in.
As I said earlier, high school is a marathon and not a sprint. Don't be discouraged by a poor year or semester and try to figure out how you can improve. I hope that this helped!
Madi Dunlap
Forensic Consultant
193
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Madi’s Answer
Absolutely, your grades from freshman year are a factor in college admissions as they contribute to your cumulative GPA. The higher your GPA, the greater your chances of securing admission to your dream colleges. So, it's crucial to prioritize your studies right from your freshman year in high school.
But remember, even if your freshman year grades aren't as impressive as you'd hoped, there's always room for improvement in the coming years of high school. Colleges often appreciate seeing progress and growth, so a strong upward trend in your grades can still make a positive impression on your application.
Hope this helps!
But remember, even if your freshman year grades aren't as impressive as you'd hoped, there's always room for improvement in the coming years of high school. Colleges often appreciate seeing progress and growth, so a strong upward trend in your grades can still make a positive impression on your application.
Hope this helps!
Richard Bruce
Singer/songwriter/guitar tech
9
Answers
Titusville, Florida
Updated
Richard’s Answer
I strongly disagree with Jennifer's answer. I think your HS GPA will only affect which school(s) you'll be able to attend. But unless you plan to be a doctor or a lawyer, the school is far less important once you get out in the workforce. I've never been asked what my HS or college GPA was during a job interview. I think your personality and your willingness to complete a goal you set out to achieve is far more important than the particular school or your GPA.