are low grades in highschool a problem for college?

Question

when i went to middle school i had very bad grades and two years in high school.i am going to an alternative high school now ,which is smaller and all our work is done in computer.well i brought up my grades so much A'S AND B'S.AND LEARNED SO MANY THINGS.the problem is i really want to go to college but im worrying about my grades from middle school & 9th and 10th grade.im a junior now 11th grade.can this affect me is their something i can do to fix this

Answer 1

Low grades in high school can be a problem when it comes to college admission. Schools look for evidence of academic achievement when considering students for admission. If you have struggled, schools may not feel confident about admitting you if seems likely that you will not succeed.

Keep trying to improve--improvement is very important. Your SAT scores will probably have an effect on your admission as well, so try to be prepared and take them before the end of your junior year. Remember that different schools have different admission criteria, so research schools and programs that appeal to you and find out what they are looking for in a student.

If you have trouble being admitted out of high school, consider community college. Community colleges have open enrollment (so anyone can attend) and give you the opportunity to prove that you can do college level work. You can transfer to a 4-year college after you complete 12-60 credits/1-4 semesters, depending on school requirements. Usually transfer students can be admitted with a 2.0 gpa or higher. You can also work with the schools to ensure that the classes you take in community college will apply to your degree requirements at the school your transfer to.

Don't be afraid to take a different path to reach your destination. Good luck!

Answer 2

Generally, a bad grade is a failing grade. However, it's relative because everyone has different standards. You seem to be a perfectionist which in my opinion, is unhealthy. It's good to have a drive to do well in school and in life but it's important to remember it's not all that matters, and things like test scores don't determine your worth. Just try to do your personal best. If you feel your personal best isn't good enough (which doesn't seem to be the case in your situation) you can always get a tutor or visit your guidance counselor to ameliorate your school performance. Just try not to stress too much about it, you're only a freshman, after all.

Answer 3

You didn't say where you want to go to college. Colleges look at your grades from freshman year to junior. Sometimes they look at your middle school grades as well. They also look at senior year to make sure that your grades didn't drop. The admissions office also looks at your essay, SAT's and/or ACT's. You may also want to try and get an interview with an admissions person at the college. If you can you can explain why your grades weren't as good as they could have been.

BUT, for the most part if you want to go to a local college, if your grades aren't that bad you should be able to get in. Some colleges put you on a waiting list as well. Worst case, go to a community college that just offers an associates get that degree and then transfer to another college to get your Bachelor's.

When I went to college my grades were in the toilet. I decided that I wanted to get my Masters Degree, but I knew they wouldn't accept me going by my grades. What I did was I started taking graduate classes as soon as I got my Bachelor's. I made sure that I only got A's and when I had only a few classes left to go to get my Masters, I applied to get the Degree. They accepted me because I proved that I could get the grades. Good luck!

Answer 4

Your grades are important in High School, but there are colleges that you can get into. You may have to start at a Community College (2 Yr) and then transfer to a State College (4yr) after you prove yourself (grades). There are many colleges that look at your improvement and your entrance exams (like SAT, ACT). Check with your school counselor for these types of colleges. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Answer 5

One of your answerers said you can't go back, only forward. She's right...you can't change the past. So let's work on the present and insure your future in college, OK?

#1: discipline yourself to do all your coursework and go for the extra credit projects, honors courses, etc.

#2: prepare well for your SAT's and ACT's. If your school or community center offers a college exam prep course, take it.

#3: do something wonderful like become an Eagle Scout or volunteer in your community or play a varsity sport or perform in your school musical or write for the school paper. Besides being fun and interesting, these are absolutely GREAT things to write about on your college application.

#4: do your research on the right colleges for you. Match yourself up with a college that offers the course(s) of study you want to pursue and with entrance requirements you can fulfill. If you can sell yourself to the colleges of your choice by doing your 'homework' and being the kind of student they look for...guess what? You'll get in.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Middle school won't affect you. Your grades in 9th and 10th grade may limit your choices somewhat, but you can use this in your application essays as an example of a problem you have learned to overcome. Just don't talk about how this method is easier for you, but about how what you learned about your own learning style and how you would apply this if you were back at your old school now.

Answer 7

Your grades from middle school dont really count but the ones from high school do But as long as you didnt have like all D, E, and F I think your good and you bought your grades up which shows that your trying and your not just sitting around on your butt and expecting to get into a good school with low grades

Answer 8

Keep on with what you're doing.

Possibly invest in a little extra work (course or self-help book) to prepare for ACT, SAT.

Make sure that you take the challenging classes in this last stretch, they will prepare you more. A good grade in a "hard" class means more than others, shows you are ready for the challenges of college. It may show that your problem was you didn't find things challenging in your other classes and work in your favor.

Get in some activities...whatever you enjoy, sports, music, debate.....always looks good.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Congrats on your new grades! Your middle school grades should not hurt you at all. It's HS grades that colleges look at. Keep up the good work! And even with lower grades than 4.0, you can still get into even prestigious colleges with a mix of not just grade point, but sports, activities, community work, and an absolutely KILLER essay on the application.

I went to Cornell and knew people who had 1.7 GPA in HS, and they got in because of their essays.

Answer 10

its the cumulative effect of grades. school's won't look at individual years- they'll look at the overall GPA. for example, if you had a 2.0 in 9th & 10th grades, then a 4.0 in 11th & 12th grades, your overall will be 3.0 (assuming same # of courses). that's the # schools will look at. you can get into college, but the more prestigious universities will certainly look at grades. while a 3.0 will make you competitive, you'll need other things on your resume (Sports, student council, band, anything extracirricular) to help you out.