When I got my transcript at the end of Sophomore year, it’s hard to look at. As well, freshman grade. I mostly got B’s, several A’s (not a lot since I never a straight A’s student.) 4’c and 1 d, which I retook it in sophomore with my other phys ed class and got a b on it, but the D grade still shows on my transcript. If you were wondering which class I got a D on is physical Ed class, it’s in the freshman year first semester. I know it’s a horrible move to make and I never skipped class throughout two years of HS. I didn’t participate enough in the gym because I isolate myself from others. Also, It’s hard for me to work with others. The most I’m concerned about is obviously 3 c in math and 1 c in English as well the d that will be forever on my transcript. As well not having much A’s. Also in sophomore I took 1 global honors class and that’s all. Didn’t get any honors class in junior and I also applied for ap class but got denied. I feel like I’m losing hope and I just feel stressed and scared and sad.
I still have two more years to come, Junior and Senior. If I do better than my last two years will it be able to boost my gpa with good grade first semester? And will I be able to add honors class in the next semester?
Throughout my two years, I didn’t do any extracurricular activities. I don’t know if this relate, but it’s called SkillUSA that I applied to in sophomore turn out I didn’t feel like I did anything except one student who is in favor by my graphic design teacher. But my graphic design teacher told me at the end of sophomore year that’ll I’ll be entering a competition in Junior year, hopefully and during my summer in 8th grade, I went to a summer youth program called Jacob Riis.
Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about my awful current transcript. And I just wish I push myself more. What I want to apply to is Art school and I doubt I’ll be accepted to one if this occurred again next year. Help.
CA public colleges don’t consider grades in non-academic courses. They also largely focus on grades earned 10 and 11. So - now is not the time to despair. I would counsel you to steer clear of AP/Honors classes. Focus on getting Bs or better for the rest of your HS career. Even if a C or 2 creep in going forward, you will have academic options going forward. With a GPA in the high 2s and an SAT around 1100, SF State, Sac, Humboldt, Stanislaus, Channel Island, Monterrey (among other) are all within reach. CCs are also a very solid option. Solid performance there can open up many more schools - and save you some money.
Thank you so much for your helping hand. When you said focus they largely focus on grades earned in 10th grade worried me a bit. My term 1 in sophomore was alright, I didn’t get any c’s but mostly b-, b, a-. And I don’t know if my school counts PE in GPA, but got an A’s on it. Now for my term 2 it started to get bad, I got a 70 in English and a 75 for geometry. I honestly don’t want to keep getting c. And for the SAT which I will take it next year, do you have some tip to get a high score? And is there a way to find the overall gpa throughout freshman and sophomore?
Yes, I would like to know how I can apply for ap and honors classes. Is there like step to take?
AP and Honors classes are administered by your High School so you need to check with your Guidance Counselor what you need to do to sign up for these classes.
If you are targeting Cal States and UC schools, they only use 10-11th grades in their GPA calculation but you are still expected to pass all your academic courses (a-g courses) with a C or higher in 9th and 12th grades to meet the course requirements.
Private schools would use your 9-11th grades and will also ask for 1st semester Senior year grades.
If affordable, I would look into a SAT prep course or get some books on SAT prep at your library or on Amazon to help you.
PE would not be considered an academic class. Foreign Language, Science, Math, English, History would be academic courses.
Here is a link to calculate your HS GPA: https://gpacalculator.net/high-school-gpa-calculator/
Will 4 c’s in my transcript looks bad, especially to art school? Would you mind seeing it? Will I be able to improve it?
Depending upon which Art schools you are applying, if you have to submit an Art portfolio, then the portfolio could hold more weight than your overall GPA.
I don’t know if I calculate it right. But this is my freshman year https://■■■■■■/cVwHiU and here’s my worst year https://■■■■■■/d3KdOU sophomore year. Oh, I have not yet submitted a portfolio yet, I decided I need to put more and get more inspired by another artist who had entered art school already. I’ve decided maybe I should take classes outside of school and create a portfolio from there or ask my graphic design teacher for advice. Aside from the portfolio is there another way to improve the GPA? I’ll have a conversation with my guidance counselor about AP and honors as when I get back to school next week.
First of all, colleges are going to look at your cummulative GPA from 9-11th or 10-11th, not each individual year. They will however look for upward grade trends or in your case a downward grade trend. You still have 1 more year to bump up your GPA before College applications are due and if you can take some Honors/AP classes that will give you extra weighting to help increase your GPA. Just be cautious and not take on too much until you figure out why your grades slipped Sophomore year. PE grades will not included in your academic GPA if you are targeting California public schools. Also Cal States and UC’s do not require an official transcript until you are accepted and enrolled so your D will be a non-issue especially if you repeated the class.
Regarding an Art portfolio, if required for your application, you will be asked to submit it in the Fall of Senior year when you apply to colleges so you have time to work on putting it together.
Right now you need to concentrate on doing well in your academic courses, start looking into some test prep and look for EC’s that enjoy doing. At the end of Junior year is when you want evaluate and start forming your college list based on the GPA and test scores you have.
Best of luck there is a college out there for you.
a couple of Cs on your transcript each year is OK - you won’t get into UCLA but, you would probably be miserable there. they really do look at the over-all academic GPA from 10-11 or 9-11. If you manage to complete the a-g courses and stay above 2.9ish - you will have non-impacted and some of the semi-selective CSUs open to you. Of course, CCs are also a viable choice.
Do your best and start talking to some of the schools that interest you. Maybe take a tour of SF State and talk to an admissions officer. They will reassure you and perhaps guide your course selection, trust me.
Kahn Academy has great and FREE SAT prep.
I don’t know how your school (or California in general) works, but in our school only final course grades appear on transcripts that go to colleges. You can ask your counsellor if this is true for you. If it is, you shouldn’t worry about any past quarterly grades. Moving forward, just try to make sure all your final grades are at least a B, and definitely at least a C.
Thanks to all of you for helping me out.