<p>In all technicalities (just to resolve this question), even if Stanford doesn’t look at Freshman grades (like UC’s), they do. Not directly at the grades during freshman year, but the rank / percentage tier you are in (for example, rank 23, in the top 10% etc). Since your freshman year for most high schools is considered in the ranking/percentage system, it is in all sense “counted”. Thus, it is advised that you try not to mess up freshman year.</p>