<p>My freshman and sophomore years, I didn’t work up to my full potential and ended both years with about a 85 average.</p>
<p>My junior year I started working really hard (in a mix of AP and honors classes) and ended the year with an average of 94.</p>
<p>All together, my GPA is only about an 89 which I don’t think reflects my academic ability of where I am right now. How much will the colleges take into consideration my junior year performance over my overall gpa?</p>
<p>Most colleges look specifically for this situation. An upward trend is always good. Admissions committees understand that high school is a big step that takes some getting used to for many students, and how you’re doing now is more important than how you did before.</p>
<p>If there is a particular reason you didn’t live up to your potential in the past, such as family circumstances, moving to a new school district, or just needing to learn better study habits, take the opportunity to explain that in your application somewhere. Many, many students experience the very same thing and are not frowned upon because of it.</p>
<p>Okay, well I haven’t been tested but I’m pretty sure I have ADD, as it runs in my family, and I believe this is what affected my ability to get a good grip on my study habits untill my junior year. If I were to get tested and explain this, would it work in my favor?</p>
<p>It could only help, although I might suggest you mention it in passing as a contributing factor, rather than focus on it as an excuse. (I’m sure you grasp this already.)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that a full-blown battery of tests to diagnose ADD beyond a doubt can take many hours and cost thousands of dollars. Unless you are planning to get treatment and need justification for insurance purposes, I suggest you keep it to a simple session or two with your family doctor, who can at least document that you appear to have the symptoms of ADD, so that you have some backup for your claim.</p>
<p>My son also has ADD. About two years ago he decided that he did not want to be medicated anymore and dedicated himself to finding out how well he could do without any special assistance. He specifically does not want any attention or accommodation for his disability, but I think he’s wrong not to make his teachers aware of it, at least. He’s at a different high school now. His grades have not declined, but he works twice as hard as the other kids to earn them. It can be tough.</p>
<p>As a word of encouragement for you: In college there is less mundane busywork, which is the stuff many ADD kids have the most trouble with, so there’s a good chance you’ll find college easier than high school.</p>
<p>It’s a good thing that your grades are improving; it is a lot better than if it was the other way around…I would say that this shows that you are very motivated to do better.</p>