<p>I have a high SAT 1950 and a composite of 700 Math and 600 CR. I have been “provisionally” admitted to one of my top 3 choices as of now for Fall 2014. Here is my problem. My career gpa is 2.9 because of taking difficult courses in my small private school. It fell from like a 3.2 to a 2.9 thanks to the IB diploma junior year. </p>
<p>Well, this year my school changed its grading policies. Participation grades which made up 10% of our overall grade no longer counts. Homework grades don’t count anymore except for in math… thats 20% gone and now tests are worth 20% more. My gpa has taken a huge fall and I have become really really stressed out. I used to get between 75 percent on my tests and the homework and participation grades gave me a nice B- to B in my HLs and tough SLs… I have to maintain my grades for this college and they will see that in my final hs transcript. Now the trouble is, I have a hard time keeping my grades up because of this policy and even though I still have the second semester, my grades in the first semester are going to be like a 2.1-2.5. What should I do??? Please help…</p>
<p>High schools arent the only places that play with GPA. Colleges do it to, often adding weight to rigorous courses and throwing out non-core. Forget about what your HS is doing. The bottom line is to do as best you can, try to get your grades up, especially in rigorous classes. GL.</p>
<p>Get some outside tutoring and perhaps some coaching on different techniques to master material. Your school is moving to a college format where your entire grade can be based on a paper and 3 tests. There is rarely padding in college so really, this is good prep. </p>
<p>If these colleges accepted you with a 2.9, then it really shouldn’t be too bad. You can contact admissions and ask what GPA you need to stay at to hold admissions spot. Usually, you need to pass with “C’s” and with hard work, you should be able to do that.</p>
<p>I can’t agree with that. Many kids go to college totally prepared. Often, they find their freshman year easy because due to the drop in spoon-fed homework assignments. If the OP is struggling in class and relying on attendance and homework grades to pass then she should absolutely be getting some outside help in how to be an effective learner for herself.</p>
<p>My daughter takes mostly college classes now. Attendance is not included included in her grade. Yes, there are colleges that will pull a grade down for attendance but seriously, going to class should be a given and it’s not like just attending will pass you lol.</p>
<p>Who goes to class outside your major? Umm, anyone with a healthy curiosity of the world. If you aren’t taking courses outside your major you really are missing out.</p>
<p>Be careful handing out advice that isn’t sound. Colleges CAN and HAVE rescinded admission offers because kids dropped their challenging classes second semester. OP, contact the college and find our what their exact requirements are to retain admissions standing.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the wonderful comments! I really appreciate it. I would move down to easier courses or even drop the IB and take a few IB classes but the problem is that I have already done my TOK presentation and halfway with the essay. I think all my work would be useless but if I get below a 2.5, all the work won’t matter. Here are my iB courses just for information: </p>
<p>IB Literature HL
IB Biology HL
IB Economics HL
IB Chem SL
iB Math SL
IB Spanish SL
TOK</p>
<p>I got accepted to one of the toughest engineering program at the flagship state school that requires a gpa of 3.0 or higher but all It says is that I have to maintain my gpa. I think I might just pull things off at Cs and a few Bs. Its just that I am afraid that I won’t be maintaining my 2.9 gpa… </p>
<p>Have other high schools started to move in this direction as well?</p>