<p>Hi i am a freshman currectly with 2 b’s after first semester and i think i am going to get one b this semester. Does this mean i can’t go to columbia? Do you think i can bring it up for the high school and get a 3.9 gpa? is 3.9 gpa good enough?
THANKS ALOT in advance</p>
<p>Lol you’re fine; great junior grades can easily make up for mediocre freshman year grades</p>
<p>but i will be taking IB diploma; are you sure i will be fine? because im very scared for this and is a 3.9 gpa good enough for columbia?</p>
<p>Yes, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>so there is no reason i should be tensed right now??</p>
<p>What is your class rank or estimated percentile?</p>
<p>i dont know yet because i am still freshman hwo do i check?</p>
<p>You won’t know until the next school year. Relax, enjoy summer, and kick azz the next 2/2.5 school years. 2Bs freshman year will not kill you anywhere (except Europe, where all they care about are grades and nothing else).</p>
<p>lol im just scared that i might get more B’s the school year cuz i will be taking harder classes</p>
<p>Grades are only 1 of 20 things that will get you to Columbia. Having said that, goal should not be to get into a IVY…you can be successful anywhere. So stop stressing and enjoy high school.</p>
<p>Attended a college seminar the other day. The counselor said…ask your parents where some of the top gigs in their company , went to college. You would be pretty surprised.</p>
<p>but arent grades the most important? and i want to go in the medical side do you have any tips that will look great in college apps and that will make me unique</p>
<p>To get to medical school, go to a college that will not be ultra-challenging or super competitive. And private colleges are expensive. Better off saving the money.</p>
<p>And yes, grades are important. Just focus on getting better grades this semester on…a B here and there won’t hurt. But it should be upward trend. Focus on class rigor. </p>
<p>Again, what I meant to say is to realize there are so many other schools that will be a good fit, so try not to stress already. You have a good 3.5 more years to go.</p>
<p>but all my friends have like 4.0’s and they make me feel bad. do you have any way that i can improve my math and writing skills over the internet not like classes but like free websites that help ALOT?</p>
<p>What math are you taking freshman year? Most people take Geometry or algebra 2.
Some students seek tutors or khan academy. For writing, you may also want to take some summer classes to improve if that is a weakness. Also if honors is not weighted, take the regular classes and get A’s. Freshman grades don’t count as much but if you are struggling in Math/English in freshman year, it will only get tougher. Better to get summer tutoring to get some practice. Some places have writing programs also.</p>
<p>Also if ECs are causing time pressure, ditch it for academics. This year, seniors with amazing ECs (some had opened companies and stuff), they could NOT even get into their state flagship since their gpa was average for the schools. Yes, GPA comes first and then the rest of stuff.</p>
<p>What is your sophomore schedule?</p>
<p>i am taking honors pre calc as a freshman, next year im taking ap chem, ap stats, ap env science, marketing/gym, english10, and french 3</p>
<p>and i self studied ap psychology this year</p>
<p>Pre-cal freshman year? That is tough. I took it sophomore but most take it Junior year.
And I took no APs freshman year. No wonder you are stressing.</p>
<p>Ok…just focus on next year and maintain your grades. I think AP chem is the only hard AP next year. Anyway…if you think your academics need a boost, get a head start over summer.
A friend of mine is taking SAT writing class because her writing is weak. So you may look into writing programs if that is your weak point.</p>
<p>Again, dont go through high school thinking of Columbia - you CAN be successful anywhere you go. About ECs, get a lot of volunteering done over summer. That’s what I am planning to do 
But find some cause or group that you actually enjoy working with.</p>
<p>what do you mean get a head start over summer? like study the barrons book before? and i want to do IB diploma and get ap scholar. do you think that will make up for my bad grades? and what else should i do instead of volunteering?</p>
<p>Ok…Sorry…I dont know about AP scholar AND IB diploma together. Isn’t it one or the other?</p>
<p>I think you should really sit down with your school counselor. You are taking too much on.
3 AP sophomore year is a lot. I mean there are kids who take it but majority take 1-2 at most. And they maintain their 4.0. So if you are not among those super godly ones who take zillion APs and maintain 4.0, why you are putting so much pressure on yourself? </p>
<p>About head start, I meant not the barrons book but maybe look into places that give AP chem preview or just look at the books online? Again, 1-2 B’s in freshman year is not going to break you. So just get over that. As an incoming sophomore, there isn’t a lot of summer programs but you should do what you like (check out the summer section in CC).
Also go to the high school section in CC. Maybe other folks can guide you more.</p>
<p>Also check this out <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1305028-official-columbia-university-2016-rd-results.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1305028-official-columbia-university-2016-rd-results.html</a>
You don’t need to overload on APs. Do enough to maintain the GPA so that you fall in the top 1-5% in your class.</p>
<p>i lost it at the beginnning cuz i didnt try and for english my teacher is the hardest grader ever, i am planning on doing chapter by chapter in the barrons book for apes and ap chem so the school year will be alot easier. is that good? and yeh u can get both ib diploma and ap scholar it looks great</p>