They 100% matter. When they apply to college, their GPA will be calculated from 9-11th grades.

Anonymous wrote:1. I dont think they're that important.
2. GPA is important and 99.9% won't be recalculating GPA without 9th grade (ie UC). And 9th grade sinks a lot of GPAs, unfortunately
3. if in this situation, ONLY saving grace is swift and sustained uptrend.

How are 1 and 2 not saying the opposite things?

If you can’t have straight A’s starting freshman year, the next best thing is to show improvement year over year. Those grades are fine.

I think this is really common for 14-15 yo boys who lag girls in maturity and executive functioning.

Ask the specific school to whichbyourbkidbisbappkuing. Each college weights factors differently. A blanketed generalization is not accurate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stanford and the University of California schools do not consider grades from freshmen year.

UC schools definitely count first year grades for OOS, which is just about everyone here.

Is this written somewhere? I have never seen this policy. I am a grad (was in state at the time) and my older had acceptances and I have a high school senior now applying. They are pretty transparent about requirements, just surprised I have never seen this.

Anonymous wrote:Stanford and the University of California schools do not consider grades from freshmen year.

UC schools definitely count first year grades for OOS, which is just about everyone here.

If positive trend. It’s good my dc has B+ in 9th grade and straight A afterwards and got into an ivy and all public’s so it’s helps to have a positive trend.

1. I dont think they're that important.
2. GPA is important and 99.9% won't be recalculating GPA without 9th grade (ie UC). And 9th grade sinks a lot of GPAs, unfortunately
3. if in this situation, ONLY saving grace is swift and sustained uptrend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stanford and the University of California schools do not consider grades from freshmen year.

Not true, for both schools. They discount the grades, but they are certainly "considered".

True, while of the 13 UC factors in admission is the UC GPA which is 10th and 11th years, they look at the whole transcript.

Anonymous wrote:Stanford and the University of California schools do not consider grades from freshmen year.

Not true, for both schools. They discount the grades, but they are certainly "considered".

Stanford and the University of California schools do not consider grades from freshmen year.

A positive trajectory is good. Also, some schools do not consider freshman year grades. Emory is one example

DS did fine freshman year but grades improved markedly sophomore and junior year, like a maturity switch went off.
Grades freshman year weren't horrible, mainly B+, but just different from subsequent years.