Hey everyone! I'm curious to know how much colleges actually care about your freshman year grades and activities. I know it's important to show improvement over time, but do colleges expect you to be at your best right away? Feeling a bit nervous about my first year of high school!
Hey there! Absolutely no need to panic. Remember, the journey through high school is seen as a progression. Colleges definitely consider your freshman year as part of your overall trajectory; they like to see growth and improvement over time. However, it's understood that freshmen are just getting acclimated to high school life.
It's common for students to have a bit of a stumbling start as they figure out how to manage their time and adjust to the rigor of high school academics. If your freshman year isn't quite as shiny as you'd hoped, you'll have time to compensate with stronger performances in your sophomore and junior years.
Colleges also value consistency and sustained involvement in activities, so it's good to start exploring your interests early on. But don't worry if you haven't launched a major initiative or won an award yet. Use this time to discover what you're passionate about and build from there. In any case, what's most important is showing an upward trend in both grades and engagement in the activities you care about as you move forward.
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