GPA from 1.3 to 3.5

I think it’s impossible to get a gpa of 3.5 by the time you graduate. if you took all a.p. classes (which get a 5.0 a, rather than a 4.0) and got straight a’s, you’d still only have a 3.3 as an overall gpa. and I’m confident, (though not positive,) that you wouldn’t get straight a’s in a.p. classes. I would say your best bet is to do as well as you can, then after high school go to a community college. they’ll take anybody. do as well as you can in college, then transfer out to a real college. you screwed up, to be sure. -but you didn’t ruin your life. you got to start doin’ your best though. good luck.

~chip

thanks a ton. can someone els give me anymore suggestions/tips?!

I would love to get a tutor, but they are sooo dang expensive.

I know you asked this question like a year ago lol, but I’ll answer anyways. First-take notes! I know it sounds so normal and corny but I’m a freshman. I guess for the first semester I really realized how much of an impact these first semesters have on the rest of your life, but you learned that the hard way. For the notes just right down exactly what your teacher says! Secondly study-this sounds repetitive too, but trust me, if you take notes, all you gotta do is take a few and just read them. You don’t have to memorize sense you’re not that motivated, but just read them and understand them. do that a couple times, only once per day or whatever, and you’ll just memorize it a lil later and that’ll help you learn and do better. Third-ask questions, you don’t have to, I don’t really that much because yes, teachers really don’t care for you that much they just need a stupid job to take care of their family! so that one’s up to you. I asked a question like once or twice and my teacher got a lil irritated so I don’t know whatever you want. Now, the biggest one for now and of ALL!!! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! you can totally get at least a 2.0 from just doing your homework, yeah everyone copies, but try not to result to that every time, I copy, but ya whatev you gotta do it most of the time. you can try to ace all the homework, bomb every test but still be well off!!! hope I helped a lil hahahaha.

Take as many honors and AP classes as you can, they’ll help boost your GPA, provided you get As in the classes.

Ok, let’s correct a few common misconceptions off the bat.

First of all, taking an AP course does weight your grades usually (it’s done respectively be each school or school district), but not ALWAYS and it can differ GREATLY. But, when you apply for schools, they primarily look at your UNweighted average - the grades you have before AP, Magnet, &/or Honors points. The reason the above-average courses are weighted is because of their increased difficulties, so don’t take them just because they’re weighted. Take them because you feel like you can handle the challenge. Beware though, because if you must drop down to regular courses, you’ll have to catch up!

Also, not all schools or even teachers (my old high school had some teachers who did start off with an A & other teachers didn’t) start off with you having an A average. A lot of teachers still practice the ‘zere method’ or the ‘earn the A method’, where students’ averages actually start with a zero and students work their way up.

Don’t do what I’ve seen happen often and just slack off in the beginning. When I was trying to pick up on all my grades, I made sure that I had my momentum moving constantly. I ended up getting all As in all of my AP, Honors, & Honors Magnet courses - very difficult!

I am new to this site so I’m unaware of you can see my other posts, but look if you can. A few tips that always helped me and others: -Study everything AHEAD of time! Know the subject in great detail BEFORE you cover them in class. Be prepared with questions for the teacher and get to class EARLY. -Communicate! Speak with your teachers and let them know you intend to do your best in their course. Explain your efforts and I’m sure that they’ll commend them & be impressed - like I am with the dropping football. Anyway, this has helped me so much because then teachers know your committment and will work with you. This brings extra credit opportunities, possible point curves on tests, and extra tutoring or test tips. -Don’t study only around test time. This goes hand-in-hand with the first tip. You want to be sure that you know a subject well ahead of time. It makes test time WAY less stressful and you’ll do much better - especially if you get a pop quiz! -Talk to other students who have had your teachers. Find out what makes the teacher tick, where their soft spot is, and how they grade. This is extremely helpful! You’ll know what their policies are on grading, class expectations, etc . -Learn the expectations and go BEYOND them! It’s always better to have awesome grades in the beginning and have a small slip-up towards the end of the grading period rather than slide in the beginning and fight to pick it up.

Best of lucK!

ADVICE: First, study over the summer. You likely missed a lot of “building block” kind of information. Consider which classes were your weakest - if math, then yes, you are in trouble, start catching up NOW. Math is hardest to catch up on, as it’s the only legitimately cumulative class.

Second, if you have marked improvement, like, start getting all A’s (maybe a few b’s) your senior year - that’s FANTASTIC for college admissions. You could base your application around this process that you’re going through right now - around feeling like you have to change, and be better. What you’re doing right now is being more critical and self-evaluative than many straight-A students. It’s a valuable trait, and it makes for a great admissions topic.

My story: I flunked a few courses in 9th grade, then got 3.9 overall. It’s not something that takes “talent,” but it does take work. I’m currently a math/computer science major in college, and I’m doing very well. I’m very good at math, and good at proofreading.

NO IT’S NOT HARD TO DO THAT. LOOK you START SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER 2ND RIGHT. OK THEN THAT’S A NEW GRADING PERIOD AND SEMESTER. THEREFORE, ALL YO GRADES START FROM AN “A” AND WHATEVER GRADE you GET ON YO WORK WILL GO INTO DA GRADEBOOK & BE AVERAGED. you JUST HAVE TO MAINTAIN AN “A” OR “B” OR EVEN ONE “C” IN EACH CLASS. I KNOW DIS BECAUSE I’M A TEACHER ASSISTANT AND STUDYING EDUCATION AT COLLEGE. SO JUST PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, TURN IN YO WORK ON TIME, ASK 4 EXTRA CREDIT WORK, BE RESPONSIBLE, & JUST TRY YO BEST. REMEMBER your NOT STUPID BECAUSE WHAT I READ EARLIER IS that you SCREWED UP A LOT. SO JUST BE CONFIDENT AND YOU’LL DO FINE!!!