Hi there. I'm a sophomore in highschool and my GPA average is a 3.1. I go to a high school with a lot of very smart, very impressive people, and amoung my friends I have the lowest GPA. I've been feeling very stressed about my GPA... worried that I won't get into a good college.

3.1 seems to be "my number" as it's been my GPA for a while... for whatever reason since the seventh grade I've always had averages around that. I've always taken a lot of honors and AP classes though...

I don't know what I'm really looking for here, maybe a little reassureance... I've tried everything to bring up my grades, staying after with teachers, getting extra help, doing extra credit, etc. But I still remain in that 2.9-3.2 range.

I've always felt that I was a smart person. Not in a cocky way or anything, but even when I was little, I felt like I was more mature, had a better head on my shoulders, than some of my peers, etc. Now though, I've been feeling kind of dumb. It seems as though everything is coming easy to everyone around me grade wise, and while I work my butt off and study, I don't get the results I want.

I don't know if it matters, but I'm a nice person (especially around my teachers) and one of the things I hate most is how disappointed they seem when I don't do well, I think because I'm the kind of kid who cares about schoolwork, and they see that... it's not like the slack-off kids in my class, who deserve the grades they get and the teachers know it...

I guess I'm just worried that any college I apply to will see me as one of the slacker kids, not one who tries hard and just doesn't make the grade.

Any Advice?

Talk to your teachers. They know you best and can advise you on what to do.

If you want success in anything in life you have to be willing to obsess over it. If you are working as hard as you can right now, then you need to work ten times harder. Devote every fiber of your being toward attaining your goal. Seek success like someone stole it from you and you have chased that person down seeking vengence. Be ferocious. Take initiative. Go above and far beyond what you thought you were willing to do before in order to make the grade. Dont just take whats yours but SNATCH IT!

This is advice that I gave to myself while in highschool and college. Im heading back to grad school soon and nothings changed.

It seems you're working hard enough already, so please, don't add more pressure on yourself.

As much as it's important to work as hard as you can, it's just as important to keep a level head and NOT become obsessive about it. Your happiness is key to everything you do. so take joy in how hard you work and how well you've done so far.

If you are smart, then this will shine through in everything, not just your schoolwork. Grades should not be anyone's sign of achievement. No matters what others tell you, you are not competing with other students. Some people are simply not academic, It's not a fault - it's just the way you're made.

There will always be better students than you, no matter who you are. Even Einstein was concerned by the advanced knowledge of some of his peers. What are your strengths? Ask your friends - I'm sure there's plenty of things that they look to you for.

Being a nice person, not just around your teachers, will prove you to be smarter than a lot of people for starters.

Keep faith in yourself. Continue to work as hard as you can. Be proud of your results, no matter what they are.

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
Muhammad Ali

Hope that helps in some way...

I am a high school teacher...

Is 3.1 the equivalent of a "B" in your school?

One thing I see is people freaking out because they/their children are not getting all As.

Truth is... not everyone is an A student. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, it just means you're a B student.

But a "B" in an honors or AP class also holds more weight than in a regular class...

Don't compare yourself to other students. I'm sure you are very smart.

You will be able to find a good college that will suit your needs.

But remember- they look at how well-rounded you are, as well as your transcripts. Sometimes students who kick butt academically, but don't join clubs, play sports, or do community service don't fare as well in the college admissions process. (And no, you can't put down the Org as a major activity! )

Don't beat yourself up. If you had posted that your cum was 1.3, I would have advised you differently...

Have a great day at school, and "do you". You'll be fine.

turn off your computer and study

Which subjects are you weakest at, and which are you best at? Do you have an idea what you'd like to do when you go to college?

Maybe you can do some extra project/s if the grades are not coming like you'd want. Grades aren't everything... Ask your teachers if there's any research project/s you could do that would look good on a college application. Maybe if there's a college nearby, you can attempt to talk to the professors... They may want a research assistant...

Rather than just thinking about the grades, think about what gets you excited about learning... do you like math, or writing... Build on the things you enjoy the most...

Grades are important but they aren't everything... some brilliant people are just not good test-takers...

Don't get stressed over not getting into the college of your choice... No matter which college it is, you'll have the chance for an excellent education... There are great professors at any college.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you enjoy learning.

As i say to my kids....did u try...that's all that matters

there is a career path for you to take that will make u happy

it may not require the greatest results...but work hard and try your best...that is the only way you will succeed

blame it on the boys...but i did not do that well in school

anyway

i am a very successful career woman

so do what eleven says... you will b ok

eleven said:

Ask your teachers point blank: "How do I improve my grades?" They have seen your work - your papers, your tests, etc.

Just studying isn't enough. You have to be studying the right things and the right way. That means being able to determine what the most important information is, in any lesson.

And don't rule out that your friends may be lying about their GPAs. I know you don't want to hear that, but kids often embellish to make themselves look better. I remember, when I was in high school, we had to do this thing in phys ed called the 12-minute run. We ran it outdoors on a quarter-mile track. There were kids who told me they did...like...10 laps in 12 minutes. That means they were running 2-and-a-half miles in 12 minutes. Instead of believing them (and feeling bad about myself), I should have asked, "So, you'll be at the next Olympic trials for track?"

chocolate1 said:

I am a high school teacher...

Is 3.1 the equivalent of a "B" in your school?

One thing I see is people freaking out because they/their children are not getting all As.

Truth is... not everyone is an A student. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, it just means you're a B student.

But a "B" in an honors or AP class also holds more weight than in a regular class...

Don't compare yourself to other students. I'm sure you are very smart.

You will be able to find a good college that will suit your needs.

But remember- they look at how well-rounded you are, as well as your transcripts. Sometimes students who kick butt academically, but don't join clubs, play sports, or do community service don't fare as well in the college admissions process. (And no, you can't put down the Org as a major activity! )

Don't beat yourself up. If you had posted that your cum was 1.3, I would have advised you differently...

Have a great day at school, and "do you". You'll be fine.

Beautiful.

Thanks for all the advice everybody

chocolate1 said:

I am a high school teacher...

Is 3.1 the equivalent of a "B" in your school?

One thing I see is people freaking out because they/their children are not getting all As.

Truth is... not everyone is an A student. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, it just means you're a B student.

But a "B" in an honors or AP class also holds more weight than in a regular class...

Don't compare yourself to other students. I'm sure you are very smart.

You will be able to find a good college that will suit your needs.

But remember- they look at how well-rounded you are, as well as your transcripts. Sometimes students who kick butt academically, but don't join clubs, play sports, or do community service don't fare as well in the college admissions process. (And no, you can't put down the Org as a major activity! )

Don't beat yourself up. If you had posted that your cum was 1.3, I would have advised you differently...

Have a great day at school, and "do you". You'll be fine.

Yeah, 3.1 is B... but that's with the added credit I receive for my honors and AP Classes. I am involved in three clubs, and I do a lot of community service... also play a sport and an instrument so hopefully that will help. I enjoy writing, so I'm hoping to win a contest or two in the next year so I can put that on my transcript....

You sound very nice, too bad you don't teach at my school!

TeenPr1nceChick said:

chocolate1 said:

I am a high school teacher...

Is 3.1 the equivalent of a "B" in your school?

One thing I see is people freaking out because they/their children are not getting all As.

Truth is... not everyone is an A student. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, it just means you're a B student.

But a "B" in an honors or AP class also holds more weight than in a regular class...

Don't compare yourself to other students. I'm sure you are very smart.

You will be able to find a good college that will suit your needs.

But remember- they look at how well-rounded you are, as well as your transcripts. Sometimes students who kick butt academically, but don't join clubs, play sports, or do community service don't fare as well in the college admissions process. (And no, you can't put down the Org as a major activity! )

Don't beat yourself up. If you had posted that your cum was 1.3, I would have advised you differently...

Have a great day at school, and "do you". You'll be fine.

Yeah, 3.1 is B... but that's with the added credit I receive for my honors and AP Classes. I am involved in three clubs, and I do a lot of community service... also play a sport and an instrument so hopefully that will help. I enjoy writing, so I'm hoping to win a contest or two in the next year so I can put that on my transcript....

You sound very nice, too bad you don't teach at my school!

please don't think me subversive when i say that grades aren't everything. obviously grades are important, this is a given for attaining high-paying jobs in certain industries.

but life is about a whole lot more than school. don't judge yourself as a person by a grade point. just my 2c

XxAxX said:

please don't think me subversive when i say that grades aren't everything. obviously grades are important, this is a given for attaining high-paying jobs in certain industries.

but life is about a whole lot more than school. don't judge yourself as a person by a grade point. just my 2c

Mega dittoes on that.

And this: We had a college seminar a month ago, and more than one college admissions officer said that extra-curricular and volunteer activities are extremely important. What they are looking for are kids that show initiative and leadership, within and outside of school.

As the college admissions officer from Texas A&M told me, "If we see a kid that scores perfect on the SAT and is class valedictorian but didn't do anything else, our first question is - how will a bookworm make our college better?"

Also, I found out that many colleges have automatic admissions based on SAT scores. Check out the schools you are interested in and see if they have an SAT score that guarantees admission. If they do, you know what you have to do on the SAT.

You can take the SAT as many times as you want. There are few times during the year that when you take the SAT, you get your test back and you can see what questions you missed, so you know where you need to work. I think the January test is one of those tests.

And, if you can swing it, take SAT prep classes. Your school might even have free, on-line prep classes. Check it out.

Good luck!

RodeoSchro said:

XxAxX said:

please don't think me subversive when i say that grades aren't everything. obviously grades are important, this is a given for attaining high-paying jobs in certain industries.

but life is about a whole lot more than school. don't judge yourself as a person by a grade point. just my 2c

Mega dittoes on that.

And this: We had a college seminar a month ago, and more than one college admissions officer said that extra-curricular and volunteer activities are extremely important. What they are looking for are kids that show initiative and leadership, within and outside of school.

As the college admissions officer from Texas A&M told me, "If we see a kid that scores perfect on the SAT and is class valedictorian but didn't do anything else, our first question is - how will a bookworm make our college better?"

Also, I found out that many colleges have automatic admissions based on SAT scores. Check out the schools you are interested in and see if they have an SAT score that guarantees admission. If they do, you know what you have to do on the SAT.

You can take the SAT as many times as you want. There are few times during the year that when you take the SAT, you get your test back and you can see what questions you missed, so you know where you need to work. I think the January test is one of those tests.

And, if you can swing it, take SAT prep classes. Your school might even have free, on-line prep classes. Check it out.

Good luck!

My niece is a senior this year. She took the ACT three times - just to raise her score one point. (She ended up with a 33 out of a possible 36.) She knows she's going to need the highest score she can possibly get, plus her 3.8 GPA, plus all her extra curriculars to even have a shot at the school she wants.

Last week, she got accepted to DePaul, with a scholarship, and was invited to apply for the honors program. I think she's still holding out for Wisconsin, but she'd be okay going to school in Chicago, for sure.