6 October 2011 archive
Are You a High School Junior with College Aspirations? 0
Grades have been shown to be the single most important predictor of academic success in college. The College Board SAT and ACTstandardized tests are not to be ignored but the more As and Bs you have in your record the more positive attention admissions committees, aka Adcoms, will pay to your application. If you are a junior, you can rectify some academic slumps in the freshman and sophomore years by finishing strong this year.
Rhodes College
But if you are looking at very competitive colleges and not taking the most challenging courses offered at your high school, it may be much harder. A few aberrant Cs will not automatically exclude you from consideration, but you may have to explain the reasons behind the lower grades. Many college application supplements, in fact, ask students to explain any performance that is inconsistent with the larger academic record. It is not uncommon for a strong student to experience a downturn in grades due to an illness, injury, family or school relocation and so on. (I did not like the teacher is not a good reason.)
In any case, print out and put on your fridge the steps you need to take over the course of your junior year. If you have any questions or want to know more about our services, do not hesitate to email or call anytime.
We are celebrating our 20th year of guiding students (and parents) through this milestone step teenagers take in life’s journey. We appreciate the opportunity to be part of it.