Cappex College Blog

Grades are cumulative, but junior year grades stick out larger and more than other years. So listen up juniors, the biggest semester of your high school career is just around the bend.

Junior year is the last full year used in determining college admission. For many schools, to get in you’ve got to get the grades. The second semester of this year, then, is your last chance to show potential colleges upward trending grades and academically challenging courses.

Upward-trending grades are important, particularly if you earned less-than-stellar marks during freshman or sophomore year. Some colleges do not count freshman year grades in their GPA. Others are more concerned with how you are performing as a student now, not when you were still adjusting to high school. Good marks during your junior year, even if the prior two years weren’t so great, could earn you a closer look from colleges.

A few A’s and B’s now can overshadow grades you would rather forget, especially with the right letter of recommendation from a teacher. If you are a student on the rise, a teacher can explain how your current efforts aren’t reflected in your overall GPA. Remember: It is easier to explain an upward trend or late-bloomer than a downward spiral.

If you’ve already got the grades make sure you don’t stumble. Use this semester to show your willingness to take on academic challenges. Junior year courses should include at least four academic core courses in foreign language, math, English, social studies and science.

Remember: freshman year counts, sophomore year counts, junior year counts and, yes, even senior year counts.