Tag Archives: GPA

Insight Scoop: Building a Strong GPA and Academic Story

GPA, academic plans, and transcripts – together, they tell an important part of your high school story to the college admission offices.

 

Do you have a good GPA? What criteria should you consider when selecting your future courses? Join our college admission counselor in an engaging webinar to learn how you can build a strong GPA and academic story.

 

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 18 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm (Pacific)

Location: Online via Zoom

RSVP for your FREE tickets now

 

In this online event, we will cover:

* What college admissions officers want to see in your GPA and transcripts?

* What is the ideal GPA for college admissions?

* How many AP classes do you need to take?

* What courses should you focus on if you want to major in STEM? Or in business?

* How to avoid common pitfalls in course selection?

* and much much more!

 

Our Speaker:

Zach Pava – Senior College Admissions Counselor

Academic planning and GPA in College Admissions by Zach PavaZach is the lead counselor and head of Insight’s Boston office. He also works with students from other parts of the US remotely. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford with a B.S. in Psychology.  Zach’s background in psychology and managerial experience has allowed him to assess the specific needs of other people. No two students are exactly alike, as each brings his or her own unique personality, talents, and goals to the admissions process.

 

Can’t wait until the event to meet with us? Contact us today and schedule your 1-hour personalized college planning session!

 

We are looking forward to meeting you! 

Team Insight

Help! I Got A D – Can I Still Go To A UC?

We have been asked the question “If I get a D grade in Freshman year, does that mean I can’t go to a UC?” 

 

Here’s the good news: YOU CAN STILL GO TO A UC!! So exhale, take your hand off the panic button and let that sink in.

 

(Prefer a video instead? Check out our Senior College Admissions Counselor Zach’s advice HERE)

Help I got a D Can I still go to a UC

But before we talk about how to fix the D, I want you to dig deep and ask yourself why you got a D in the first place, especially if this is in freshman year. School only gets harder, and it’s only going to get harder in college.

 

Perhaps you took a class that was way too hard for you in the first place, which is a common reason why someone might get a D. If that’s not why you got the D, then you really need to consider the behaviors and influences in your life may have led to this outcome. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO CHANGE??? These are deep questions, but important ones to consider so that you can be sure not to repeat the same mistake again. 

 

Ok, so let’s assume you answered those deep existential questions, how do you “fix” the D? Now, know that you DO need to retake the class. A D is NOT considered a passing grade to colleges. This is a little confusing because sometimes my students will hear that either the class is not required for college and they, therefore, do not need to retake it, or that D is considered a “passing” grade.

 

For your high school, a D is passing. You can graduate with Ds, but you cannot go to college with Ds. Colleges will give you ZERO credit for the class, just like you got an F. This is true no matter what the class is, even if it is not a required class. 

 

Insight counselor Jenny H reflected on her studying for the ACT test prep

You need to find a way to retake the class either over the summer or online or by repeating the class in school. Ideally, you want to take the EXACT same class to be sure that colleges will consider this class an adequate replacement for the class you failed. Be sure to verify in writing with a counselor at your school to confirm that the class you are signing up for will qualify as a replacement. 

 

On your college applications, you will have space to address this grade and discuss what you learned from it and how this experience made you a better student. Which is WHY you cannot skip asking yourself those deep questions of why you got the D in the first place. Retaking the class shows colleges that you care about learning and that you’re trying to fix your mistake, and discussing what you learned from the experience is a very important message to address in your college apps. 

 

All the best,

Team Insight