5 answers
Isaiah
Student
Ontario
8
Questions
Updated
2855 views
Are Universities more considerate of your High School grades or College grades?
Back in middle school, I was that kid whose entire personality was basically just my 4.0 GPA. But when I hit high school, life decided to give me a surprise 'promotion' to Chief Sibling Officer for my two younger brothers.
If you’ve ever tried to negotiate with a 2-year-old or a 5-year-old, you know they’re basically tiny, adorable dictators who couldn't care less about my chemistry study schedule. My transcript has shifted to 3 A’s and 4 B’s lately, mostly because my evenings are spent de-escalating juice-box crises and handling nap-time protests instead of perfecting my notes.
I’m really trying to get my 4.0 mojo back, but I’m a little stressed. Do admissions officers actually see "not letting my brothers burn the house down" as a real responsibility, or do they only care about the numbers? And honestly, once I finally get to college, does my high school GPA follow me around like a ghost, or do I actually get a fresh start?
P.S I promise I wasn't slacking; I was just busy being a professional mediator and activities coordinator. If you've ever tried to explain to a toddler why they can't eat the dog's food while simultaneously finishing a history essay, you’ll understand why I ended up with a few B’s. I essentially traded a perfect GPA for "Senior-Level Sibling Management" skills.
Login to comment
5 answers
Irelis Rodriguez
Self published author
16
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Irelis’s Answer
It is okay when stuff get in our way, things happens in life sometimes which is totally understandable.
If you are transfer from community college to university, they will only care about the community college credits than the high school credits, but it will depends on the transfer policy from the university you want to enter.
Please make sure the community college you will be applied for, have all transfer credits for the course you taken for your degree which sometimes some college and university don’t transfer some credits if they aren’t partner with each other, if you aren’t sure about it, you can search in their college website or contact them for more information about their transfer credits policy as well too.
If you are transfer from community college to university, they will only care about the community college credits than the high school credits, but it will depends on the transfer policy from the university you want to enter.
Please make sure the community college you will be applied for, have all transfer credits for the course you taken for your degree which sometimes some college and university don’t transfer some credits if they aren’t partner with each other, if you aren’t sure about it, you can search in their college website or contact them for more information about their transfer credits policy as well too.
It’s a huge relief to know that universities care way more about my college credits than my high school days (phew!). I’ll definitely do my homework on those transfer policies so I don't accidentally take a class that goes nowhere. I’m going to go on a deep dive of some college websites and maybe bug an advisor or two to make sure I’m on the right track. Thanks again!
Isaiah
Meridjie Beaublanc
Student ,
2
Answers
Augusta, Georgia
Updated
Meridjie’s Answer
High school GPA matters mainly for getting into college, because admissions officers use it to see how well you’ve done so far and whether you can handle challenging coursework. That said, a few B’s here and there are not the end of the world especially if you have important responsibilities outside of school, like taking care of younger siblings, working a part-time job, or volunteering. Colleges understand that life isn’t always perfect, and they value students who show responsibility, leadership, and time management skills.
Once you’re in college, your high school GPA basically stops following you. Your college grades are what truly matter for your future, including internships, graduate school, and job opportunities. In college, you’ll see that success isn’t about being naturally ‘smart’ it’s about how hard you work, staying organized, and keeping up with assignments and deadlines. Many classes repeat material from high school, so even if your GPA wasn’t perfect before, you have a fresh start to focus on your strengths and improve your academic record.( Depend on your performance you got Dean's list and President's list to enter)
So, don’t stress too much about a few B’s you can always bounce back. Your “Senior-Level Sibling Management” skills, or any other responsibilities you’ve taken on outside of school, actually show that you can handle real-life challenges. With dedication, consistency, and good time management, you can succeed in college and beyond, regardless of a few bumps in your high school GPA.
Once you’re in college, your high school GPA basically stops following you. Your college grades are what truly matter for your future, including internships, graduate school, and job opportunities. In college, you’ll see that success isn’t about being naturally ‘smart’ it’s about how hard you work, staying organized, and keeping up with assignments and deadlines. Many classes repeat material from high school, so even if your GPA wasn’t perfect before, you have a fresh start to focus on your strengths and improve your academic record.( Depend on your performance you got Dean's list and President's list to enter)
So, don’t stress too much about a few B’s you can always bounce back. Your “Senior-Level Sibling Management” skills, or any other responsibilities you’ve taken on outside of school, actually show that you can handle real-life challenges. With dedication, consistency, and good time management, you can succeed in college and beyond, regardless of a few bumps in your high school GPA.
Knowing that my work ethic and organization matter more than a few past B’s makes me feel a lot more confident. I’m definitely aiming for that Dean’s List once I get settled in! Thank you!
Isaiah
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1205
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Isaiah!
First, take a breath. You're not behind, and you are not failing. It seems more like a student who had to mature a bit quicker than expected than someone who lost interest.
Officers who handle admissions are real people. They don't ignore anyone who isn't flawless and spend all day staring at figures. Yes, your high school grades are important when you apply straight out of high school, but they are not the only factor. They assess trends, class challenges, and your personal circumstances at the moment. A change from straight As to mostly As and Bs is very normal, particularly when life becomes more demanding.
The amount of responsibility you've been carrying will not be immediately obvious to them. They won't be able to see it if you keep it a secret. For this reason, it is important to include a personal essay, a counselor recommendation, or even an additional information part. It shows maturity, leadership, patience, and time management to assist with the care of younger siblings. These are genuine skills. It wasn't your decision to be less committed. You made adjustments.
Please listen carefully to this as well: There is no issue with Bs. Your future, your work, and your knowledge are not ruined by them. Burnout is not rewarded, and perfection is not expected at colleges. Perfect exam results are not what they seek; they want pupils who can manage real life.
This is the bit that normally gives you relief: your high school GPA does not follow you to college. A fresh start is yours. Your fresh college GPA matters for employment, graduate school, internships, and scholarships. High school is no longer the entire story but rather a chapter.
Right now, don't worry about the past; instead, concentrate on doing your best going forward. Continue attempting. Continue to ask for help. It's good if your grades rise. It's also acceptable if they remain stable. The most important thing is that you continue to make an effort while juggling responsibilities that the majority of students do not.
There was nothing that you "lost." You gained perspective, resiliency, and practical abilities that are not measurable on a transcript. Even while it doesn't always seem that way yet, that matters more than you may imagine.
Best wishes!
First, take a breath. You're not behind, and you are not failing. It seems more like a student who had to mature a bit quicker than expected than someone who lost interest.
Officers who handle admissions are real people. They don't ignore anyone who isn't flawless and spend all day staring at figures. Yes, your high school grades are important when you apply straight out of high school, but they are not the only factor. They assess trends, class challenges, and your personal circumstances at the moment. A change from straight As to mostly As and Bs is very normal, particularly when life becomes more demanding.
The amount of responsibility you've been carrying will not be immediately obvious to them. They won't be able to see it if you keep it a secret. For this reason, it is important to include a personal essay, a counselor recommendation, or even an additional information part. It shows maturity, leadership, patience, and time management to assist with the care of younger siblings. These are genuine skills. It wasn't your decision to be less committed. You made adjustments.
Please listen carefully to this as well: There is no issue with Bs. Your future, your work, and your knowledge are not ruined by them. Burnout is not rewarded, and perfection is not expected at colleges. Perfect exam results are not what they seek; they want pupils who can manage real life.
This is the bit that normally gives you relief: your high school GPA does not follow you to college. A fresh start is yours. Your fresh college GPA matters for employment, graduate school, internships, and scholarships. High school is no longer the entire story but rather a chapter.
Right now, don't worry about the past; instead, concentrate on doing your best going forward. Continue attempting. Continue to ask for help. It's good if your grades rise. It's also acceptable if they remain stable. The most important thing is that you continue to make an effort while juggling responsibilities that the majority of students do not.
There was nothing that you "lost." You gained perspective, resiliency, and practical abilities that are not measurable on a transcript. Even while it doesn't always seem that way yet, that matters more than you may imagine.
Best wishes!
Hi again, Chinyere!
I love the idea that high school is just one chapter and not the whole story. It makes me feel much better about balancing my siblings and school, knowing that those "real life" skills actually count for something. I’ll definitely make sure to share my experience in my essays rather than keeping it a secret! Thank you!
Isaiah
You're welcome, Isaiah!
Chinyere Okafor
Vicki Foley
Executive Coach
2
Answers
Princeton, New Jersey
Updated
Vicki’s Answer
Isiah, you seem to have a gift of writing and story telling! I hope that takes you far in life. In my experience, your HS GPA will not follow you once you have a college GPA and graduate from college. You have no reason to include your HS GPA on your resume once you've attended or graduated from college. I wish you best of luck getting accepted into colleges of your choice. I expect with your enthusiasm, spirit, sense of loyalty to your family and determination you will be successful!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1091
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Isaiah,
It's commendable that you have been taking on responsibilities at home and still strive to get a good education. That is part of life and part of who you are.
Home responsibilities count as extracurriculars, and you can write about your experiences when you write college essays and/or go to interviews. The skills you learn, e.g. time management, people and communication skills and crisis management also count.
Your high-school grades are an important factor (but not the only factor) to get into college. Once you have grades from college, those will be mainly considered. If, for example, you start at a community college and transfer to a 4-year university, they will look at your CC grades. If you get your bachelors and apply to graduate school, they will look at your grades for the bachelors. Trajectories are important too, i.e. are you continuously improving or slipping.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's commendable that you have been taking on responsibilities at home and still strive to get a good education. That is part of life and part of who you are.
Home responsibilities count as extracurriculars, and you can write about your experiences when you write college essays and/or go to interviews. The skills you learn, e.g. time management, people and communication skills and crisis management also count.
Your high-school grades are an important factor (but not the only factor) to get into college. Once you have grades from college, those will be mainly considered. If, for example, you start at a community college and transfer to a 4-year university, they will look at your CC grades. If you get your bachelors and apply to graduate school, they will look at your grades for the bachelors. Trajectories are important too, i.e. are you continuously improving or slipping.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP