I am a JR in HS. My cumulative GPA through my 4 semesters is 2.08. Is there any way possible that I can get it up to a status that colleges will give me a shot? Thanks and I know I put myself in a deep rut.
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Just like in anything else, there is nothing like trying harder. Your Junior year is an important one. Hit the books, study and don't be shy abut asking for help from your teachers. They want you to succeed and will help.
If you are going into your junior year, you must know you need to buckle down and really work this year to bring up the GPA.
If you are not able to handle a HS curriculum and baseball or any other sport, you will not get in at any school (and play), you are not showing the coach that you can handle the responsibility of both.
This is an important baseball year as well as academic. If you are a good player and bring up the GPA, I see no reason why you might not be able to fit into a program, perhaps going the JUCO route first.
I'll tell this story again, stud player in our area a few years ago, everyone wanted him. As soon as they saw his transcript, they stopped calling.
If you are not able to handle a HS curriculum and baseball or any other sport, you will not get in at any school (and play), you are not showing the coach that you can handle the responsibility of both.
This is an important baseball year as well as academic. If you are a good player and bring up the GPA, I see no reason why you might not be able to fit into a program, perhaps going the JUCO route first.
I'll tell this story again, stud player in our area a few years ago, everyone wanted him. As soon as they saw his transcript, they stopped calling.
i dont know what your schedule is like or what highschool you go to. but just so you know, your better off making A's and B's in easy classes then C's and D's in hard classes. if you are in advanced stuff and its to hard, drop those classes...maybe this isnt the case, but just an idea none the less.
Having a low GPA the first couple years of HS and then turning it around ISN'T a huge problem...
Colleges and coaches both will look at the turn-around in the GPA and recognize the maturing process.
This happens a lot more than you think !!!!
Hit the books hard
Colleges and coaches both will look at the turn-around in the GPA and recognize the maturing process.
This happens a lot more than you think !!!!
Hit the books hard
Brent,
It is definetly the latter. My schedule for Soph year was Honors English and History, Strength Training, Computer Aided Drafting, Chemistry, and Geometry. I did well in the 1st 3 classes but after lunch, I struggled.
It is definetly the latter. My schedule for Soph year was Honors English and History, Strength Training, Computer Aided Drafting, Chemistry, and Geometry. I did well in the 1st 3 classes but after lunch, I struggled.
Work hard to get your grades up as a 3.0 or above is much more desirable for colleges.
Also, do not forget to sign up and study for the PSAT, as it qualifies you for Pell grants. This is usually taken fall of Junior year. My son didn't study enough for PSAT and scored okay but not up to his capabilities but the result was that he studied his rear end of for the SAT and ACT and tested well in Jan of his Junior year and didn't have to retake the tests. I believe that NCAA has rules regarding a sliding scale GPA in line with higher ACT or SAT scores.
But the higher the GPA proves to coaches at the next level that a player's academic eligibility will be one less thing for them to worry about. My son ended up taking a regular English class his Junior year and opted for stronger Math/Science courses that year, after taking Honors English his Soph. year.
If you work hard and time-manage, you could definitely get those grades up. It's definitely not too late, so good luck to you.
Also, do not forget to sign up and study for the PSAT, as it qualifies you for Pell grants. This is usually taken fall of Junior year. My son didn't study enough for PSAT and scored okay but not up to his capabilities but the result was that he studied his rear end of for the SAT and ACT and tested well in Jan of his Junior year and didn't have to retake the tests. I believe that NCAA has rules regarding a sliding scale GPA in line with higher ACT or SAT scores.
But the higher the GPA proves to coaches at the next level that a player's academic eligibility will be one less thing for them to worry about. My son ended up taking a regular English class his Junior year and opted for stronger Math/Science courses that year, after taking Honors English his Soph. year.
If you work hard and time-manage, you could definitely get those grades up. It's definitely not too late, so good luck to you.
Keep taking as many "core" classes as you can. Build up extras, both for the clearinghouse and the resume. Duck nothing.
If your class rank doesn't change, so what? At this point, that doesn't matter. Do the best you can with a full college prep sked, but DON'T take stuff to pad your GPA.
Get help (hire a tutor/take a class) to put up as big a score on the SAT as you can.
BTW: As some of the old-timers already know, my oldest graduated high school with a GPA of 2.09 (below 2.0 heading to the senior year). He made it through the Clearinghouse because he had extra science and social studies classes to offset his weaknesses in other areas, and because he worked with a tutor to prepare for the SAT. He is now a junior playing at the D-I level.
There are others here that are or were in your boat. It can be done.
If your class rank doesn't change, so what? At this point, that doesn't matter. Do the best you can with a full college prep sked, but DON'T take stuff to pad your GPA.
Get help (hire a tutor/take a class) to put up as big a score on the SAT as you can.
BTW: As some of the old-timers already know, my oldest graduated high school with a GPA of 2.09 (below 2.0 heading to the senior year). He made it through the Clearinghouse because he had extra science and social studies classes to offset his weaknesses in other areas, and because he worked with a tutor to prepare for the SAT. He is now a junior playing at the D-I level.
There are others here that are or were in your boat. It can be done.
Talk to your academic advisor, let him/her know that you have "seen the light" and want to buckle down, they may be of assistance to you as well.
If you have the ability get better grades the schools will look at your transcripts and see hopefully dramatic improvement. That with a strong SAT will help.
Remember just because you "qualify" through the clearing house doesn't mean the school will accept you.
If you have the ability get better grades the schools will look at your transcripts and see hopefully dramatic improvement. That with a strong SAT will help.
Remember just because you "qualify" through the clearing house doesn't mean the school will accept you.
It's not very good advice to drop the hard classes for easy A's and B's. I think you only drop hard classes if you can't make a "c" and/or you are getting low AP test scores. My son got nothing but "c"s in AP calculas this year but he scored high enough on the AP test that he isn't required to take calculas in college. He had similiar results in 4 other AP classes putting him 30 college units ahead of his HS teamates that took non-ap classes but got straight A's. The admissions people also notice the AP/Honors classes.
Prospective employers (and I would assume admission counslers) want to know why you didn't take the honors classes if you had a high GPA.
Prospective employers (and I would assume admission counslers) want to know why you didn't take the honors classes if you had a high GPA.
Absolutely, drop any AP sections for regular sections, so long as they are "core" classes in the first place.
The objective here is to build the GPA, both overall and for the Clearinghouse, and not concern yourself with what anybody else thinks.
AP classes are great, but ONLY if you are dead certain you will get an A or B. Otherwise, you lose ground. For admissions purposes, they really only matter with the most selective schools.
Given the nature of this thread, you raise your GPA by doing the best your can in the so-called easiest "core" classes you can take (English-Math-Science-Sec. Studies-Foreign Language). Save the college-level work for college.
The objective here is to build the GPA, both overall and for the Clearinghouse, and not concern yourself with what anybody else thinks.
AP classes are great, but ONLY if you are dead certain you will get an A or B. Otherwise, you lose ground. For admissions purposes, they really only matter with the most selective schools.
Given the nature of this thread, you raise your GPA by doing the best your can in the so-called easiest "core" classes you can take (English-Math-Science-Sec. Studies-Foreign Language). Save the college-level work for college.
Everyone that is concerned with my school status be sure to read my post in the "youngest" forum in the General Items.
The head coach at a top 10 D1 program told my son that with the new rule that has scholarships tied to graduation rates they will be much more selective in the future. The cannot afford to have a player flunk out and not only loose the player but also loose the scholarship. This same coach felt that if a player did not have close to a 3.0 in high school they could be a risk for his program due to the time demands placed on student/athletes.
I'm sure that's what the coach said. And, depending on the school, I'm sure that's true.
I'm just as sure there's more than plenty of room in D-I for average students with average SAT scores who are willing to work at it.
I realize, because my kids have done what they have done, that this is a sore subject for me.
Yes, do your best in school. Beyond that, save the preaching for Sunday.
I'm just as sure there's more than plenty of room in D-I for average students with average SAT scores who are willing to work at it.
I realize, because my kids have done what they have done, that this is a sore subject for me.
Yes, do your best in school. Beyond that, save the preaching for Sunday.
lafmom, I sent you a PM.
A "C" in an honors chemistry class says something more than an A in earth science.
First thing, you must let your advisor know that you want to play baseball in college. He/She will choose the best core courses for you to follow at your level. Second is that if you have a low GPA, you must have a higher SAT/ACT score. It is pretty hard to bring up the score if one doesn't concentrate on higher math class. English is basic. SAT/ACT tests are designed for those wanting to go to college, so you are going to have to buckle down at some point in the classroom, can't all be about the field.
There are some basic courses that counted towards Clearinghouse credits, for example speech. My son took Speech I and Speech 2 and it counted as a full credit in English, his 4th year grade in English didn't even need to be counted. He didn't love taking all honors classes but they sure did help his weighted GPA. He dropped his AP classes for his senior year as he had already been given an offer and wanted an easier senior year. Because he had fulfilled all of his graduate requirements and clearinghouse requirements, he enjoyed film making, peer counseling, etc. I say work hard your first three years of HS and coast a bit and enjoy in the end. Also my son was on a block schedule, one of the reasons we wanted him the HS, not for baseball.
Many things have changed since then, so it is best to go to the clearinghouse asap in HS to see the requirements. Don't wait until your 3rd year in HS to find out that you messed up with the core classes. Shop 101 is easy stuff, but not going to cut it with the clearinghouse!
First thing, you must let your advisor know that you want to play baseball in college. He/She will choose the best core courses for you to follow at your level. Second is that if you have a low GPA, you must have a higher SAT/ACT score. It is pretty hard to bring up the score if one doesn't concentrate on higher math class. English is basic. SAT/ACT tests are designed for those wanting to go to college, so you are going to have to buckle down at some point in the classroom, can't all be about the field.
There are some basic courses that counted towards Clearinghouse credits, for example speech. My son took Speech I and Speech 2 and it counted as a full credit in English, his 4th year grade in English didn't even need to be counted. He didn't love taking all honors classes but they sure did help his weighted GPA. He dropped his AP classes for his senior year as he had already been given an offer and wanted an easier senior year. Because he had fulfilled all of his graduate requirements and clearinghouse requirements, he enjoyed film making, peer counseling, etc. I say work hard your first three years of HS and coast a bit and enjoy in the end. Also my son was on a block schedule, one of the reasons we wanted him the HS, not for baseball.
Many things have changed since then, so it is best to go to the clearinghouse asap in HS to see the requirements. Don't wait until your 3rd year in HS to find out that you messed up with the core classes. Shop 101 is easy stuff, but not going to cut it with the clearinghouse!
Keep in mind that college is not just about baseball.
Getting the highest GPA possible has advantages. But those folks on the academic side of the equation aren't fools, and they are seldom impressed by someone who takes the easier classes possible - regardless of their GPA.
The baseball coach's primary concern is the baseball program - academically your eligibiltiy is what matters to him (that you are eligible, that you stay eligible, and that you graduate). He also happens to be the one who decides who gets those baseball scholarships.
However the history professor (or math or english etc.) has a totally different perspective. Learning is a high priority to them. Professors like to see kids strive to excel. They are impressed when a kid takes hard classes. They are also the ones who will be deciding who gets those academic scholarships that are often needed when the coach only gives a partial baseball scholarship.
Both paths have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Before you decide what route you want to take you really need to know your destination.
Getting the highest GPA possible has advantages. But those folks on the academic side of the equation aren't fools, and they are seldom impressed by someone who takes the easier classes possible - regardless of their GPA.
The baseball coach's primary concern is the baseball program - academically your eligibiltiy is what matters to him (that you are eligible, that you stay eligible, and that you graduate). He also happens to be the one who decides who gets those baseball scholarships.
However the history professor (or math or english etc.) has a totally different perspective. Learning is a high priority to them. Professors like to see kids strive to excel. They are impressed when a kid takes hard classes. They are also the ones who will be deciding who gets those academic scholarships that are often needed when the coach only gives a partial baseball scholarship.
Both paths have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Before you decide what route you want to take you really need to know your destination.
But the history professor, unless that individual is part of the admissions program, doesn't decide who gets into college and who doesn't.
Until you know you'll get through the Clearinghouse, the "A" in earth science is a lot more valuable than the "C" in honors chemistry. "Just study harder" is not necessarily the answer.
Once you get into college, it's about staying eligible and graduating. Son brings home 4 Cs and a B and many high school parents would throw a fit. Same grades in college means you're one semester closer to graduation; that's worth celebrating.
Of course, you try to do your best. It opens up more options. But, I'm sure all of us know of folks who had real good grades and did nothing in the working world, and folks who barely passed and made a killing in the real world.
Until you know you'll get through the Clearinghouse, the "A" in earth science is a lot more valuable than the "C" in honors chemistry. "Just study harder" is not necessarily the answer.
Once you get into college, it's about staying eligible and graduating. Son brings home 4 Cs and a B and many high school parents would throw a fit. Same grades in college means you're one semester closer to graduation; that's worth celebrating.
Of course, you try to do your best. It opens up more options. But, I'm sure all of us know of folks who had real good grades and did nothing in the working world, and folks who barely passed and made a killing in the real world.
Old VAman,
You are correct, it's about getting into college and staying eligible.
My honors student with a weighted GPA of 4.2 in HS, got hit hard the first few weeks of college. Lots of distractions. It took a while to turn it around. Also, coach preaches importance of grades and his teams average is well over 3.0. If he was not a good student to begin with, don't know how he would have done. My theory, work like a son of a gun in HS, develop good study habits, time management.
Aparent,
good post.
You are correct, it's about getting into college and staying eligible.
My honors student with a weighted GPA of 4.2 in HS, got hit hard the first few weeks of college. Lots of distractions. It took a while to turn it around. Also, coach preaches importance of grades and his teams average is well over 3.0. If he was not a good student to begin with, don't know how he would have done. My theory, work like a son of a gun in HS, develop good study habits, time management.
Aparent,
good post.
Update, I got a letter in the mail that said that the teacher had looked at the wrong grade. The D that I got was replaced by the A that I earned. Therefore, the GPA soared.
My last post on this thread. How does one not realize they got a D when it was suposed to be an A? 
I guess all you have to do now is worry about your baseball.
I guess all you have to do now is worry about your baseball.
TPM
We've arrived at the same place coming from opposite ends.
Like I said before, this particular issue hits very close to home for me. The journey is now heading in the right direction, but unquestionably we're on the road less traveled.
We've arrived at the same place coming from opposite ends.
Like I said before, this particular issue hits very close to home for me. The journey is now heading in the right direction, but unquestionably we're on the road less traveled.
I got my schedule today and it seems that I will be able to do well this year. My dad lit a fire under my *** saying that if I got 4.0 the first semester then he would let me get my drivers license. And I have my own motivations to do well because I'd like to attend a decent college. Plus, baseball was taken away from me this year and I never want that to happen ever again. Thanks for all the moral support guys and gals and if you want, I can PM you my schedule so you can make a suggestion or for plain curiousity.
AK - Best of luck to you!
