Schools That Don’t Consider Freshman Grades

For many students, the first year of high school can be a challenging adjustment. New expectations, increased academic pressure, and the social complexities of starting at a new school can all contribute to less-than-stellar grades. If your 9th-grade GPA doesn’t reflect your potential, you’re not alone.

However, there’s good news! Some colleges either don’t consider freshman year grades or significantly de-emphasize them during the college admissions process.

In this article, we’ll explore why some colleges choose to ignore or minimize the impact of freshman year, which schools follow this approach, and what that means for your high school GPA, class rank, and overall college application.

Why Some Colleges Devalue the Freshman GPA

Colleges know that the start of high school can be rocky for many students. From navigating new academic structures to adjusting to more challenging courses, many students find that their GPA in 9th grade does not reflect their true capabilities. As a result, some admissions officers choose to evaluate applications with more emphasis on sophomore-year, junior-year, and even senior-year coursework.

This approach benefits students who show an upward trend in their academic performance—something many colleges value more than early missteps. It also aligns with a growing emphasis on holistic admissions practices, where context matters as much as statistics.

What Does It Mean When a College Doesn’t Look at Freshman Year?

Schools that don’t consider freshman grades do not factor them into the calculated GPA that the admissions office uses. However, these grades may still be visible on your transcript, so they’re not completely ignored. That said, colleges that exclude freshman GPA are intentionally trying to focus on your academic performance from sophomore year onward.

This practice reflects a broader philosophy: students grow and mature over the four years of high school, and early struggles shouldn’t define their college potential.

Top Schools That Don’t Consider Freshman-Year Grades

It’s helpful that some prestigious universities can look beyond your performance during what is arguably the least important year of high school, though it’s important to know that all colleges look at progress. As long as you improve academically throughout high school, you will make a good impression on the admissions committees.

University of California System (UC)

Throughout the University of California system, which includes top schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, admissions officers only consider grades from 10th and 11th grade in their GPA calculations. The UC’s admissions process uses what’s called a “UC GPA,” which excludes 9th grade entirely, although students are still expected to pass challenging courses in their freshman year.

Stanford University

Though Stanford does not explicitly state that it ignores freshman grades, its admissions officers emphasize sustained academic growth and acknowledge the value of an upward trend throughout high school. A rough freshman-year GPA won’t disqualify a student who excels in later years and shows intellectual curiosity and resilience.

McGill University

While McGill in Canada technically looks at grades from all high school years, its admissions policies often rely more heavily on junior- and senior-year performance, particularly for U.S. applicants. For some programs, particularly in the sciences, McGill may place greater emphasis on subject-specific performance rather than overall GPA.

Other Schools with Flexible Approaches

Many Top 50 universities, including Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Michigan, use a holistic admissions process where early academic struggles can be offset by strong performance in the sophomore year and beyond. Although these schools may technically include freshman-year grades in their review, the emphasis tends to be on growth, effort, and consistent improvement.

Freshman Year Still Matters, Even If It’s Not Counted

It’s important to note that just because a school may exclude 9th grade from GPA calculations doesn’t mean the year doesn’t matter at all.

Course Sequencing

The classes you take during your first year of high school often determine your eligibility for challenging courses later on, such as AP or IB classes in junior and senior years. That means a weak freshman year can still impact the rigor of your overall transcript.

Class Rank

Some high schools include freshman-year grades in the calculation of class rank, which can still influence college admissions decisions, particularly at schools that consider rank as part of their review process.

Letters of Recommendation

Teachers who taught you during your freshman year may be asked to write letters of recommendation later in high school. Building strong relationships and demonstrating effort, even in a challenging academic year, can pay off.

The Power of an Upward Trend

A strong upward trend in your academic performance is one of the most powerful ways to overcome bad grades in your freshman year. Admissions officers take note when students show steady growth, improved study habits, and increasing rigor over time. A student who earns Bs in freshman year and As in sophomore year and then excels in AP courses in junior and senior year shows clear academic maturity and readiness for college-level work.

This upward trend becomes even more important when applying through Early Action or Early Decision, as colleges review your transcript before senior-year grades are available. In these cases, a stellar sophomore- and junior-year GPA is essential.

Strategies for Moving Forward After a Rough Start

It is never too late to prepare for your dream school! Your positive attitude will only motivate you to improve each year.

Focus on Core Subjects

Colleges place the most weight on your performance in English, math, science, computer science, social studies, and foreign languages. Excelling in these areas from sophomore year onward can help rebuild your GPA.

Take Challenging Courses

Admissions officers value rigor. If your high school offers AP, IB, or dual-enrollment options, consider enrolling, especially in areas where you struggled during freshman year.

Get Academic Support

If your early struggles were due to gaps in foundational knowledge, consider tutoring, extra help, or summer school. Improving in areas that gave you trouble shows determination and commitment.

Improve Standardized Test Scores

While many schools are now test-optional, strong test prep and solid SAT or ACT scores can help offset a lower overall GPA and demonstrate academic readiness.

Freshman Year Isn’t Everything

While it’s ideal to do well throughout your high school career, a difficult freshman year doesn’t mean your dreams of attending a Top 50 college are over. The key is to show growth, resilience, and a serious commitment to improvement. If you’re concerned about your GPA or how your transcript will be perceived, remember that every year of high school is a new opportunity to show what you’re capable of.

Get Help in Navigating a Bumpy Start

At Spark Admissions, we understand that every student’s academic journey is different. If your freshman-year grades weren’t ideal, we can help you create a personalized strategy to highlight your strengths, build an upward academic trend, and stand out in the college admissions process. From course selection and test prep to developing a compelling narrative for your college application, our expert counselors will work with you one-on-one to help you make the most of your remaining years of high school.

Let Spark Admissions guide you toward a stronger academic future. One rough semester shouldn’t define your collegiate potential.

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