"Bad" Freshman Year..... Dealbreaker?

**thescapeman** · 05-26-2012, 07:47 AM

Hi everyone,

I am glad to have found this site. I am currently a freshman at a well regarded university (top-15, generally considered very rigorous). However, I unfortunately didn't do exceptionally well this year for a variety of reasons (Ended with around a 3.4) and I am wondering if this will be a major problem for graduate schools.

Currently I have taken Micro (A-) and Multivariable Calc (B) and game theory course (B-)..... Next semester I will be starting the intermediate sequence and doing a lot more math. I am hoping to get around a 3.9 the next couple of semesters. I am doing research this summer and will obviously continue that work.

Do you think it will be possible to go to a well regarded grad school if I do well into senior year (at least as good as my undergrad?)

Thank you for your responses and for this great resource.

**OneArmedEcon** · 05-26-2012, 12:31 PM

You're fine. Just do better in the remaining courses.

**TomRod** · 05-27-2012, 03:13 AM

That's loads better than my freshman year.

Welcome to the site. Poke around a bit--you'll find the last 60 hours are given a lot of weight at admissions (but to all, of course).

**Humanomics** · 05-29-2012, 07:53 PM

If's it's atrocious, where the grades will scream at someone who opens your envelope -- mention it briefly in your SOP and say you've matured (if you have). Otherwise, adcoms usually recalculate your GPA using the last two years of your transcript. They don't give a **** that you studied the power points in bio 101 really hard your first year out of mom and dad's house.

**thescapeman** · 05-30-2012, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by Humanomics

If's it's atrocious, where the grades will scream at someone who opens your envelope -- mention it briefly in your SOP and say you've matured (if you have). Otherwise, adcoms usually recalculate your GPA using the last two years of your transcript. They don't give a **** that you studied the power points in bio 101 really hard your first year out of mom and dad's house.

No I did fine in most of my courses and have around a 3.4 GPA. The only slight issue I see is the B- in game theory and B in multivariable, but it wasn't disastrous (classes are curved to a B- and I am at a top 15 so I think I will be ok if I get all A's from now on).

Thank you for the replies.