grades

[ShockerAutc]

When colleges are looking at you, do they look at trends in your grades ? Example if your first 2 seasons are around a 3.0 gpa but then then your last 2 yrs are around a 4.0 ?

[Mustangs21]

Its mostly your Freshman, Sophmore, and Junior year grades that matter becuase usually you already know where you going your senior year (if you already get accepted to a college your senior reportcard usually doesn't matter).

[hulllaxplayer]

senior year matters...

[DukeLax2]

generallly ur soph and jr year are the most important.

[tigerlax7]

well when COachTierney was looking at my cousin in a tournament, he immedietly took out my cousins permanent record of his grades and grade averages...Be sure to do good in school so you can be a scholar athlete

[DukeLax2]

brown said that i could get in with a 1730 on my sats and a c+ in my english class, and those are pretty sloppy grades for brown. it goes to show the benefits of being an athelete

[ShockerAutc]

Yeah, dukelax2, how were your grades b4 you got in?

[PBlax]

your GPA is calculated over the span of your highschool career not each year.

I currently have a 3.4 but im gonna push for a 3.6 so i can get into a top calibur school

[ron_burgundy]

yeah it depends on the school and how much pull the coach has, but you definitely don't need amazing grades to be accepted into even ivy league schools as an athlete. an upward trend in GPA always looks good, but with sports they are often looking at your standardized test scores. that shows them what potential you have...so admissions people can say well his GPA isn't too hot but he got a 31 on his ACT so if he works hard and uses the tutors and things we have in place for athletes he probably wouldn't have any trouble.

my friend was told by the hopkins football coach that they hardly ever have a problem getting in football players as long as their ACT is 29 or better. i would imagine the average ACT for jhu is around 32 or 33 and with stellar grades. and that's division III football.

[DeftGoalie28]

your GPA is calculated over the span of your highschool career not each year.

I currently have a 3.4 but im gonna push for a 3.6 so i can get into a top calibur school

Ur GPA is just for the year... its your QPA that is calculated over four years

[PBlax]

Ur GPA is just for the year... its your QPA that is calculated over four years

Huh? in NJ your GPA is calculated over four years hence why most colleges ask for your GPA not QPA. I could be wrong though

[ron_burgundy]

Huh? in NJ your GPA is calculated over four years hence why most colleges ask for your GPA not QPA. I could be wrong though

yeah you're right...qpa is probably just a term that this dude's school uses for cumulative gpa.

[CTlaxHead]

Almost all scholarships given out in an ivy league, nescac, or patriot league school are those of academic scholarships. So grades are very important there from a financial standpoint.

A 3.5 is around a 90 average, and that's where most coaches from top academic schools want to see your gpa. They also want to see your gpa go up, never down. And it is always better if the classes you are taking are harder. But don't take a tremendous course load just to take one. Make sure that you will succeed in these classes.

[Ryan37416]

Also, I dont know if CTlaxHEAD goes to a private school, But I do, and If your grades are around a B- average, dont panic b.c the colleges know that some private schools are tougher acidemically (Im not trying to sound like a dick but these are the exact words from my college councler).

Thats just for anyone who does attend a private school but besides that CTlaxHEAD is pretty much dead-on with the grades issues.

Also, Senior year is important too. just remember that for the younger audience.

[LoyolaMiddie878]

When colleges are looking at you, do they look at trends in your grades ? Example if your first 2 seasons are around a 3.0 gpa but then then your last 2 yrs are around a 4.0 ?

absolutely. it's one of the favorite things that colleges can see.

they absolutely love if you're hitting college on the up-swing.

[CTlaxHead]

Also, I dont know if CTlaxHEAD goes to a private school, But I do, and If your grades are around a B- average, dont panic b.c the colleges know that some private schools are tougher acidemically (Im not trying to sound like a dick but these are the exact words from my college councler).

Thats just for anyone who does attend a private school but besides that CTlaxHEAD is pretty much dead-on with the grades issues.

Also, Senior year is important too. just remember that for the younger audience.

Yeah, I go to public school, but you are correct, private schools usually have tougher academics.

[ron_burgundy]

i'd agree that most of the time private schools have tougher classes, but if you go to a really good public school and are in high level classes, i don't think there's much of a difference. i've even heard that my workload (tough schedule at a very good public) is more than a heavy workload at the nearby catholic HS. now all this said, i would guess that a real prep school like the ones where you can PG has harder classes.

[lax_agent003]

i go to a public school but were fairly well known by colleges for the rigorous classes. suposedly were like the 5 toughes school in the midwest or sumthin.. im happy

[OldGoalie]

I currently have a 3.4 but im gonna push for a 3.6 so i can get into a top calibur school

For starters, you might want to brush up on your spelling. It's "caliber."

:nahya: (Just busting your chops...)

[CHSlax]

lol its deffinetly true for that most part that private schools classes are much harder than public schools but unless you go to some prep school with a ridiculous reputation (i.e. Deerfield Academy) colleges dont take it into consideration all that much.

[egrlax10]

what about at d3 schools? i know they can't give out athletic scholarships, so are they tougher to get into as athletes than d1 and d2 schools if your grades aren't good enought?

[laxstar003]

Yes, it seems to me that D3 schools are much harder to get into as an athlete. D1 schools generally have a larger push in admissions.

[CHSlax]

actually not completely true. If you have decent grades like 3.0 and above and your SATs meet requirement the coaches can get you in. This is what nescac coaches told me.

[bpercival]

My suggestion would be just work hard, and get top grades, because if a coach is looking at youand onther player to see who out of the two gets the spot, and he decides you both are extremley good hes going to go to your grades and pick who has the higher grades he wants the full package rather then half.

[lax17man]

sophmore and junior years are the two years to be the best u can be...senior year u r in or not by then but freshman are still learning the new high school game..

[kmanlax4]

no it dosent u should hopefully be recruited or being recruited by then

[kjglacrosse19]

i was just wondering, b/c UPenn is the school im msot interested in and i read onlnie that the average GPA for an incomnig frehsmen is a 3.8....which is pretty crazy if you ask me...anyways, if somone had a gpa between 3.0-3.3 and pretty good SAT scores cood the coach get you in?

[smooth87]

The coach of UPenn doesn't have that much pull, compared to other DI schools, because it's an Ivy. I'm not completely sure, because I didn't apply there, but I think it you got alittle higher, about a 3.5 and you have great SAT scores and are highly involved in other activites other than sports, than you should be fine.

[lilaxgurl23]

The coach of UPenn doesn't have that much pull, compared to other DI schools, because it's an Ivy. I'm not completely sure, because I didn't apply there, but I think it you got alittle higher, about a 3.5 and you have great SAT scores and are highly involved in other activites other than sports, than you should be fine.

Well, from my experiences, let me say this. UPenn and other Ivy schools do have stricter policies, especially because there are no athletic scholarships offered and just for the fact that they are Ivies. If the coach truly wants you though, they will find a way to get you in. Now, you can't be failing, but if you are boarderline or maybe below to a certain extent, they will find a way to get you accepted. So coaches do have pull, if you are one of their top recruits.

[CHSlax]

Well from what the assistant at harvard told me that the ivy league coaches can get anyone they want in but thye have an average grade requirment for every recruiting class. So if they have a kid with a 2.9 they need a kid with a 3.9 or a 4.0 to balance it all out. The ivy league schools are the only ones who do this but its all about team average grades and they need to meet a certain requirment.

[CTlaxHead]

Ivy League schools can't promise a thing. The admissions office can't get back to you with anything until December. I don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't feel to confident with a 2.9.

I have talked to a lot of tough academic schools about playing lacrosse. I have an A- (3.5) average with honors and AP classes. I'm also an officer and co-founder of a community service club in our town. I also play other sports.

Guess what they say..... get that 3.5 up to a 3.7.

And if you have a 2.9 in high school, how are you going to be able handle a D1 sport and academics at Harvard? ??!!!!

Point is, work hard at school !!!

[sjp lax]

what colleges could you get into with a 2.3

[truth]

what colleges could you get into with a 2.3


Community...

[sjp lax]

Community...
besides community...im thinkin like franklin and peirce...green mountain things like that

[jtothep213]

i didnt read the whole thread and this might have been said. But now, schools are looking more at your ACT/SAT than your GPA. It still plays a mjor role, its just that grading is a subjective thing. One techer at a school could give you a C and another at a different school an A. Extracurricular activities play a good role too. I was at a post-HS planning meeting and they say being invoilved in student government regardless of position raises likelihood of acceptance to major schools by somehting lik 15-20%.

Do well in school, and on you ACT/SAT. Be involved.

[LAXMomx3]

When colleges are looking at you, do they look at trends in your grades ? Example if your first 2 seasons are around a 3.0 gpa but then then your last 2 yrs are around a 4.0 ?

While I didn't read thru the entire thread, it would seem your question was never truly answered. Trends are huge indicators. While wouldn't it be a dream to take all excelerated and AP classes and get straight A's 9-12, that rarely is the case. It goes something like this... an upward improvement in grades while consistently taking classes that challenge you shows a great deal of growth. Colleges like that. And you can't get straight A's freshman and sophomore year and then bomb out your junior year and expect to be taken seriously. UPWARD trends matter. Any dips in your performance should be explainable... a death in the family, illness... not I broke up with my girlfriend. :-)

And there is one more thing I've heard consistently: It also doesn't say much about your "reach" as a student if you're perfectly content with straight A's in regular classes. A "B" in AP anything is better than an A in regular classes, especially when it comes to elite schools, Div I or III. Even if your school doesn't weight grades, it's the principal of being engaged in learning for the sake of learning.

Your hugest load and most telling of your educational growth should be during your junior year. It is the first impression college have of you. Classes should be challenging and grades very solid. Senior year, unless you're applying early decision, at least the first quarter will be taken into consideration and more and more schools are requiring a final year Sr. transcript with the advisement that your offer of admission will be withdrawn if you fail to satisfactorily complete the year.

[disposalTURI]

i didnt read the whole thread and this might have been said. But now, schools are looking more at your ACT/SAT than your GPA. It still plays a mjor role, its just that grading is a subjective thing. One techer at a school could give you a C and another at a different school an A. Extracurricular activities play a good role too. I was at a post-HS planning meeting and they say being invoilved in student government regardless of position raises likelihood of acceptance to major schools by somehting lik 15-20%.

Do well in school, and on you ACT/SAT. Be involved.

That is false, my friend. Schools are not looking more at your ACT and SAT scores than your GPA. Are there some schools that probably do? Sure... but for the majority of colleges... your academic performance will come first. There are also a number of decent and good colleges that give you a choice whether you want them to use your SAT scores in their admission decision.

[goalieskcickay]

Can we please stop the generalizations right now?
Like the guy above me said, schools don't consistantly care more about your standardized test scores over your grades, for example. Schools look at you as a whole, not just based on one or two factors.

Also, if you're a stud athlete, it's just part of you selling yourself to the school. It's not like a get into college free card, it's an asset to your admissions process. Academics should always come first regardless, I think too many highschoolers don't look at the big picture nearly enough. When you're middleaged and all you have to say for yourself is that you once got into a great college because you were once the best attackman in the state, the folks at the unemployment office will undoubtedly be very impressed.

I'm not saying athletics shouldn't be a large part of anyone's life, just that an education lasts a lifetime, whereas being able to bench 400 lbs and rip shots 100 mph lasts about as long as your athletic career. (Which has a good chance of ending with college.)

[LAXMomx3]

Schools are not looking more at your ACT and SAT scores than your GPA. Are there some schools that probably do? Sure... but for the majority of colleges... your academic performance will come first. There are also a number of decent and good colleges that give you a choice whether you want them to use your SAT scores in their admission decision.

All true. More and more schools are making you ACT and SAT scores optional. However, it is still the case that the majority of elite schools want not only SAT scores, but SAT II subject tests as well (the majority want three of them). Here's the deal with GPA's and SAT's etc. SAT's, for the most part, only confirm a student's acheivement or ability. They also are indicators that a student will be successful at a school (without teacher bias that might prevail with GPA's). We all know "popular" or well-liked students who seem to always get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their grades.

HOWEVER, there are also kids who simply don't do well on standarized tests but are very good with the day-to-day work. This is where teacher's recommendations come into play as well. The poster who said it was the whole package was absolutely and positively correct. And unless a school has rolling admissions based on a minimum standard (which there are a lot that do), it will consider the whole package.

There are also smart kids who, for whatever reason, don't do the day to day work but who get high scores on standardized tests. Frankly, I don't know which is worse, but personally I would think this is one lazy smart kid. And lazy just wouldn't be a huge selling point to me as a coach. it doesn't matter how smart you are, you can't succeed in college with just getting by, especially at elite schools. And I don't know too many coaches who would want to invest their time and their budget into any kid who might not make it through the year academically.

More and more often, schools are getting some serious bad press due to their low athletic graduation rates. And when it comes to lacrosse, traditionally these kids have the high gpa's and the highest graduation and retention rates. As the competition among players rise, we'll have to see whether that statistic holds true, but there are a lot of football programs in serious trouble with their boosters specifically because of their low graduation rates.