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Many students have problems with a low grade point average(GPA). It seems like you just zip through middle school without a hitch, then high school throws you for a loop.

Many straight-A middle school students get into high school and find themselves confronted with different teachers and harder classes that cause them to earn the first B’s and C’s of their school careers.

I had a hard time with the fact that my GPA was low when I was going through the process of applying at Ivy League schools. Here are some of the ideas that helped me. I hope they will help you, too.

Click here to learn AP test taking tips!

Here are three tips that really helped me a lot:

1. Take some college classes and do your very best in them.

Use your summertime wisely. Sign up for some college classes and do well at them. Choose something that dovetails with your natural and/or your academic interests. One example would be, if you are consumed with medieval history, you should take a course in Renaissance Philosophy. Because it is already your interest, you should do well at it. If it supports your major, that is time doubly well spent.

Clearly, seeing that you are actually capable of doing college level work and doing it well will look good on your application. This is a demonstration of your academic depth.

This is helpful because, your high school GPA represents your ability to perform successfully at the college level. If you take actual college classes and do well, it will counteract your low GPA and help convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes.

2. In your final semester(s), take lots of AP/Honors courses.

It goes without saying, you will need to do very well in your courses. You want your college transcript to give an accurate record of your school attendance, work ethic, and study skills.

I took seven advanced placement classes during my fall semester of Common Applications. It wasn’t easy, but the fact that I had taken all those classes really dressed up my transcript! The fact that the grades didn’t show yet was immaterial. The important thing was that my taking those classes showed that I was serious, academically speaking.

We talk a lot about trends in our admissions committees discussions.

One trend that looks good is taking lots of AP courses. This shows that a student is serious and has the potential to excel. When we see a student working in increments to improve his GPA, we sit up and take notice. Keep this in mind, too: It is impressive to see a student with low junior high grades gradually raise them. To see it happen the other way around, however, is not impressive.

3. Say a lot about your extracurricular achievements and your summertime activities.

Distract the admissions committee from your grades by demonstrating that you were incredibly busy with your varsity teams and your club activities. Discuss them thoroughly in your essays.

If the adcoms get the idea that you are spending tons of time on your clubs and varsity teams, they will think that you were just too overwhelmed to do any better on your GPA.

This is a good reason because, it is really not possible to get into Harvard without extracurricular and club activity. It doesn’t matter if you were the valedictorian of your class. If you don’t have team membership and club leadership behind you, you won’t be accepted to Harvard.

Click here to learn why high school admissions counselors waste your money.