Most colleges and universities consider grades from only sophomore, junior and senior years.
They don’t look from 9th grade. Even if this is the case, you should use the 9th grade to figure out what kind of student you want to be. This may include improving study habits, participating in class discussions, sharpening your writing and test-taking skills, and exploring elective classes.
Don’t just go for the easy classes. College admissions officers look at more than just your GPA. They will evaluate the difficulty of the classes you take and judge your grades accordingly. An A in Classical Guitar or Woodshop will probably have less value than a B+ in an Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) class. Many advanced classes can also be transferred as college credit. A student who scores a 4 or 5 on an AP exam will not only be able to apply those course credits to college, but he or she can include that score in their college application.
Many students work hard for two or three years and when senior year comes, they expect to take it easy to the finish line. This is usually a mistake. While the admissions process happens in the middle of your senior year, admissions officers will often examine your current class schedule. A sudden drop-off in motivation during your senior year could be the difference between getting into your top-choice school or being passed up by someone else who didn’t slack off. In some cases, if a student’s senior grades do take a precipitous drop, some schools will reverse admission.
Grades are important, but it’s not the only thing. Preparing for college causes many students undergo enormous stress with every single test and every single grade. Always strive to do your best, but remember that a sub-par grade here or there will not destroy your college prospects. Admissions officers are looking at the overall picture, trying to determine if you are a well-rounded and motivated person. Working through and overcoming life’s disappointments, even it’s failures, is a part of that.