@ClarinetDad16 , sorry, i meant that my advanced academics counselor asked them if I could go after my junior year (graduate a year early)
Also, do you have any ideas for any other extracurriculars that can help besides the ones I have? Also, Im taking the new sat this march (practice test score 760 on both reading and math, 1520 combined)
Same to @MYOS1634, Rice isnt my ultimate goal (if i graduate as a senior) but I just might have an opportunity to go after junior year.
@pianoswim - anyone can go if they are accepted - meaning they apply and are worthy of admission.
What is your true passion? Is there a club you can start? A club you can lead? Where can you intern to learn in the area you want to study in college? Is there an opportunity somewhere - maybe locally at Rice you can be a researcher? If it is music - can you attend a major summer music festival?
@ClarinetDad16
I am not sure of what my true “passion” is, but I currently love a lot of things…
I am the founder of Math Club at my school, and we do various competitions around the area
Besides the state piano competitions I do (and sometimes win), I also participated in the annual Texas Music Festival this year : ) it was amazing
idk about research/internships, I have been looking for opportunities, but I am not very sure because to be honest, I am not sure what I want to major in in college… will that have detrimental effects?
I am planning to start another club at my school (science, music, etc just some ideas)
Do you seriously think you can get As in most of these classes and Bs in the rest? If so, keep it, if not drop it.
Your EC’s are good.
You need to find one non competitive thing to do just for fun and plan your math sequence more carefully (your current plan is a terrible choice since you’re aiming for top25universities and LACs.
Your best bet for research is to see this summer both at rice and at a local college. The college’s prestige doesn’t matter, nor the topic, but rather finding anyone willing to let you help in any capacity. If you’re dedicated you’ll cone to love what you’re doing.
Why are you taking the sat sophomore year? Very unnecessary. Take it beginning/middle of junior year.
@a20171
My school is pretty easy as concerned with coursework. In all my AP Classes, there has been at least 1 test already and I’m not worried about keeping all As. however, I am concerned about if I can get 5s on the AP exam.
@a20171 also I consistently get above 1500 on the new sat practice tests, and that’s the only reason why I want to take it early. It’s unnecessary, but I’ll save myself some time when I’m busier in junior year.
If you can handle it… Maybe do it.
If you take almost all AP classes it would be very easy to burnout and be exhausted. ANYONE can take a full course load of APs… Not everyone can pull it off without spending late nights doing work. What I personally decided was…
-take at least one fun class (jazz band and concert band)
-maintain good grades (A’s)
-do not sacrifice sleep for homework
-don’t take an AP because of the AP “title”, take it for enjoyment
This year I am also a sophomore, taking one AP. Why? Well because my school only allows one… But there’s no way in my junior or senior year I’ll take 5 or 6 APs. If I am not interested in it, why take it?
Good luck!
You should not take the SAT sophomore year “to save yourself time junior year” because
1° top colleges frown on too many SAT attempts (3 total is a good number, 4 starts to look excessive, and you really don’t want to report 5 sittings to HYPSM).
2° sophomores never score as high as juniors
Your best bet is to prep and take a practice run sophomore year with one SAT and one ACT, if you wish; DO plan on taking subject tests in May or June, in the subjects you’ve completed, while the material’s still fresh in your mind. Aim for 730+ since for top schools THESE are the most important tests (they show content mastery).
Then junior year prep for the PSAT (scholarship competition, test in October - rank in the top 2% = winner!) and plan to take the test you did best in (SAT or ACT) a maximum of TWICE.
If you hit 2250 or 33-34, you’re good - even HYPSM don’t care whether you have 2240 or 2340, to them it means you’re in the tippy top and that’s they want, they won’t ponder numbers but will move on to the more important parts (SAT subjects, then essays, recs).
For merit scholarships, 2100 is usually the threshold.
Some schools actually require a test junior year
Plus, most schools arent accepting the current sat for class of 2018
oh my goodness… ok about the rice thing, i seriously think you should consider not going if they give you a chance to graduate early
as cliche as i might sound, you should enjoy your high school year. i’m a senior in high school now, and i have also gone the rigorous route with 10 AP classes, tons of ec’s, etc. but i still leave time to hang out with my friends and chill
if you dont stop and chill, youre never gonna have a chance to really enjoy life, you know?
i would stay in high school the whole 4 years and get admission to a better university!!
unless you really really want to go i mean…
thanks for all of the feedback!
I think you should reflect on what your interests are and whether you are enjoying high school. You seem to think that you need to take every possible AP class. This isn’t necessary, and is probably counterproductive. All those AP classes and all those math classes, every single summer sound like a recipe for burnout. Please take a step back and try to stop living the life you imagine that Ivy league schools expect. You won’t believe this, but you will be happier and a stronger candidate if you take some time to learn about yourself instead of frantically cramming the next AP review book.
Also, you said you want to go to an Ivy league college. So why are you interested in graduating early and attending Rice? Do you want to go to Rice or not? What’s the rush? It sounds like you just want to grab every bit of perceived status, whether that is taking more APs than the other guy or getting into Rice as a junior as opposed to a senior. This just doesn’t make a good impression.