A Four Year High School Plan...yes...I like planning ahead

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I've been on this site as a lurker for a while now, but I had never had the absolute need to create an account...until now.</p>

<p>I just graduated from...errr...was promoted from eighth grade to high school. College has always been a must for me, and I really believe and care in getting a good education. (I'm Asian btw, if that makes any difference.)</p>

<p>But my goals are obviously the Ivies, or any good school. I have a whole four year plan, I don't know which classes to choose!</p>

<p>For freshman year, I have two whole year elective spots. I'm taking all the usual classes, English, French, Geometry, etc. at the highest levels possible (A and Honors; no APs until Junior year).</p>

<p>But here is my problem, I would like to take Latin I, Orchestra, the half year course of Digital Photo and Digital Film I/Digital Film II next year and sophomore year. The slash indicates that each is a half year course, which then equals a whole. I did the math and sophomore year has one whole year elective spot. The years after I already have planned, and the Digital Film classes I really would like to take so I can take a Broadcast Journalism class, they're pre-reqs.</p>

<p>So, for example, I could take Latin I and Digital Film I/ a half year of Orchestra this year, and then next year I could take Digital Film II/ Digital Photo.</p>

<p>But I want to put some Orchestra in both years.</p>

<p>My ultimate question is, what would be the most beneficial to help me stand out and do well? I enjoy everything, but if I dropped everything and only took Latin and Orchestra would that look too typical? I enjoy everything! But I want to show that I'm not just the typical Asian math nerd who plays violin. I don't like math too much, and I enjoy video, photography, music, journalism, writing, and debate/politics much more!</p>

<p>Also, are there any good online Latin classes that you guys may know of?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance, I hope this all makes sense!</p>

2

<p>Well, in my opinion, you should only plan 1 year ahead. Almost all kids who got the best grades in midde school have Ivy League thoughts before high school. For the major part of them, that stops.
Other things might come into your life. It’s best to plan 1 year ahead, in your formative years everything can change! Your interests will most likely vastly change.
Do what you like and are passionate instead of what colleges would like to see, and take it 1 year at a time. It’s nice to have an idea in the back of your head about what you would like to do after, but it’s best not to completely predetermine your future and close your mind.</p>

3

<p>The Ivy League applicant pool is already saturated with smart students conforming to the “HPYSM Standard” as it is. Like BigTicket suggested, do what you want to do, and not what you think colleges want you to do. Then, when it’s time to start applying for colleges, your passions and pursuits will set you apart from all the other drones.</p>

4

<p>just have fun for three years. you only get to enjoy high school once. don’t worry about college until the summer before your senior year.</p>

5

<p>hmm, thank you everyone! This really has opened my eyes, I think I’ll just do what I feel like. It’s just that I read all those “what are my chances” threads and the “what I wish I had known” ones and I get so worried!</p>

6

<p>Don’t let the other people on this forum get to you! A lot of them are guilty of the very thing we’re warning you not to do. In your case, however, you have plenty of time left before applying. If you are passionate about what you do and convey it well enough, you’ll be in a good position when application time comes around.</p>

7

<p>Don’t curtail your options because you want to get into an Ivy - enjoy the four years of your high school and blossom into a person those schools will want. </p>

<p>And I was terrified when I read the chance threads on this website last year, too - but I think things turned out just fine.</p>

8

<p>I had the best grades in middle school. All A’s, probably the smartest kid in my “graduating class”. I had dreams of Yale, Princeton, Cornell, and Harvard. Went into high school figuring I would get no less than a 3.85 gpa. I am now finished sophomore year. My GPA is 3.55. While ivy league schools are not entirely out of the picture for me, I am no top contender as of now.</p>

<p>High school is completely different than middle school. Classes are much, much, much harder. Honors and AP classes feel like honors classes, and every class, no matter what type (elective or core class) requires studying. The information is not going to be able to be BS’d and you need to study to do well.</p>

<p>The point I am trying to make is you can plan as much as you want, but you need to learn its not always going to go exactly as you would like. Don’t plan too much ahead, because if you do it might not just work, and you will be stuck.</p>

9

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<p>Not trying to rag on you here, Rbethell16, but this is another misconception: All As do not qualify you as being the smartest in your class. OP, if you’re not ranked first, do not despair, because there are a lot of other factors involved in college admissions.</p>

10

<p>shnn277 - And I thought I was thinking ahead as a rising junior! Haha I’m really just kidding.</p>

<p>Don’t sweat it. Really, you’ve got so much time ahead of you before you should start thinking about this stuff. Don’t let the word college even form in your mind until halfway through 10th grade and after you’ve taken either the ACT or the SAT I.</p>

<p>Everyone on here gave great advice. If you want to go Ivy three years from now, do it. I was just like you in 8th grade, top of my class with my head in the clouds. My test scores and other factors have encouraged me to apply Ivy, but many of my friends at or near the top of our class have decided to stay in-state for college.</p>

<p>Just do what you love, and everything should work out fine.</p>

<p>Good luck! :slight_smile:
(Also, get off this website and don’t get back on til you’re halfway through high school. 8th graders really shouldn’t be sweating this stuff yet… Heck, I’m probably sweating it way too much and I’m going to be in college in two years lol).</p>

11

<p>ahh, well, I love this website. It’s amazing. But yes, this really has helped me feel better. I think i’ll just do what I want and screw all the planning!</p>