Advice for a Sophomore...?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I am currently a high school sophomore. If you have any advice or suggestions for how I could <em>seize this year,</em> I would appreciate it! :-)</p>

<p>I'm currently taking the following courses:
Computer Science 1 Honors (Graduation requirement)
Spanish 4 Honors (planning to take AP next year)
English 10 G/T (Weighted same as an AP class)
Chemistry G/T (prerequisite to Chem AP)
Precalc G/T
Orchestra
AP Government and Politics</p>

<p>Last year, I took these courses:
Gym/Health (requirement for freshmen)
Spanish 2 Honors
English 9 G/T
Biology G/T
Algebra 2 G/T
Orchestra
US History G/T</p>

<p>I have a 4.0 GPA, including Final and Midterm grades. The core classes that I'm taking are the highest available to students in my grade without skipping (I self-studied Spanish 3); despite this, I wish I had skipped something else so that I could have taken another AP course this year...</p>

<p>Regarding sports, I do fencing. Freshman year I aided an elementary school music teacher for a little while (50 hours, more or less, so not much), was assistant editor of my school's literary magazine, and won $100 from a poetry contest. This year, I'm part of Student Government, Literary Magazine (same position), and I'm planning to join It's Academic! and do steady (150+ hours) volunteer work over the summer. </p>

<p>I'm a 'good' student, but I feel as if I'm doing less than 'prodigious' students are doing as far as skipping ahead and EC's go... how can I shape up this year?</p>

2

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3

<p>What’s the problem? Looks like you are two years ahead in math and Spanish, and are in mostly honors or AP courses. Just continue on next year with the expected follow-on courses like:</p>

<p>AP Spanish 5
English 11 honors or AP
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus BC
Orchestra
additional courses like history, science, etc. as offered by your school</p>

<p>Senior year, you may want to consider taking more advanced Spanish and math at a community college if you are interested in going beyond what your high school offers in those subjects.</p>

4

<p>Thanks!
My concern is that these are very common creds for my competitive district, in which I go to a not-so-competitive school. And I do not play an interscholastic sport. And I am shooting for the likes of Dartmouth, Brown, Wellesley. And I am a worrier.</p>

5

<p>A great starting point for you to read is Cal Newport’s book “How to be a High School Superstar.” Your curriculum is on track, but what will separate you from others is how you spend the rest of your time over the next two years.
Fortunately, you are thinking about this question at the right time in your high school career.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your help! :-)</p>