Am I on the right path to go to an Ivy League School?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a sophomore, and I just recently moved to New Jersey from Georgia. In Georgia, the classes were in block schedule format, so each class was fit into a semester. I took </p>

<p>-Honors Math 1 (Geometry/Stats/Algebra2)
-American Government Honors
-Literature 9th grade Honors
-Biology Honors
-Spanish 1
-Spanish 2
-Symphonic band
-PE/Health </p>

<p>I got all A+'s in them, except Biology, in which I got a 94. I was planning to take all honors at my old school:</p>

<p>-Chem honors
-AP World history
-10th grade lit honors
-Math 2 Honors (Geometry, Algebra 2)
-Math 3 Honors ( Precalc, Trig)
-Spanish 3 Honors
-Spanish 4 Honors
-Symphonic band</p>

<p>I had a 4.0 freshman year, and a 101.25 cumulative GPA. However, when I moved to New Jersey, my new school placed me in all honors EXCEPT math. (The math level in Georgia is lower than New Jersey) Now, I'm taking:</p>

<p>-English 2 honors
-US History 1 Honors
-Spanish 3 honors
-Geometry Level 1
-Environmental Science Honors
-Symphonic band
-Study hall
-Drivers ed/PE</p>

<p>You can see that I have fewer academic classes now :( Anyways, I want to go to an Ivy League school, possibly Cornell, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, or Carnegie Mellon. I want to major in Engineering or Architecture(Not sure yet, so I am doing clubs to find out). I do art outside of school, and I plan on joining the art club. I just started learning how to draw, but I have some natural artistic talent, so I'm thinking I'll do well. I also plan on joining the Robotics team. I do soccer at my new school too. </p>

<p>I just moved, so I have to worry about making friends, doing well in school, doing well on the soccer team, doing well in art, music, Robotics club, and I also have to work hard to be put into algebra 2 early this year if i want to take precalc next year. I'm depressed that I didn't get into Algebra 2 honors this year(I missed 3 geometry questions out of 50 on the placement test for honors<didn't learn="" how="" to="" solve="" those="" problems="" at="" my="" old="" school="">). I want to be an architect or engineer, and with an important subject like math not taken at a high level, I feel like I'm not going to get into prestigious universities. I want my portolio to stand out, so that the admissions officers will know that I want to pursue the path of an architect or an engineer, but I don't know how to do that. I just don't know what to do at this moment. I was 1st in the class at my old school, and the student body was half of my new school. New school- 2700, old school - 1200. I had good connections with teachers, friends, and counselors at my old school, but now, I simply don't know what to do here at my new school. I want to go to an Ivy League or a prestigious university, but I don't know what to do at this moment. Help me please? What should I focus most at this point?</didn't></p>

2

<p>First of all, Don’t keep your heart set on going to an Ivy League. I’m not yelling at you, but I also had this mentality, and I hope you’ll grow out of it. An Ivy League education may be the thing drawing you in, but be sure that’s what you want. There may be better schools for YOU. Just find the perfect fit and be happy.</p>

<p>So apart from that negative note, You have excellent grades! Have you tried takling to guidance about the Math? As a response to all of your other questions, just follow your passion. If it’s arts and architecture, go for it! If it’s engineering, go for it! If it’s both, go for both! I’m not an expert in these fields, but Robotics seems like a great thing to do, as it has an “architectural” aspect to it where you’re building, and engineering obviously. Follow your passion and you’ll be set for an Ivy League. </p>

<p>If not Harvard, then Princeton ;)</p>

3

<p>You’re on a solid path but it’s really too early to tell if you’re going to be qualified for an Ivy League school. </p>

<p>All I can say is keep up with the good work and don’t be so concerned with the rigor of your coursework (until next year, that is… then load on as many APs as possible).</p>

4

<p>For an Ivy, I think you need perfect grades + close to perfect test scores + a huge portion of luck, OR really good grades and scores and a nice hook (academy award nominee, Olympic team member, awesome at football…) OR really good grades and scores and be an URM.</p>

<p>There are thousands and thousands of really really bright HS students with good HS ECs. That bodes well for the future of our nation, but gives you a lot of competition for Ivy admissions. You need to find a way to stand out on a national level. </p>

<p>Look into the professional trade associations for architects and engineers. Many offer student memberships. Try to work your way onto a national board or committee as a student member of a professional organization. Do you know any architects or engineers or do you parents know any? Try to get internships at their firms.</p>

<p>Try to find, or found, a group that works on affordable housing…(like Brad Pitt did after Katrina). Design affordable housing and see if you can get a prototype built for someone by the fall of your senior year. </p>

<p>Also keep an open mind - an Ivy may not have the best architecture or engineering program.</p>

5

<p>You may wanna take some AP classes.</p>

6

<p>Just continue doing as well in school as you can and stop worrying about college so much. You’ll be fine.</p>