I’m currently a sophomore in high school and was wondering whether I am on track for high/middle tier colleges (Umich, the UC’s, Rutgers, CMU, UTexas, NYU, etc.) Here are some of my current stats (note that I have two more years to go and I know that).
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=> Doing Chess Club this year
=> Making my own Card Game Club for Junior year
=> Student Council
=> Shelving and cataloging books at my local library
Notes
=> I am planning to take some SAT II’s this year (most likely Math 1 and Biology E)
=> I didn’t take Honors freshman year but I am taking the max number of Honors this year.
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Any advice would be helpful. Thanks guys.
What is your home state since you have many OOS public’s on the list which could be very expensive?
UC’s for instance will cost $65K/year to attend with little to no financial aid if you are not a California Resident so make sure you know your college budget before to focused on specific schools.
No AP’s offered Sophomore year? If not, then what do you plan to take Junior year?
Also the California UC’s only use 10-11th grades so for these schools you are on the right track, just make sure you take some AP or IB classes Junior year for HS course rigor. If you are not a CA resident than most of your 10th grade Honors courses will not be weighted for the UC’s in your UC GPA calculation.
For highly selective schools, they want to see at least 3 years of foreign language if not 4 (all the same language) so you will need to continue with French through Senior year.
You will be expected to have higher stats if you are out of state for the UC’s along with the hefty price tag of $65K/year to attend with little to no financial aid available. Unless you and your parents have an unlimited budget, UC’s are not worth attending if you accumulate a significant amount of debt. I cannot answer regarding the other schools on your list.
As a CA taxpayer I’m trying to raise one million dollars for UCLA so I just need to tip 9 OOS students with their approx $30K/yr OOS tuition to reach my goal.
Sure, the UCs are large publics with little personal attention and hundreds of students in most lower-division classes. In more popular majors like Poli Sci or Psych even upper-division will have more than a hundred. Papers and finals are graded by grad students all 4 years in these majors. And though majors like Econ make you take a set of classes to get admitted to the major, many kids make it thru the screen.
Don’t let any of that matter. Put Calif at the top of your list!
@theloniusmonk LOL! I was pondering over this comment for a little while and reached this conclusion too! Tanks for the reminder XD Do you think I’m on track, by the way?
It’s really tough to answer this without scores, your potential major or the school (engr, comp sci, arts and science) within those colleges where you’re applying. You do have a couple of red flags, the grades in architecture, the switching from Chinese to French when you got a C, that you may need to address in the open/more info section on applications. Also take Math 2 for the colleges on your list.
@theloniusmonk i haven’t taken the SAT yet, and I am planning on taking both Math 1 and 2 for the SAT II. Is that fine? Also, I have just started my sophomore year, so the C in Architecture will go up. I am not planning on majoring in Architecture in college (probably going to try for something math-related), so would my Freshman year Architecture grade impact me much?
The UCs only use 10th and 11th to calculate GPA so you’re ok there but that doesn’t mean they won’t look at 9th grade for rigor, grades etc… Just take Math 2 if you’re planning to major in something math related.
Come back when you are a junior with two full years of a GPA and actual standardized test scores. It is good to take school seriously and know that college will be on your horizon, but it is too early to start planning for specific colleges