<p>I go to a top-5 public HS in the US.
I did really well in the HS classes I took in middle school, but I didn't do well freshman year. No C's, but quite a few B+'s and even a B-, I got a total of 2 A's, and one A-.
So, my current GPA is floating around 3.9 something weighted.
Hypothetically speaking, if I get straight A's the rest of high school, and take some relatively challenging courses, I can get a 4.4. However, being realistic, I think I'm aiming for high 4.3 (so like about 4.35).
Am I screwed? I understand that colleges like to see improvement, but I feel like in the end, the elite colleges I want to apply to, such as Ivies, Stanford, CalTech, will look at the difference between me and my competition, and mark me down for a bad freshman year.
I had strong extracuriculars, but the thing is I don't know if I'm going to carry with all of mine throughout the four years. Student Government I was in this year, but didn't get re-elected for sophomore year.
I wanted to play basketball in college for like an Ivy League school, but this year, I was voted in as captain, but I didn't get much playing time. To make matters worse, the guys that do play, I have poor chemistry with on and off the court. I don't associate myself with those guys, because they don't exemplify much moral behavior. They cheat in school and hang out with the wrong crowd. So, is playing Ivy League basketball realistic? Right now, I don't think so, so should I quit basketball to focus on my studies? What other sports are easier to play and look decent for college. Is it still decent if I play another sport for 3 years but I letter in it, and it's less of a time commitment compared to basketball, which would allow me to focus on studies more? Does basketball look good at all on my college app if it's not likely that their going to give me a scholarship for it?
I'm trying to up-my extracurriculars and make them more academic and community service oriented. Maybe throw in science fair, debate, environmental science organizations, stuff like that. But, going to a top 5 public HS, my aims are the top tier schools.
My brother is going to an Ivy League school, but he never showed much improvement. He always had the same grades, though he did have a solid 4.4+ GPA.
How will my freshman year affect me (minus University of Cal schools). What do I do to improve my strength as an applicant.</p>
<p>Alright, where do I start. First of all, we don’t know your weighting system, so those GPAs mean absolutely nothing to me. At my school you could get a 5.875 if you took all APs and got 100s (not actually possible to take only AP, but you get what I’m saying). Many schools won’t care about your A- as different from an A, so 3 As isn’t really that bad.</p>
<p>The Ivies, Stanford, CalTech barely accept anyone anyway, so there are plenty of reasons you could be rejected. However, I don’t think some Bs Freshman year would really hurt your chances that much. Take a rigorous course load, get a really high SAT/ACT score, etc. and your chances aren’t really destroyed by some Bs.</p>
<p>You need to have ECs that you’re passionate about, so if you don’t like what you’re in, find something you love. You can’t just pick some sport to look good if you don’t actually like the sport. The fact that you want an easy sport makes me think you’re just trying to pad your resume. Find stuff you like, don’t just try and make yourself seem good.</p>
<p>Apply to safeties, matching, etc. and don’t get obsessed with getting into the Ivies. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get into them.</p>
<p>Crimsonstained is right. You’re asking the wrong questions, especially about your ECs. Look for things you like to do, and that you do well, and put a lot of energy (“work hard”) into them. This, along with good academics, will lead you to the college that fits you best.</p>
<p>If you are going to what is truly a top 5 high school in whatever rankings you are using, but if it is truly a top high school known to the top colleges, your freshman year grades may not hurt you if you do very well in the future. It is an issue, and it could be an elimination factor, but I’ve seen many kids who go to these top schools still get accepted to ivy league and other top schools with a weak freshman year. Some schools, Stanford specifically says this, will not even count your freshman year GPA.</p>
<p>As for basketball or any sport putting you into the category of a recruited athlete, you had better be danged good. Stanford, the Ivies are all Division 1 schools, and the recruits that I 've seen going there, are at the top of their game. It’s a little early to tell with you, whether you are in that category. Something you need to discuss with your coach. That is a whole other world, that of college sports recruiting. I know a young man who is hoping to play college ball, and it’s touch and go yet for him, and he has played varsity from the get go. I just went to a track and field banquet and there were top state qualifiers, but the number out about 30 seniors going on to college athletics was about 3 and only one in a D-1 setting. Getting in through sports is not an easy thing to do. You have to be very, very good to play at the NCAA level. And it’s the coaches you have to convince at each school to designate you as a recruit.</p>
<p>-“top-5 public high school”
-brother “going to an Ivy League school”
-some of the post sounds like a HS freshman perspective, some sounds like an upperclassman
-played basketball all my life but I want to drop it and need suggestions for better ECs
-First post</p>
<p>I call ■■■■■…</p>
<p>Well, I really do enjoy playing basketball. Problem is, practices are 6 days a week, 2 and a half hours a day, and our school day ends at 4PM (much later than base school) to begin with. Seeing as it’s a major time commitment, I seriously wonder if at times it hurts me academically.</p>
<p>Our school was ranked in the top 5 this year by usnews [Best</a> High Schools Rankings | Top High Schools | US News](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings]Best”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings)
You get .5 extra weighting for honors, +1 for AP, an A is 4.0, A- 3.7, B+ 3.3, B 3.0, so on. </p>
<p>I’m aware that the world isn’t about Ivies and elite schools. I’m totally content with going to schools like Cal, William/Mary, Gtech, Illinois, UMiami, NYU, but I don’t see why not shoot for the elite schools.</p>
<p>Those ARE elite schools.</p>
<p>The Ivies you mention are a stretch for almost everyone (e.g., they say “no” to ~ 85% of the valedictorians who apply.) Trying to suss out what those schools want is a fool’s errand. Do what floats your boat and the admissions to schools that fit will come your way.</p>