Am I took late?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Well, here I am a High School Junior- looking back on my years and disappointed in myself.
I'm a very bright student, I'm just lazy.. I was wondering if being accepted into top-notch schools is too late for myself... here's my app</p>

<p>My School runs block schedules, eight classes total, some for two terms some for one term and AP's usually for 3 terms</p>

<p>Freshmen(Horrible year)
3.19</p>

<p>Sophmore Year - This last year was when I turned around and decided to be modaretely appreciative to school
3.79 GPA
Cumulative: 3.5
Algebra II - A/A
Trig - A/A
English - A-/A-
US History - A/A
Spanish I - A/A-
Business and Government Law - A-
Debate and Speech - A-
Biology - A/A
Chemistry - A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year - Currently in this one, and am planning to work my ass off
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AP Physics
Spanish II
English III
US History
AP Calculus AB
Advanced Speech and Debate
PE(required to graduate)</p>

<p>I'm 100% confident I can get an A in every one of these classes, putting my unweighted GPA for this year at 4.0- Making all three GPA together be 3.67</p>

<p>EC's
Speech and Debate
National Honors Society</p>

<p>EC's: I know I need more, but I don't know what to do/join.. advice?</p>

<p>Planning on taking the PSAT- I am pretty sure I can qualify for NMS... I don't mean to be arrogant or portray myself as that at all. I am just confident in my abilities if I pursue them thuroughly.</p>

<p>Also taking all the AP tests I can after my Jr. Year</p>

<p>Summer PLAN:
-TASP apply- IF I find a topic that interests me (I'm pretty sure I can do okay on the essays, I'm decent at presenting myself through written word.)
-RSI - I love Science, and would never want to regret not applying to a program with such prestige
-Debate Camp
-Study Abroad(maybe if I don't get in TASP)
-Volunteer somewhere
-Intern somewhere
-Get a job
-Spanish III at college(Approved by principle)</p>

<p>Sr. Year PLAN
AP Gov't and Politics
AP English Lit
AP Calculus BC
Spanish IV
AP Physics II
AP Anatomy
Maybe Psychology</p>

<p>I am ALSO confident I can get an A in all of these classes, placing my Sr. GPA at 4.0 unweighted(I'm not going to waste my time calculating weights because my school fails at calculuating them like the other schools)
Cumulative GPA: 3.745(round up to 3.75)</p>

<p>I Also have a Legacy at Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, and Stanford(all direct) Mother, Grandfather x2 Grandmother, Uncle {not in that order}</p>

<p>My major career choice at this time would be Law, I love law and every thing of it</p>

<p>I also know that certain schools like Princeton and Stanford don't look at your freshmen year, so I suppose this would still keep me in the running at those schools, Soph Jr. Sr. years if all goes according to my dreams my GPA: 3.93</p>

<p>So- after all of this, after joining clubs, maybe attending TASP(I'd LOVE to, I loved the topic at WashU last year....) All of the other things I listed- assuming I do well on the PSAT and SAT, being in the midwest(St. Louis- school has sent 1 person to an ivy in the past 4 years{Stanford[Not an ivy, but hell it's as good]})... am I still in the running?
I would from the bottom of my heart(cliche) appreciate any and all comments, it means alot to me. Thanks, CC!
-PT</p>

2

<p>I think you've been real honest with yourself here--and have rated your options pretty well (including knowing about the non-use of freshman grades at Princeton and Stanford--P.S. This also applies to the University of California system--so, even though you are out-of-state, you still have a good shot at one of the middle UCs--which would be UCSB, UCD, UCI, and UCSC if you are interested--and maybe even UCSD).</p>

<p>Yes, you have your situation figured out pretty good in my mind--and you need to remember that schools will give you credit if you show a greatly increasing GPA from freshman to sophomore to junior year. So now just go have a great junior year--and come back next year and let us know how it went (and study for those SATs before taking them).</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thanks man, it means alot... but UC's aren't really my main interest- I've toured Columbia already, and spoken with my relative who went there, he says he reccomends me to apply there(he studied Law) and said it was the best experience of his life- my main question I guess was am I still in the running for one of those types of schools? Saying hypothetically I did outstanding on my SAT and AP tests</p>

<p>Also... I kind of lack self-confidence.. mainly in running for leadership roles and joining more clubs... any advice? I guess those are my two main questions left. Thanks</p>

4

<p>Hey, everybody lacks confidence at some point in their life. The only way to get through that is by standing up to your self-doubt over and over and over again until it no longer is an issue.</p>

<p>P.S. Women were asked what the most attractive thing was about a guy at the age of 18. Confidence ranked #3--right behind Looks and conversational ability. (Finances and humor--which you probably expect to be higher--were farther down the list).</p>

<p>As far as Columbia--I don't know. I have a feeling those freshman grades will still hurt you a bit--but what the heck--go for it. If everything else looks good and you can show that's really where you want to go--they may just consider them an aberration.</p>

5

<p>Thanks :) I just noticed I spelled the title of this page wrong.. d'oh! I feel like an idiot.</p>

<p>Yeah I see... I'll try my hardest... I kind of have one more question, Cal:
Hypothetically, once again, if everything else was perfect on my APP, the only thing bad was my Freshmen year- Would i have a better chance at Stanford and Princeton then I would at say- other Ivies? I know this sounds utterly ridiculous question to ask, but family is constantly pressuring me to go to one of these three universities- and I too am now intrigued..
Thanks!!</p>

6

<p>PT1429:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Slight Reach (out of state)
UCSD: Match (out of state)
UCI/UCD/UCSB: Safe Match (out of state)
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Safety (out of state)</p>

7

<p>I really have no interest with any UC's except maybe Berkley..
I asked about Columbia :| - But still, thank you. And I'm still curious about the Princeton&Standford thing...
Also- What EC's should I join? I like tennis but I'm too nervous to try out.. any good ones that you all reccomend?</p>

<p>Basically
1. Columbia?
2. Better off with Stan&Prince on my situation?
3. EC's?</p>

8

<p>You're not looking at Ivies with those ECs. You need some dedication and serious time commitment.</p>

9

<p>too nervous to try out? i was too nervous to try out for the fall production at my school and landed a part. don't let nerves keep you down.</p>

<p>your classes are rigorous, and you're grades are good, but you're ECs are very, very bad. join a club, write for your newspaper, do something! anything!</p>

<p>however, i agree with that guy up there. i don't think you're looking at ivies.</p>

<p>i definately don't want to discourage you from applying, you should if thats what your heart is set on. there was a great story in time a few months ago about kids who got accepted or denied from harvard, and even some of the best students with the most ridiculous laundry list of EC's didn't get in. but admissions can always suprise you.</p>

<p>go for it! but work on the ec's</p>

10

<p>Hold on- Based on everythign provided, if I can work on EC's- can I be in good range for the ivies?
And when you say WORK on EC's... I have two years- not much time: exactly what do I need to join/do? My school has alot I just don't really know... Like, I honestly have no clue what to join- can you give me some examples? Anything... I've loved Columbia forever.. and i'll do what it takes.</p>

<p>Summary if you don't want to read that paragraph
1. Work on EC's = Put me in running for Ivies?
2. What specific EC's?</p>

11

<p>What specific ECs?! What do you WANT to do? </p>

<p>The point is not that you need certain activities, the point is that you have almost NONE. And the colleges will see you had few ECs Freshman and Sophomore year. You will also have less experience in the ECs you pick now, which gives you less of a shot at possible leadership positions. It does not bode well for you.</p>

<p>My advice. Fall out of love with Columbia. If you find some good activities and get involved, and get the NMS you think you can get, maybe you have a shot at Brown or Berkeley. Forget Stanford and Princeton.</p>

12

<p>I basically want to dosomething with law, anything interesting really- like i can't just say Here's what I want to do and find some magical club... right?..</p>

<p>Like.. I'm sorry I can't say which EC's I want to do - cause I really don't know.. I attended a couple tennis lessons in my Soph year.. out of school though.. I just don't know what else i can do... </p>

<p>I don't think it's not less of a shot of Leadership - I can still probably get a position if I really wanted, I mean the clubs at my school aren't that big, and if I wasn't so damn nervous I guess i'd go for leadership.</p>

<p>So basically... I have no chance in hell even with theoretically outstanding test scores, my bare minimum ivy acceptance GPA, my joining EC's this year, maybe getting a few minor leaderships, and becoming pres at one? :( Oh how I wish I had a time machine.</p>

<p>Forgive the typos, upset.</p>

13

<p>I know the feeling, try and do what you love to do
I guess i'm not really qualified to give you advice</p>

14

<p>High School started when you walked in the door Freshman year, whether you knew it then or not. Sorry.</p>

15

<p>Look, we're not going to choose your EC's for you. If you care about it that much, do some research. Which shouldn't be that hard since you're on campus. Stop being "nervous", it doesn't get you anywhere and YOU WILL be sorry. I was.</p>

<p>And getting involved late DOES mean less opportunities for leadership. You acn't expect the most active members of a club to lose a leadership position because you went out for it your junior year.</p>

<p>Many kids do many things. Some do sports, newspaper, student council all at the same time. Some kids throw themselves into journalism. Can you work on your schools yearbook? The paper? Broadcast? Sports is a different story. If you don't have prior experience, its hard to get into sports just by deciding to try out one day.</p>

<p>I don't want to be harsh, but I agree with the person who said fall out of love with Columbia... but don't fully give up hope. You could always go somewhere and transfer, or they could accept you. You have a small shot, but its a shot.</p>

<p>Kids who get in to princeton/stanford not only have high grades, but DO EVERYTHING, and not only do everything, but do it well and have leadership positions. You're missing that key element. You can cushion that fact by getting involved now, but it won't erase it.</p>

16

<p>Thanks, Jkid, I understand what you're saying.</p>

<p>I think that the end of the day, no matter what, I'm gonna apply to Columbia- but I will definately get involved this year.</p>

<p>I really like law, and I was thiking of applying to JSA this summer, and maybe starting a chapter at my school (I'd be president), also, starting a Darfur awareness chapter at my school (I'd also be president), are there any good EC's to do for law? I guess that was really my question- not to pick me EC's but to guide me in the right direction. :)</p>

17

<p>Totally, you have the right idea. Apply to Columbia, don't expect a sure thing, but apply. I'm applying to reach schools that have made my college counselor roll her eyes... because she knows I have almost no chance (my thread is "0.86 Gpa" if you want to read it) but I'm going for it just because you an never be too sure.</p>

<p>I'm into journalism, not law, so I can't give you a clue about what EC's look good for law (or if there are any?) but if there's a speech/debate or forensics team or club at your school, that looks good. A lot of speech kids I know are planning to go into law.</p>

18

<p>Haha, I know the feeling, man. This is kind of a personal question, but what caused your lack of school interest in the early years of highschool? For me, it was drugs... :( But for me, the angle of my essay is basically saying how speech and debate really did turn my life around, in a sense...</p>