<p>I'm a high school junior and I just recently started thinking about college. I will be the first to admit that I don't really care that much about school. Despite that, I get decent grades, take some APs, and after just doing my first SAT practice test I think I'll do just fine on those. BUT then I started reading this forum. Since when is a 2060 a "horrible" SAT score? Since when do kids do 900 community service hours and twelve extracurricular activities? Why does it seem like half of the kids on this forum are getting straight As and studying and stressing all the time? When do these children have time to have a life?! </p>
<p>So my brief and sort of vague 'what are my chances' question:</p>
<p>I've taken several APs, get mostly As and a few Bs. Think I'll score between a 2200-2300 on the SAT. I am interested in Writing, Fashion, and photography. I'm the Arts and Photography editor of my school newspaper and am on the staff of our school's literary arts magazine (will most likely be some sort of editor this year). I also volunteer at the local hospital, and some organizations through my church. I plan on majoring in English, Creative Writing, or Journalism.</p>
<p>So am I screwed? Should I have started thinking about school way earlier? Should I have studied way more, participated in way more extracurriculars, and found the cure for cancer or are all these kids that are freaking out way over thinking this?</p>
<p>What types of schools would be reasonable for me to apply to?
I'm interested in NYU, Brown, Vanderbilt, Boston College, and Columbia, but I honestly have no idea where I want to go or what types of schools I can get into.</p>
<p>I agree with you that it is quite silly how much colleges expect from high school students these days. You show a passion for writing/fashion and if you can get between a 2200 and a 2300 on your SATs you will be in good shape (especially with a high GPA) for top schools (maybe not Ivies depending on GPA). I havent really done any community service hours and only participate in maybe 5 extra curriculars. Not all of us are crazy, but those who are are pushed to do it because of the college admissions process. Don’t worry about what you could or should have done, you are doing fine and have put yourself in place to go to a great first tier university.</p>
<p>Well, it depends on what schools you are planning on applying to. People on CC get so crazy (myself included) over how selective admissions are to Top20 schools. A 2060 is not a horrible SAT score at all. It is above average. Trust me, standards on CC are inflated, but with good reason, because HYPSM are crapshoots in terms of admissions. Still, I would say I still have a life, especially because I try to incorporate a lot of my ECs into socializing with my friends. Kills two birds with one stone.</p>
<p>Gone crazy? In a way. Lots has happened. Grade inflation has become typical and kids with stright As are everywhere. You can get an A in an AP class while getting a 2 on the test at most high schools.</p>
<p>The internet has spread the word about top colleges to every corner of the US and world. Ivy league colleges and their peers have reached out to all with generous aid. International students want to go to school in the US in increasing numbers.</p>
<p>All of thee things have resulted in incredible pressure on top colleges. Schools that accepted over 20% just a few years ago are now accepting under 10%. The 2300 that would have gotten you into most schools a few years ago won’t today. Everyone has had to up their game to try to stay competitive.</p>
<p>I am tired of people blaming great GPAs on grade inflation.</p>
<p>(Tests aren’t getting any easier, and the answer is either right or wrong. . .) </p>
<p>No, it’s not grade inflation.</p>
<p>Ensuring success in a society that doesn’t give second chances creates the perfect circumstance for grade, standardize test score, and extra curricular obsessions in kids who want to live the American Dream.</p>
<p>I said this to another student on another thread. It is futile to try to make a school list with no test scores and a GPA that will be accurate (towards the end of Junior year.) If I had a dollar for every student that “expects” a XXX score on their SAT I wouldn’t qualify for need based aid. Research schools for your interests and major, other than that until you have scores and GPA, it is pointless.</p>
<p>Well, as a current high school student, I completely agree with you. We have all gone mad, myself included. All anyone ever seems to think about is getting into college. We don’t even have enough time to catch our breath before it is on to the next activity that will enhance our college applications. As we climb the grade levels and sign up for more APs, the number of hours we sleep decreases. It is all a bit sad, but at the same time, I can’t help myself. Neither can the other people on this site. </p>
<p>Anyways, I think schools such as NYU and Boston College would be good for you. Columbia and Brown may be a bit of a reach, but they are for a lot of people. You may also want to consider Wesleyan.</p>
<p>GA2012 MOM - I’ll never have a GPA, my school doesn’t do that. So I can’t help you there. All the colleges are gonna get to see are my As and Bs. As for the SAT, I’m just basing it off of my practice test, which is the real SAT from a few years ago, unless the SAT has gotten substantially more difficult, the 2280 I got on the practice test (800 reading, 800 Writing, and 680 Math), I think is a pretty accurate depiction, give or take a few points, that’s why I said between 2200-2300, although I have a while until I take the real one so hopefully I can bring my math score up. But as I said, it’s vague, because I just started thinking about college. I am just interested in knowing what types of schools I should shoot to be on track for.</p>
<p>No high GPAs in the USA are because of grade inflation. You can’t argue that when someone with a 4.0 UW GPA is getting 3s on the AP Exams and below 2000 on the SAT.</p>
<p>As a high school student, and a Senior at that, I can tell you that at least the school I attend and a dozen near us, there is grade inflation. Technically, is this not defined as when the curve for grade frequency does not match up near a bell curve? Technically, should the average grade not be a C, and As and Fs as outliers? It’s hard to argue to the contrary when classes are getting “honors” promotion for no half-decent reason, the honor roll comprises of a quarter of the school, and “National Honor Society” comprises of nearly a quarter of a grade, thanks to criteria of 3.5 UW. Think about that: a quarter of students getting As and Bs? Sounds like grade inflation to me.</p>
<p>On the other hand, yes, we have all gone crazy. I concur.</p>
<p>Sigh. If only my school had grade inflation : (. We actually have grade deflation. I got a soso grade in my chem hnrs class, but, without any prior studying, when i took the AP chem exam, I got a 5 on it.</p>
<p>Same goes with our humanities. Kids who got D’s and C’s in thier ap lang/lit classes got 5’s on the real test. The teachers in my school are crazy</p>
<p>yes, i think people have gone crazy, particularly on college confidential
according to CC, my EC’s are EXTREMELY weak- why? cause i only do what i’m interested in and i’m not interested in spending every waking hour on EC’s, i don’t like to speak in front of people, i don’t like giving people orders and taking extra responsibility (unless it’s something i enjoy, and no, i do not enjoy math or science competitions)
i’m someone who just focuses on academics and tries to get to the end of the day
nonetheless, i have a good SAT score, and good GPA, prob top 5% of a 400+ class
yet- according to this site, i won’t get into any top school so i’m screwed- however, like people say, it’s a crapshoot so i hold out hope that colleges can see that i’m someone special cause i have a life unlike other people
by the way, i think i have a good range of schools:
columbia university
university of pennsylvania
northwestern university
wesleyan university
new york university
syracuse university
boston university</p>
<p>if anyone’s interested, i’m from NJ, not that that matters</p>
<p>^
NervusBreakdown, if you’ve come to CC for an ego boost, then turn around and leave. No one here’s interested in playing the part of the elementary school teacher who says everything’s going to be fine even when it’s not. You need to stop thinking you are better than everyone here just because you disagree with their opinions. Your line of thinking “i have a life unlike other people” perfectly illustrates this. You’re not getting into Columbia or UPenn on the platform that, “I have a life. They don’t. Suck on it.”</p>
<p>That being said, looking at the thread, I think you really took a hit. You need to know that people on these forums are honest because they are fully aware of the competitive reality of top schools. It’s your option to reject others’ opinions. If you get in though, then tell me about it.</p>
<p>^^ I think perhaps the people on this forum are sometimes overly dramatic. My school sends a lot of kids to ivies and other top schools, and the kids at my school don’t all get perfect SAT scores and straight As and spend their whole life doing extra curriculars. I don’t think colleges are as discriminatory and judging and ridiculous with admissions as some people make it seem. And in the end, it’s better to do the things you enjoy than just waste the best years of your life trying to get into Columbia or UPenn.</p>
<p>Wesleyan University an interesting place. Even it’s name is a contradiction since it is neither terribly religious nor a true research university. It is a a charter member of the New England Small College Athletic League (NESCAC) so, very few people have ever heard of it, and yet, over the years, it has created a rather successful niche for itself, along with Brown, Vassar, and Oberlin as the most popular of the open-curriculum, politically active, arts-driven colleges whose appeal lies foremost with the rich and well-connected, and to those who wish to follow in their footsteps.</p>
<p>A roll call of Wesleyan alumni from just the past thirty years would read like a cross-section of the American Establishment, including Ted Kennedy, Jr., the coach of the New England Patriots, the president of Spelman College, at least one Bush nephew, the incumbent junior Senator from Colorado and, that would be without even skimming the numerous actors, directors, musicians and writers who have graduated from its notable humanities and arts departments. That’s Wesleyan.</p>
<p>CC people need to realize that it’s about quality, not quantity. U can take 15 APs/IBs, join 6 clubs, and do more for the community than Jesus did. But what good are 15 APs if u only pass half the exams? I’ll be satisfied with my 6 AP with good club affiliation ad community service.</p>
<p>Now, I understand that people here are top 20 potential. I admit that I am not ( I’m more like 25-50) If you guys want to spend all your time with a textbook in your face, more power to ya, and have fun at Harvard because you guys def deserve it. </p>
<p>So I guess what I’m saying is, there should always be a balance. Too much work is just as detrimental as too much play, just in different areas. If you can learn to balance fun with good academics, it’ll like having your cake and eating it too. My sis had a blast in high school. She got into GT with only 3 AP classes and average ECs and club affiliation. It was the quality of her work that stood out. I plan on doing the same in my quest to get into UT-Austin, among other colleges. </p>
<p>Our days as a kid are numbered; let’s make the most of it.</p>