Chance a worried Junior for FSU? FSU Experts help!!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>Hey guys new to the forums but a long time lurker</p>

<p>Junior in Highschool
White Male
<strong><em>(I have a question though, my mother is from South Africa, am I allowed to put "African American" on application?, none of my family is black, we are all white)</em></strong></p>

<p>Classes taken so far: (only listing academic classes)</p>

<p>Regular:</p>

<p>Algebra 1 - C (took this class on FLVS in 8th grade, did not know it would reflect on highschool transcripts...did not take class seriously making up class and I have a B, this grade will chage to a B hopefully is FSU acknowledges.
Algebra 2 - C
Spanish 1 - B
Spanish 2 - B</p>

<p>Honors: </p>

<p>Pre Calculus - B
Biology 1 - C
Chemistry 1 - C
English 1 - C
English 2 - B</p>

<p>Adanved Placement: (I have not passed any of the tests)</p>

<p>AP Art History - A
AP Comparative Gov. - C
AP English Language - B
AP US Gov. - C
AP Biology - B
AP US Hist. - B
AP Human Geo - B
AP World - A
AP Psychology - A</p>

<p>Dual Enrollment:</p>

<p>Social Problems - A</p>

<p>Are the above classes that I listed all considered "academic subjects?" As said by FSU Admissions webpage.</p>

<p>[MY GPA AFTER JUNIOR YEAR WILL BE THE GPA STATED BELOW, I HAVE COME A LONG WAY TO GET THAT GPA AS MY GPA HAS HAD A GREAT UPWARD TREND] Freshmen/Sophomore year I would get C's on my final grades, now I don't get any and I am taking more challenging classes)</p>

<p>My unweighted GPA, according to my transcripts is a 2.8 because I received an F in physical education because I would never participate (self conscious about my body) but on FSU's website they said they DO NOT look at my highschool transcripts GPA but rather FSU recalculated GPA which is below (3.56)</p>

<p>If calculated correctly my FSU recalculated GPA is 3.56 which is not bad in my opinion. Planning on taking 1 or 2 Dual Enrollment classes at my local community college over this coming summer.
Im also taking my SAT for the first time in May I think.
Will also be doing community service during the summer etc... have about 60 hours so far.
I am part of no clubs, is it too late for me? I do not do sports.</p>

<p>My Senior Year Schedule (next year 2013-2014)</p>

<p>Engish 4 Dual Enrollment
AP Macroeconomics
AP Environmental Science
AP Statistics
Spanish 4 Honors</p>

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<p>FSU looks at each semester’s grades, not the final grades. </p>

<p>Assuming both your semesters were the same as your grades listed, I did a quick calculation and got a 3.43 FSU recalculated GPA. That could be slightly off (like I said, it was pretty quick and I probably incorrectly added a couple numbers- it’s been a long day). However, a 3.43 is slightly low for FSU. </p>

<p>The upward trend is good, and the fact that you’ll have taken a number of AP/DE courses is good too. </p>

<p>You need to take the ACT or SAT before anyone can really give you a chance. FSU has a number of minimum requirements based off your standardized test scores. Without having a set of scores to look at, it’s impossible to say really how you are. </p>

<p>Your ECs are lacking. Even if you just add a club or two next year, it would really be a boost. I’m not saying that having no ECs (aside from your volunteer experience) is a definite killer, but it’s not helpful.</p>

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<p>Will definitely work on joining a few clus next year. (most likely Honor societies)
During the summer I will be dedicating 2+ hours everyday solely for SAT studies.
Thanks for taking the time and checking over my grades.</p>

4

<p>They don’t look at semester grades if your school grades on an annual scale. They look at what is sent by the school. So, yeah, if you have a B and an A in a school with semesters, you have a B and an A, but many schools do only send the year grade (which, in the case above, would be an A). </p>

<p>You should retake the PE class online. Don’t you need it to graduate anyway? Retake it early so the improved grade will be on your transcript. Even though it is not an academic class, I find it hard to believe they’d ignore a big fat F. </p>

<p>Try to do something smart-sounding over the summer to put on your transcript. Work with a charity or do a summer program.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice Proudparent2 I see you occasionally post when I was just lurking the forum, you see knowledgeable about the subject :)</p>

<p>As for PE, I will most certainly take it online. </p>

<p>Also, what would I do that would sound smart-sounding during the summer? I don’t go on vacation often so my 3 months is free!</p>

<p>Let me know </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>I actually was in a similar predicament I got a D in HOPE (Health Opportunities through Physical Education) Freshman year of High School. I wound up with a 3.1 Unweighted and a 3.4 Weighted GPA (I don’t know my FSU GPA) I got an 1850 on the SAT and I was accepted for the SUmmer Semester. Although I did have 411 community service hours and a lot of extracurricular activities I definitely think you have a good shot if you do well on the SAT. Also, for extracurriculars use EVERYTHING from playing softball at church (Involved in activities at church and played recreational softball) I didn’t have to do a lot of that because I played sports, worked at a summer camp and was involved in musical theatre, but I think you can sell almost anything as an extracurricular, it’s better than nothing, and better than “I was the Treasurer for the 'I Procrastinated Activities Until My Senior Year Club.” Just work hard on the SAT and ace the application and you should have a good shot!
Best of luck to ya!</p>

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<p>Something smart over the summer: Go to the office at your school, or your guidance counselor and see if there are any kinds of internships to which you can still apply. Talk to teachers in classes in which you have a particular interest, such as science or social studies and ask if they know of anything. Look on the website for your local Rotary club, and see if they have any programs, such as an exchange program. My friend’s daughter did one that was just three weeks in the summer. Or maybe they have volunteer opportunities. See if a church or temple near you (doesn’t have to be the one you attend) is doing any kind of volunteer “mission” trips to do work in poor communities. One church near us has programs in town, a little further away in the state, and in Haiti. Contact your church and see if they have anything too. Contact the parks department in your town and see if they need anyone to volunteer at summer camp. Contact the local college and see if there is anything for teens to do.</p>

<p>My daughter did an internship last summer that she got through a teacher at school. Her school is very proactive about finding this type of thing for students, but it’s possible that other schools also know about this type of thing but don’t tell students. Also, maybe just google summer internships high school and the name of your town or the state of florida.</p>