So, I have had straight A’s my entire life, but my sophomore 1st semester, I had switched schools and fumbled a little. I’m currently a junior and just got my 1st semester grades. My question is if I still have a chance at top universities like harvard, stanford, etc. Here’s how I look to colleges right now:
Freshman both Semesters
Honors Pre Calc: A
Latin II: A
World History: A
Theatre: A
Chemistry: A
English: A
Sophomore 1st Semester
Spanish I: A
AP Euro: B
AP Physics: B
Honors English: A
Ceramics: A
AP Calc AB: B
MUN: A
Sophomore 2nd Semester
Spanish I: A
AP Euro: A
AP Physics: A
Honors English: A
Ceramics: A
AP Calc AB: A
MUN: A
Junior 1st Semester
Spanish 2H: A
AP US History: A
AP Bio: A
AP English Lang: A
Journalism: A
AP Calc BC: A
MUN: A
EC’s
published 2 children’s books
published 1 novel
used my books to advocate for a genocide project that I received national recognition for
highly decorated MUN delegate (over 10 best delegate awards)
editorial writer for the new york times
founder and president of many clubs at my school relating to writing and activism
taught myself 6 foreign languages
taught myself 10 coding languages
made apps with coding that are on the ios store
spoke at a tedx conference
AP Euro : 5
AP Calc AB: 5
AP Physics 1: 5
self-study
AP enviro: 5
AP psych: 5
AP comp sci: 5
scores
act: 36
sat subj math: 800
sat subj physics: 800
sat subj latin: 800
sat subj french: 800
sat subj world history: 800
this is pointless and clearly just a bragging thread. obviously you’ve got a good chance at elite schools, someone as smart as you should know that without the opinion of complete strangers. this thread is just looking for attention and validation.
Hey man, tell me if I’m correct: some of the things you listed on here are not true, and are instead goals that you have by the end of the year. If that’s so:
I would recommend not wasting your time on self studying tests; colleges don’t value tests as much as the AP course rigor. (I’ve asked this question on CC before)
You’re also wasting time/money on taking that many sat II subject tests; top colleges usually recommend 2.
I wouldn’t put your 10th activity as part of your EC’s since that’s really a one time thing; on the Common App, you’ll need to list the number of hours, weeks, and years you put into that EC. (Maybe Award or More information section)
Those are some nice EC’s overall; so it would all come down to your recs, essay, and interview.
@helpabro Thanks for the advice, but what’s done is already done. lol I can’t get my money back on those tests. And those are actually all things that I have already done; except, I’m not technically “fluent” in the languages I said I know.
Sorry sciencebro but your sophomore year is the most important year colleges look at. Your ECs are incredibly weak; I recommend you apply to University of Utah as your only reach.
@RoundGenius No, I’m not. I’m just wondering if my grades my sophomore year will have negative implications on my applications. That’s my only question which no one has answered yet.
@scienceluvr123 Oh, then nvm. It seemed quite strange that a person could get a perfect score in 6 tests (including the ACT). I think you’re on a good track.
Btw, when you said that you were an editorial writer on NYT, are you referring to just one or two articles written, or do you write consistently? Try to be more involved in the EC’s you’re going to list.
like i said, bragging or joke thread. if you really are smart enough to score perfectly on the ACT and 5 SAT subjects, and you really did speak at some conference and you really did write for the new york times, then you are clearly smart enough to deduce that you’re as good a candidate as they come. either that or it’s a joke thread. i suppose there is a third option, where you are a strange combination of human who is very intelligent but has as much common sense as a banana. but that seems unlikely.
For tippy tops, it’s not all about stats and/or some showcase activity or two. It’s in the thinking that comes through. That’s what OP needs to be concerned about. The right thinking leads to a balanced perspective, an understanding of what does matter, what they look for, the right choices, in and out of hs. It also leads a kid to explore what the colleges tell they value,not assumptions. They will read your whole app, not just the resume parts.
Publishing alone is not a tip. Many people self publish. Teaching yourself languages, while industrious, isn’t either. If you’re thinking STEM, you haven’t shown us math-sci activities in hs, that teamwork.
Yes, the soph grades can be an issue, for a tippy top. It’s good that you snapped back. Great. But the answer will depend on your whole presentation.
If you have apps to go, consider one or two lines in Addl Info, explaining the soph grades, without making excuses. Your GC can note how you overcame and rave about you, as can your LoRs. We don’t know enough to predict.
This is bragging, and if you are this vain on your applications, colleges will sniff out your desperation and not want you. I think if all of what you said is true, you have to be smart enough to at least realize that you have a chance, even though it is a crapshoot.