Chance/Question (Bad Freshman Year)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know you guys can't really chance me at this point, but I just have some questions. I'm a high schoolsophmore (class of '12) and I was doing well in school (straight A's) before freshman year, where I didn't really "try". I go to a moderately competitive suburban high school in Massachusetts. My class rank is ~ top 50/410. This year my grades were mostly B's in a non-competitive environment (only two honors classes). No C's though.</p>

<p>Before this, I had "hopes" of going to good schools such as MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, CalTech, Northwestern, BU, WPI, UMass (parents), Indian Institute of Technology (my parents, :D ) etc. Do I still have a chance if I turn this around and get straight A's for the next three years? My course load for next year includes: Chemistry H, Biology H, Advanced Algebra H (After Algebra II, before Pre-calc), US History I H, Band H, English 10 H2 (above average class), and Latin II H2. Most of my classes, except for Algebra II and Physics were H2 classes.</p>

<p>My EC's are OK. I have over 200 volunteer hours at the public library (also where I work), I am a regional/state/national debater (National Forensics League), and I've played the drums for five years now (plan to continue through high school) also play the piano, am part of the Science Olympiad team (regionals/states), am in the marching band (drumline, center snare), and play basketball and baseball outside of school (noncompetitive).</p>

<p>If anyone could give me some insight on hope, and if they could tell me how THEY motivate themselves, that would be great. Thanks.</p>

<p>If anyone could give me some insight</p>

2

<p>Bumpity Bumpity Bump.</p>

3

<p>I was similar to you freshman year, I took all honors classes, but got mostly B’s which hurt my gpa in the long run. Since you are taking all sorts of honors classes next year (and be sure to continue with that) I would say not to give up. I mean, you may not end up at MIT or Cal Tech, but you still have a shot at other schools, especially UMass Amherst you should be on track to get into there easy (I also live in mass). </p>

<p>YOU DO HAVE TO TRY. case closed. If there was one thing I regret in school it was not trying, or doing homework so that I would end up with 89s instead. </p>

<p>If you really want to get into those schools you have to work hard and do phenomenal on your SATs to make up for your gpa. Start studying this summer on SAT stuff. I know it may seem too early, but trust me, if I could go back in time I would study the SATs that summer. Don’t go crazy of course, but just take a practice test or two on random days where you have nothing going on.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, I’ve started prepping for SATs, and I’m doing a non-credit program at MIT this summer. I was gonna skip Algebra III and go straight to PreCalc next year but I decided not to (since I could only manage a B in math this year).</p>

<p>I figured my weighted GPA is about a 3.64/4.4 (if you take 100s in all APs/impossible especially since you can’t take APs freshman and sophomore year). I’m also planning on take AP Econ. at MIT this school year, hopefully that’ll show some individualism. I’m estimating ~2000 on my SATs when I take them this fall (based on practice tests, and closer to a 2400 as senior year approaches.)</p>

<p>Thanks for the input, there’s no way I’m giving up hope!</p>

5

<p>I’ll bump again…</p>

6

<p>I doubt you could make MIT or Caltech, but you probably have a shot at the others if you get your act together.</p>

<p>Oh and are H2 classes like honors, or what?</p>

<p>P.S. There is no algebra 3…</p>

7

<p>Don’t think your chances are ruined
some colleges don’t even look at fresh year</p>

<p>Just relax and enjoy high school
you’ll get into some great schools</p>

8

<p>H2 is like Above Average, not quite honors. Honors classes at my school are quite selective, seeing as not many kids get in, and the ones that do frequently drop out.</p>

<p>And at my high school, there IS an Advanced Algebra (Algebra III) course. If you’re on the honors path, you take Algebra I in 7th, Geometry in 8th, Algebra II in fresh., Algebra III soph, Pre-Calc as a junior, and AP Calc AB/BC or Stats as a senior.</p>

9

<p>bump 10char</p>

10

<p>another bump for the evening crowd.</p>