Chance this worried underclassman

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I am a sophomore and I am just really nervous about college. I know that you will not be able to tell me a lot because I haven’t taken my SAT’s and stuff, but please tell me if I am on the right track.

GPA (weighted): 4.7912
GPA(unweighted): 3.9648 (probably a little higher now)
I took the PSAT’s without studying at all and got a 160 (yes I know it sucks and will be studying all summer to prepare for SAT’s, ACT, and PSAT’s)

Extracurriculars:
marching band (obviously I play clarinet)
got into honors band this year
got into freshmen district band last year
got 1st chair this year in my band against all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors
science honors society both years (about to be inducted into the national science honors society)
did a stem fair project both years
am a care represenitive (care is my schools anti-bullying program)
am a buddy for the miracle league and volunteer at my local food bank (going to volunteer more places this summer)
got nominated for an award by my bio teacher last year, forget exactly what it was at the moment but I was put in some book
highest honors roll every nine weeks
part of the French club freshman year (club disappeared this year)
national qualifier for academic games freshman year (did not enjoy it so I quit, I know its bad, but still)
play recreational softball in my community college since I was like 5

My classes freshman year:

Journalism(A)
Honors English(A)
Honors US History(A)
Honors Geometry(A)
Honors Bio(A)
Honors French 2 (A)
Consumer Foods(A)
Freshman Band(A)
Cyber Gym (A)

My classes sophomore year (so far):
Honors English (A)
AP World History (A)
Honors Algebra 2(A)
Honors Chemistry (A)
Honors French 3 (A)
CHS Accounting 1(A)
Symphonic Band(A)
Cyber Health (A)
Cyber gym (A)

I am planning on taking these classes next year:
AP US History
AP Chem
AP Language and Composition
Honors Pre-Calc/Trig
Honors French 4
Band (hopefully I get into the band that you have to audition to)
CHS Accounting 2
Cyber Gym
Cyber Leadership and Development

I plan to major in something business related, probably accounting, and am interested in CMU, NYU, UPENN and my safety will be Penn State. Thanks so much for your advice in advance!

2

You are definitely on the right track for being a legitimate applicant to any university including Ivies. The fact is though that it is a reach for EVERYONE at any of the Ivy League schools. Your PSAT score was pretty low. That predicts a 1600 on the 2400 SAT, and that’s not very good. You will NEED to do much better than this. Keep taking the hardest classes that you can…as many AP classes as possible. Really, you need to do what all students aspiring to attend top universities need to do…take hard classes, get As in those classes, get a very good score on the SAT or ACT. You can still do all of those things.

3

Thanks! And yeah I know I definatley need to bring those test scores up!

4

I don’t know if you can legitimately call anything a “safety” at this point. :stuck_out_tongue: Your grades are on point! Even Penn State (main campus?) wouldn’t be guaranteed with a 1600 SAT, though, assuming you do similarly. But you have at least a year to improve. Good luck!!

5

Like I have said, I understand that my psat score is bad and plan on doing a lot better after studying. Penn state will indeed be a safety after I study. Yes it’s main campus

6

@clarinetplayer1 - You are just a sophomore. Surely you will learn some things in class between now and the time you take the SAT again. Also, you CAN take the SAT even again as a senior. I suggest you restart the French club. Shows you are someone who takes charge. But the main thing is keep taking hard classes, keep getting As, and work hard to get a solid SAT score. 2100+ is needed for a good chance at the Ivies, and obviously the higher the score the better the chance. Good luck.

7

Thanks so much for the advice! I will definitely be using it all!

8

Bump

9

bump again