Chances for an Ivy

<p>Now that the "most important" years of high school are very near in my future, I really want to take the time now in my sophomore year to reevaluate my priorities. My education has always been my top priority and I have an ambition to go into medical school. I have a passion for molecular genetics and an interest in cardiac surgery. I am trying to do all I can in high school to build up a strong application that has a considerable chance to get into one of the Ivy Leagues- with Harvard as my number one choice (I know-ambitious).
I think that I have done well up until now as a sophomore, but want to get other opinions on my planning. Thanks so much to everyone who gives feedback!</p>

<p>Stats: Caucasian Female, recent relocation to West Coast (freshman year of High School and all prior schooling in Illinois)</p>

<p>FOUR YEAR PLAN </p>

<p>Freshman:
Honors Geometry
Honors Biology
Honors English
French 2
Jazz Band
Drawing and Painting
Journalism
P.E</p>

<p>Summer: Online Health 1</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Honors Chemistry
Anatomy and Physiology
Honors Algebra 2
Honors World Literature
Honors World Studies
French 3
French 4 Independent Study
Sports Medicine Independent Study
Online Latin 1 Intensive Study
Choir- Piano Accompanist
Veterinary Experience Internship</p>

<p>Summer: Online PreCalculus</p>

<p>(expected) Junior:
Honors Physics
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
Honors Literature
AP US History
(Honors) French 4/5
Health Occupations -- (includes a local hospital internship)
Online Latin 2 Intensive Study
Choir- Piano Accompanist</p>

<p>(expected) Senior:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP Statistics
AP Literature
AP US Government
AP French
Online Latin
Choir- Piano Accompanist</p>

<p>TEST SCORES:</p>

<p>SAT: (6th) Math 490 Reading 570 Writing 560 ---<strong>Note again- 6th Grade</strong></p>

<p>PSAT: (10th) Math 63 Reading 66 Writing 66</p>

<p>I plan on taking the SAT for practice at the end of this year along with a practice of the Writing subject test and retake it my junior year along with another PSAT (for national merit scholarship possibility), the ACT and whatever other subject tests that I will be able to (Expected: History, Writing, Math II, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, French + Listening)
I am taking the Math I and Biology subject tests at the end of this year.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Music- I have been playing piano since the age of 5, and love the instrument! I am very involved as an accompanist/performer, and accompany musicals
9th- Spring Musical
9th- Jazz Combo
10th- Choir</p>

<p>I have owned a small business since 7th grade as a private piano teacher to children from age 5 to 8th grade- I love watching my students progress and its definitely the best job in the world! Besides basic babysitting jobs, this is my only employment experience to date.</p>

<p>Sports-
9th- JV Tennis
10th- V Tennis
10th- Private tennis lessons
10th- JV Cross Country Running</p>

<p>Clubs/Etc.
9th- Speech Team, 4th Place at Sectionals
9th- only freshman representative at Model UN Conference
9th- JV Scholastic Bowl
9th- School Newspaper Reporter
9th- Freshman Class Officer</p>

<p>10th- Thespian/Drama Team
10th- Model UN Conference
10th- School Newspaper Co-Editor</p>

<p><em>a note regarding extracurrics</em> Due to my recent move and starting my sophomore year in a brand new school, I have been a bit worried about some of club participation as well as my four-year-plan. The lack of consistency of clubs is due to them not existing at my former high school or new school. My main concern is on student government- I moved during the summer and was unable to be elected to a position as the elections from my new school were spring of freshman year (during which I was unaware of upcoming relocation- and not that I would have been elected anyway as the new girl :)
Pertaining to my plans to take Precalculus this upcoming summer online is due to a very different math class progression between my first and current high school- Algebra 2 and Precalculus was hybridized into a full year class I would have taken in 10th grade and then progressed to AP Calc BC my junior year. To stick with this plan, I am taking considering taking precalc online- Could I get any feedback on this? Is it alright that it won't be an honors class? (honors online precalc is far too expensive)
I am also worried about APs- at my old school I would have been able to enroll in AP European History this year instead of Honors History. I also could have taken AP Music Theory my junior year along with AP Language and Composition. Is this decrease in number of AP courses okay, or should I seek a way to redeem them (via Online or whatever).
Is it alright that I haven't got in any AP my sophomore year? </p>

<p>Special Notes:
I was double promoted from 7th to 9th grade- that means I never went to 9th grade and only spent two years in Jr. High. I myself took the means to make this transition happen when I was in 7th grade. I really felt that I was ready for High school and that middle school was holding me back. I couldn't be happier with my decision today, as I cannot thank enough people for all the support I got when I did this. Looking back, I am very glad I did what I did- and I feel that I was ready for HS as my grades up to this point are all As. </p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read this :)</p>

<p>online precalc course to calc bc seems a bit unrealistic…</p>

<p>I audited honors PreCalc first semester this year so I could be exposed to the topics- it was definitely an interesting experience seeing as I couldn’t understand much of the class, but I did get a sense of some concepts that will probably click more once I complete Hon Alg II this semester- the three months of summer I could intensively study it to get back on track. I think I could pull it off during the three months of summer, I’m pretty motivated and a self directed learner. I’m trying to put my main focus on math because that’s the subject that I’m most concerned about regarding the SAT and ACT; my math scores have always been slightly lower than my verbal and I need to even them out and pull them all higher.</p>

<p>If you keep up with these plan, get good SAT scores and have a high GPA you will definitely be a candidate for an Ivy. I think the piano playing and tutoring will really help you. Not having APs in 10th isn’t a big deal, most schools (mine included) don’t let students take AP classes in 10th, no matter how good they are. Don’t worry about any issues relating to changing schools, the admissions office will take that into account.</p>

<p>I’m sorry, but I have to be blunt, but 7 APs and online courses are unrealistic. Just go with the flow. You can go to UD and have a better time. Harvard’s just not meant for some people.</p>