<p>I'm a freshman now, but we're going to be choosing sophomore classes soon so I wanted to make sure I was heading on the right track for a hopeful Yale c/o 2015 acceptance.</p>
<p>My projected high school schedule:</p>
<p>9th (Now)
Biology I Honors
English I Honors
HOPE - Health/PE
Debate I Honors
Spanish III Honors
Algebra II Honors
AP Human Geography</p>
<p>10th
Chemistry I Honors
English II Honors
Debate II Honors
Spanish IV Honors
Precalculus Honors
AP World History
AP European History</p>
<p>11th
AP Physics B
AP Calculus AB
AP English Language
AP Comparative Government
AP United States History
International Relations Honors
Debate III Honors</p>
<p>12th
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
AP English Literature
AP United States Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Psychology
Debate IV Honors</p>
<p>Projected ECs:
- Key Club (9th Grade Rep. now, and probably an officer all 4 years)
- Debate (Extemp, nationally recognized team, probably an officer for 10-12 grade)
- plan on starting a chapter of Young Democrats at my school next year
- launching a campaign to end poverty called the SAGE Coalition - Student Action for Global Equality
- National Honor Society (will probably be an officer)
- Best Buddies (don't know if I'll actually include it since my school's chapter is weak)
- summers after sophomore and junior years, probably going to Africa to help launch peace missions</p>
<p>I'm 1 in my class of 518 as of now</p>
<p>As you can probably tell, I want to work in a career involving politics and international relations, and aspire to major in International Studies at Yale, if accepted. If I am to get A's throughout all 4 years of high school, and somewhere in the range of 2100-2300 on the SATs, do you think I can get in? My major concern was my junior year, in which I wanted to take international relations for my own interest, instead of AP Chemistry like many of my friends. However, while they would take honors physics, I would take AP Physics B. Is it going to make a difference? Thanks.</p>
<p>No no, i don't think you should "take a chill pill"
it's important to show commitment and responsibility from this age
Your classes seem very good in that they are both a demanding mixture and they convey your interests.
One tip would be to find out what you love from extracurriculars, start working on it now and stick to it! It's important to find something that you love doing and commit to it throughout these four or three years.</p>
<p>And of course the caveat: Please try and fall in love with some other colleges, too. Its OK to have Yale as your #1, but leave the door open to some others as well. Cruise CC a little and read the painful stories of kids not too different from you who have been disappointed by their first choice. The ones who had already decided they could also be happy somewhere else suffer a less traumatic crash. Best wishes, though. Your ambition and talent are admirable.</p>
<p>Also, be prepared if you need to change your class schedule because of a scheduling conflict. I, too, had all my high school classes planned out since middle school, but because I am taking 2 AP classes this year (junior year), I had to drop band. I ended up taking Biotechnology, which has been one of the best classes I've had in high school so far.</p>
<p>So be open to change-Yale will be fine with it, and it may give you a new direction!</p>
<p>It's good that you plan on challenging yourself in high school with all of those classes. Don't worry about not taking AP chem and taking something you are interested in. At some point it doesn't really matter how many AP's you take as long as its a tough courseload. You are on a good track to get in. but its really early to tell with just freshmen year. Try to enjoy high school and don't just think of it as a path to get into college.</p>
<p>Don't take AP Calc AB, because that course is covered in Calc BC. Don't take Psychology, it is a fluff course. Be careful though, don't burn yourself out. High school is a 4 year endurance race.</p>
<p>i disagree take AB (you need it or else they wouldn't split up AB and BC duhh)</p>
<p>but i do agree with the psychology statement... it would look much better if you self studyed it and took chem like the rest of your friends (you would stand out and be ahead of them!)</p>
<p>As someone who's been through all of that (from APs to Speech and Debate to Yale), here are some bits of advice:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Seriously, don't sweat this now. Don't think about what you "need" to do to get in; just take classes that are interesting and challenging, get involved in activities you love, and enjoy high school. </p></li>
<li><p>Don't feel like you have to self-study for APs or kill yourself with a courseload. At a school like yours, self-studying for an AP is more likely to make you look crazy than resourceful and ambitious! If 7 academic classes a year at your school is the norm, great. If not, you might want to rethink taking so many tough classes.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't take the advice of some people on CC and try to "stand out from your friends" or "get ahead" of them. They are your friends, not your competition. Seriously, don't get sucked into that dog-eat-dog mentality before you really have to :-) </p></li>
<li><p>Don't do activities because you're trying to plan a perfect trajectory to land you at Yale. Do them because you love them. In the long run, that'll help you more.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't get too set on one "passion" at this point in your life. At 15 I was <em>sure</em> I wanted to go to MIT or Princeton, major in chemistry and become a doctor or researcher. I am now a history major at Yale looking at becoming a professor. Go figure :-)</p></li>
<li><p>College is NOT the be-all-end-all of life. Prestige is overrated, and there's no point in wasting your time obsessing over it now. It'll almost inevitably happen your senior year, but where you go to college really isn't that significant. Seriously. Ohio State and Yale had the same number of Rhodes Scholars this year (1). </p></li>
<li><p>Never wish your life away. Like goolsci said, high school is far more than just a path to college...it's 4 years of your life that really can be enjoyable! Hang out with friends, do goofy things, get all trussed up for prom and enjoy being a kid!</p></li>
<li><p>This is one thing that got me: find a balance in your life. My freshman and sophomore years of high school, I worked constantly at school and debate at the expense of the rest of my life. Junior year I was so stressed out that eventually I had an epiphany and realized that sometimes, my happiness is WAY more important than that A+ or the first-place trophy. Work hard, but don't forget to reward yourself. I feel like I lost the first two years of my high school experience.</p></li>
<li><p>Try new things: don't get all hung up on pursuing politics-related interests. Those are wonderful and it sounds like your really love them, but definitely try new things! Join the Ultimate Frisbee team, try out for a play or check out French Club. It can be a small commitment but it can be refreshing to do something else during the week. </p></li>
<li><p>And most importantly, always remember to ask yourself, "what will be more important to me in 20 years?" Every time you find yourself being super-perfectionistic and focused on "success" and the future, remind yourself that these small "victories" will be forgotten with time, and will fade into the big picture. You'll forget both your A+ in AP Chem and your B in Calc. If you end up at, say, Tufts instead of Yale, 2 years later you'll never look back. But what you WILL remember down the road are your relationships with your family and friends, and the most enjoyable moments of your life. I wish I had realized this earlier.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok, now that I'm done being sentimental and pedantic (but perfectly serious), you ARE on the right path. But don't focus on that so much. Go grab a friend and go sledding or something. Yale will come in time!</p>
<p>Dude, take international relations instead of chem. Or really, do what you want to do. You're completely loaded with courses, I'd die under all of that.</p>
<p>If you can, it's alright to do -but Yale appreciates what you want to do at the same time.</p>
<p>Don't quit Best Buddies just because the chapter is weak, quit if you want because you either just don't like it or don't feel like you're doing enough. Start things on your own, try doing things other people haven't. It'll be more satisfying for you, and more impressive to Yale.</p>
<p>Hey debate_addict, I really shouldn't be speaking though, considering I'm just a sophomore myself! (OK, sophomore still is better than freshman though...)</p>
<p>wow, so let me say that I totally agree with the "find a balance" statement...</p>
<p>but let me also say that it's a lot easier to place criticism on the high school lifestyle once you've been accepted to the college of your choice. One thing I really regret in high school is really not being more like you... You're slightly misguided, but I think you totally have the right mindset (assuming you're not crazy/psychotic or something).</p>
<p>So anyway, you're on the right track -- I think it's great to be thinking about which classes will put you in the top decile of your class and I think that it's great to plan which classes will help you most for SAT IIs. </p>
<p>mochamaven was right when he said that you need to do things for youself.. but at the same time, you may have to incorporate a little sacrifice for what may sound good on an application (for example, I honestly really enjoy FBLA, but I want to have nothing to do with business in the future... however, I've sacrificed a great deal of time to rise to a state officer position mainly because it looks good and I like being a leader). </p>
<p>I think that it's totally fine to want to stand out from your friends.. just don't do it in a noticable and conceited/stupid way (a little competition is always fun)!</p>
<p>What I suggest the most is talking to seniors in your school who have/will be accepted to the colleges you like and ask them what they did and from that advice begin crafting and working your high school career.</p>
<p>So I know a lot of people are gonna bash me, but I cannot help it if I disagree with this "float through high school, be free and have 100% fun" mentality. In fact, I know very few people who do (though there are some)................. =D</p>
<p>Goodness.
I'm a freshman as well, but I honestly have no idea of how I'd go about handling such an intense course load. First of all, how sure are you that you'll be able to get straight A's? I'm sure I have some subconscious jealousy going into that question, but hey, if you can get through HS such such an incredible transcript, props to you! Anyhow, as you already seem to be a stellar student, I'd recommend pursuing your interests outside of school. Political internships would suit you well.</p>
<p>ok, take a "chill pill" before you start sophomore year, because that's where the pace picks up. also, i don't know if your school does ranking, but cumulative gpa's lend themselves to ranking, which can affect you later. However, this admissions frenzy is like the real estate bubble in california, it is going to deflate a little, especially by the time you're a senior, so take everything here with a pinch of salt because this is one of the worst years to be applying to undergrad anything</p>