<p>I've been reading a thread or two on this website every so often, usually written by other high school students or undergrads posting their "stats" so they can receive feedback from other members of the forum on their likelihood of getting into prestigious colleges. The whole thing has been quite humbling, showing me that I've got a long way to go if I plan on getting admitted to any of my top choice schools. Currently I'm a sophomore in high school. Freshman year grades first/second semester: Orchestra 100/100, Gifted Freshman LA 80/91, Honors World Geography 92/98, Health and PE 98/98, Honors Biology 92/94, Algebra 1 CC 85/92. Not the best grades I know, pitiful in fact. But I've been shaping up this year, and for the most part turn in all of my assignments and occasionally do my homework. These are my sophomore grades so far with the semester ending in December: Orchestra 100, Gifted Junior American Literature 93, AP World History Gifted 93 (un-weighted), Spanish 3 Honors 100, Geometry CC 94, Gifted Chemistry 95. I'm currently self studying the second semester of geometry so that I can take Accelerated Algebra 2 in second semester of Sophomore year. my predicted courses for Junior year:Orchestra, AP Language Arts, AP US History, Spanish 4, Accelerated Pre-Calculus, and AP Physics B. Predicted courses for senior year: Orchestra, AP Literature, AP US Gov & Econ, AP Spanish, AP Calculus B/C, and AP Computer Science. Also, I took the PSAT for the first time last week. I haven't received any scores yet but my estimates based on the difficulty and number of unanswered questions are CR: 70-74, W 75-80, M 50-65. This is sort of dismal considering I plan on getting a major in computer engineering and want admission into top engineering schools...heh. Also, I'm a Mexican male,single parent general house income is about...12,000? My mom works 72 hours a week so I only get to see her before she goes to work and for about 30 minutes before going to sleep at night. Luckily my side family does their best to get me everything I need and ensures that I have comfortable housing by paying off most of her rent and her bills. Given this "spreadsheet", what are my odds?</p>
<p>Since we know nothing about the academic rigor of your school, calling your grades “pitiful” is both off-putting and disingenuous.</p>
<p>Admission to top universities is more than just grades; you need strong tests scores, amazing activities, killer essays, and top-notch references. Since you have no test scores yet, nobody can accurately chance you for these schools with a sub-10% acceptance rate. Even with scores, nobody can accurately chance you. Just continue on down the path.</p>
<p>While we’re on the subject of essays - paragraphs are your friend. Good luck.</p>
<p>Well, my high school comes in at a ranking of 25 statewide (GA), but nationwide its about 850 so…I’d guess public education in Georgia has some catching up to do. With these grades I’m ranked 70/800 in my class. Activities well…So far I haven’t been involved in much. This year I joined beta club and I plan on joining NHS and other service clubs next year. As for my essays, I’d say they’re a cut above the norm…please excuse my lack of paragraphs though, I didn’t think it was something expected in a simple forum post.</p>
<p>It’s way too early to tell whether you’ll have a chance at getting into an ivy league school given your only a sophmore. I would continue working hard, but don’t count on getting into an ivy league school, it’s pretty much a crap shoot for anyone. You are lucky that you live in a state with a very good state university, which is a great backup if ivy league schools don’t work out (which they don’t for most people). Anyway, good luck :)</p>
<p>I guess you’ve got a point. thanks for being both realistic and optimistic at the same time. I was just sort of freaking out today. my inadequacies dawned on me and I felt like a failure…But then I realized that it’s not necessarily the end of the world if I don’t make it to the Ivy Leagues. As you’ve stated yourself, its not a good idea to bank on acceptance into them.</p>
<p>Please repost your stats in a easy to read format. </p>
<p>Stats:
Low income Mexican Male</p>
<p>Freshman Grades:
First semes/Second semes
Orchestra 100/100
Gifted Freshman LA 80/91
Honors World Geography 92/98
Health & PE 98/98
Honors Biology 92/94
Algebra CC 1 85/92</p>
<p>Sophomore Grades (not final until december):
Orchestra 100
Gifted Junior American Literature 93
Ap World History Gifted 93 (unweighted)
Spanish 3 Honors 100
Geometry 94
Gifted Chemistry 95
Note: currently self studying second semester geometry so that I can be placed in accelerated algebra 2 next semester</p>
<p>Predicted Junior Courses:
Orchestra
AP Language Arts
AP US History
Spanish 4 Honors
Accelerated Pre Calculus
AP Physics </p>
<p>Predicted Senior Courses:
Orchestra
AP English Literature
AP US Gov. And Econ
AP Spanish
AP Calculus BC
AP Computer Science</p>
<p>EC’s:
Beta club (predicted sophomore-senior)
NHS (predicted junior-senior)
Spanish Honor Society (predicted junior-senior)
Interact (predicted junior-senior)
Key Club (predicted junior-senior)
TSA (predicted (junior-senior)
Robotics (predicted junior-senior)
Mock Trial (predicted Junior-senior) </p>
<p>Test Scores:
Took PSAT for the first time last week, based on difficulty and unanswered questions I predict my scores were:
CR:70-74
W:75-80
M:50-65</p>
<p>EC’s at this point are limited. You could be part of a sports team or a pizza club. You actually have the time now to do it. Academic-only clubs are common amongst applicants.</p>
<p>You have 2 years to build your grade and ECs, everything is predicted so it’s hard to know.</p>
<p>If you have solid essays you might get into one of the lower tier Ivy League schools, but you really need to vamp up your ECs if you’re looking at HYP. </p>
<p>Yeah my EC’s are pretty weak right now, I’m just not sure where to look for new ones. Another issue is that I never really have a solid means of transportation. Usually when I need to stay after school for something or come to an after school event I have to ask a relative or come in a taxi.</p>
<p>Can you ride a bike. Mine also has limited transportation. She either walk or bike to school events. When I come back from work I pick her up.</p>
<p>Yeah, I might have to get a bike soon. Walking works too though since school is probably only a 30m walk.</p>
<p>I would recommend looking into the Questbridge scholarship. It provides opportunities for low-income students to get amazing financial aid at top colleges. Looking at your PSAT and grades, you would be a good candidate as long as you are able to make what you do in your extracurriculars count. Look into that scholarship - you can receive one your junior year and your senior year as well. </p>
<p>Thanks npswimmer44, I have been looking into several scholarships. Google offers a scholarship for those pursuing computer engineering/computer science degrees who are underrepresented in those fields (hispanics, african americans)</p>
<p>Bill Gates foundation has scholarships for minorities too.</p>