Chances @ Top Schools, Be Honest!

<p>What Are My Chances So Far?</p>

<p>I'm currently about to start my Junior Year. My GPA (up until now) is about 4.48 (weighted) with mainly all A's and A+'s except for B's in math. All of my classes are accelerated = the highest classes you can take until junior/senior year. What are my chances of getting into more selective/Ivy Schools so far?</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Varsity Field Hockey, Lacrosse, English Honor Society, Math Honor Society, French Honor Societ, Student Council PR, Peer Outreach, Model United Nations (President), SADD, Concert Choir, 5 school plays, Meeting of the Mind, etc.</p>

<p>I am Planning on taking AP US History next year and then AP English & AP Government my senior year. My school offers a very limited selection of AP's.</p>

<p>I did get a C+ (my one and only) in my last quarter of Geometry, yet my yearly grade will average to a B.</p>

<p><em>What can I do to improve my chances at more highly selective schools?
*</em>I hope yo major in International Relations w/ a double minor in Political Science & Psychology</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>I think you should tell us your SAT scores and the like. I'm going to save you before a passionate hardcore CCer comes by and slaughters you for not posting them. ;)</p>

<p>Most colleges use an SAT score as a "floor value." Meaning, if the average score of applicants at Harvard is a 2100, they <em>almost</em> (there are always exceptions) always reject or consider much less applicants who dont meet that "floor value." So try, at least, to surpass the floor value, and then use your extra currics as a guide to help glide ur way towards the ivy league school of ur dreams.</p>

<p>PS - u can always self-study an AP if you want</p>

<p>Jeanna,</p>

<p>I just graduated college and think I can offer some advice. First, don't be overly concerned about going to a 'selective/Ivy school.' It sounds like you are on the pre-law track, and while an Ivy school may help you some, in the end, you will be fine at a state school. How do I know? I graduated from a big state school (ranked around 90 I think, and I turned down offers from some of the highest ranked schools) and was accepted into a top 10 law program and a top 5 graduate engineering program. Undergraduate education (the classes) is pretty much the same everywhere, but the campuses are not. In short, pick the school you will be happiest at, not the one you think you need to go to make yourself look the best. I remember just a few years ago, I was in your situation and all I thought about was going to Princeton or Stanford or something, just because they were ranked the highest, even though I knew very little about the schools. Then came the reality that such schools are extremely expensive, and are just not worth it for undergrad. Trust me, you do not want to come out of undergrad with debt -- leave that for grad school if you must (law school will probably cost you $150k, and admissions are almost entirely about your LSAT score and GPA -- your undergraduate degree doesn't really mean squat). Now, if Mom and Dad just hit it big in the stock market and are footing the bill, that's a different story.</p>

<p>Now, to answer your question - your GPA is ridiculous, and colleges will know that. GPAs vary so much from school to school (with all this weighting business), that admissions committees are very careful in how they use them. Your extra curriculurs look like you are trying too hard to get quantity over quality. Pick one or two things you love and really become involved so you can write a killer essay. Nobody cares that you played the lead in Fiddler on the Roof in 9th grade drama or attended a SADD meeting one or two times a year.</p>

<p>Your 11th grade courses are very important because they are the last the admissons committees will see. AP classes are good - definitely take them. You got a C+ one quarter? No sweat, nobody will care.</p>

<p>What can you do to improve your chances at selective schools? Kick the ass out of the SAT. It's that simple. Just take simulated practice tests every saturday morning or every other saturday morning and study up some during the week and you will be fine.</p>

<p>The most important thing? Enjoy life. 11th and 12th grade are some of the best years of your life. Don't worry too much. Make friends, get into trouble, and have some fun. I sure wish I could go back to those years again.</p>

<p>"top schools" meaning harvard/yale/princeton? or top schools meaning schools like uconn/delaware?</p>

<p>Quarter grades don't matter. It's final grades that count.</p>

<p>I plan on taking the PSATS (again) and SAT's in the beginning of next year, So i realize it's probably very difficult to get an accurate answer since those scores will really count.</p>

<p>By Selective, I mean Columbia, Georgetown, NYU, etc.</p>

<p>I hope to someday work with the United Nations -- not necessarily law.</p>

<p>The reason I put my theatre down was because for a while I contemplated going to school for performing arts since a.) I've been doing it since I was very young and b.) Our school has a very esteemed theater program.</p>

<p>*Hmm, taking AP's on your own...please elaborate!</p>

<p>Thank you !</p>