Choosing Courses for Senior Year

Applying to College
1

<p>I was talking to my AP English teacher today, and guess what? She got accepted into Duke and Oxford on A's and B's, and think I could get into Yale as a regular undergrad with my grades. o.O Major "whaa?!" criteria. My GPA is a mere 3.98, but I bet I can pull it up to a 4.2 next year if I get ALL high A's...especially with the AP courses. I have a 2020/2400 on the SAT and expect it to rise to a 2300 with the next testing period.</p>

<p>Here is my (tentative) schedule for next year. My main question is--I'm taking four electives. Two are writing-oriented. Should I scrap one of them in favor of AP Biology or French III? I would really, really enjoy doing both writing classes, though...and English IS my prospective major. But would another AP or academic class look better? You tell me.</p>

<p>AP Psychology
AP English IV
Honors Integrated Math IV Quantitative (math is the bane of my existance, yes)
Writing Through Literature
Film and Video
Advanced Women's Choir
Independant Study Novelism</p>

<p>If you need a "sway" factor, here is this year's schedule:</p>

<p>Intermediate-Advanced Modern Dance
Honors Integrated Math III
French II
Advanced Women's Choir
Honors Chemistry
AP US History
AP English III</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Victoria</p>

2

<p>When your teacher was applying it was a different time. She doesn't know college admissions today, and how much harder it is. I find your attitude a little annoying. Complaining about a 3.98 will make more than a few feel badly on this board. And a 300 point jump just isn't going to happen on your SATs. Especially to a 2300. Good job if you can pull it off, but I haven't heard of anyone accomplishing it. You better prepare for some hard-core studying. The only thing I would say about your schedule is that you really need three years of language.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
I was talking to my AP English teacher today, and guess what? She got accepted into Duke and Oxford on A's and B's

[/quote]

When was she accepted? Was it 5 years ago, 15, 25 or 35?

[quote]
I could get into Yale as a regular undergrad with my grades...My GPA is a mere 3.98, but I bet I can pull it up to a 4.2 next year

[/quote]

I wouldn't be that sure. Your SAT way below average for Ive, and even 2300 doesn't give a chance to get into Ive's. And 300 jump is pretty hard to accomplish. There are so many kids with 2250-2400 applying there each year
Whats your UW and Weighted GPA? Whats the max weighted GPA you can get at your school?</p>

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<p>your classes sound fun. I wish we had more academic electives at my school.</p>

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<p>My GPA is a mere 3.98</p>

<p>3.98 isn't a low GPA by any means.</p>

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<p>Drew00 it depends, for UW it's very good, for W though it's very low (at least in my school)</p>

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<p>if you even want to be CONSIDERED by Yale, you need more classes. </p>

<p>I will graduate having taken A.Ps in the following courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Calculus, Spanish and European History. I also took 4 Honors English classes and 3 honors Spanish classes.</p>

<p>As others were saying, a 300 point jump on the SAT is 'Impressive' to say the least. You need to take more classes. No offense, but Yale isn't going to accept 2 years of choir, even if it's advanced theory, as hard, intellectually advanced and challenging classes. </p>

<p>I also agree that another year of language is a "requirement" for Ivy league schools (nowadays even the next tier or two). </p>

<p>Yale is a very, very, very, very selective school. Find others that are more in your range- use Yale as a stretch school, but don't let yourself fall in love with it until you get acceptance letters. Then worry about finances, because they give nothing in financial aid (other than very little in need-based).</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

8

<p>More classes than 7?? Maybe replace one elective with French III, 3 years are pretty much required for top colleges.</p>

<p>Yale is a reach for everyone, and I think the OP realizes that. That doesn't mean she shouldn't apply. </p>

<p>btw, I went from a 2030 to a 2250 in two months. It's very possible.</p>

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<p>Drew00 it depends, for UW it's very good, for W though it's very low (at least in my school)</p>

<p>Oh, I thought she meant UW, lol</p>

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<p>My senior year, all of my classes (even my electives) were AP classes. You might want to add onto your AP workload (or least much as you can handle)</p>

11

<p>Your teacher needs to get with the times. Duke had a 30% admit rate 10 years ago, today it has a 19% admission rate and is falling fast. Yale had a 20% admission rate in 1995, and it's now at the 9.x-ish level.</p>

<p>I think you're being deliriously optimistic about your SAT scores and grades. While a 300 point jump is possible, very few students experience such gains, especially from such a relatively high score. If you took a number of practice tests, scored in the 2250-2350s, but then were unable to repeat the results on the actual test, there's probably some hope for you. However, if you've never seen yourself test at the 2300 level, even on a practice test, or combined subscores from different practice tests, I would be very doubtful that you would improve that much. If you're making stupid mistakes, missing the easiest questions in a section from misbubbling while getting the hard questions correct,you'll have a chance. If you're stumped all the time at the hardest questions and the number you miss in a section increases exponentially with difficulty, there's little hope for you. There is an innate component in the SAT that simply cannot be prepared for, no matter how long you spend studying.</p>

<p>Oh, PS, do you do any tricks or anything? Win any essay contests? Publish any novels? Your course load seems kind of whimpy, though I'm more of a math/sciency person myself. No French V?</p>

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<p>You're right...a 3.89 is NOT a bad GPA, if you are attempting to get in to a state university. For an Ivy League, it's different. I realize that it was a different time, but it DID make me feel a little better about myself. And it was five years ago, for those who want to know.</p>

<p>By the way, this will be my fourth year of adv. choir, not second. At my school you have to take four years of an art elective in order to graduate.</p>

<p>OK, so general consensus is take French III? Thanks for the advice, that is what I wanted to know.</p>

<p>Don't worry, though--Yale is the ONLY Ivy I'm applying to. My other schools are:</p>

<p>UNC Asheville
Appalachian State
UNC Chapel Hill
UNC Greensboro</p>

<p>And yes, to answer someone's queston--I DID publish a novel. :)</p>

<p>The thing is...up until this quarter, I had never studied in my life. Not a good plan, I know, so no stupid comments on that, kay? My original plan was to go to a state uni for two years then TRANSFER to Yale, but I heard that it was ten times harder to get accepted as a transfer as opposed to a regular applicant. I am pretty sure that I could make all A's for the first two years of college.</p>

<p>I realize that a 300 point jump is nearly impossible for the SAT...so maybe hoping for a 2300 is a little much. But standardized tests are my forte..I've only taken the SAT once and got the score that I did.</p>

<p>By the way, it IS possible to get that much of a jump on the SAT...my friend took the old one, started with a 1100 and jumped to a 1550.</p>

<p>summerskter--I'm sorry if I offended you, but your snarkiness is a bit un-called for.</p>

<p>Love</p>

<p>V.</p>

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<p>I know, I edited my reply...I realized that it sounded like I was talking to everyone, not just summerskter.</p>

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<p>If you love writing, you should be looking at liberal arts colleges (LACs) with strong writing programs. These are harder to find than the bigger "name" universities, and have quirkier patterns of acceptance. They also vary a great deal in the amount of financial aid awarded, but your list will be incomplete until you find a couple of schools that excel in your major and target women with your SAT scores and grades.</p>

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<p>you will enjor chapel hill!!
what am i saying??? i dont know...</p>

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<p>I don't think anyone can assume they can get Straight A's in college.</p>

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<p>I agree with summerskter and some others here, 3.98 gpa is not bad at all and your attitude about it is quite irritating. Grades and SATs are not the deciding factor, believe it or not. Most schools want well-rounded people.. Your schedule i think portrays that because you dont have it overflowing with APs - you seem to have just enough of APs and honors. I think that you definitely should take a third year language class. But yea, like I mentioned before, its not all about the numbers. Your essays matter just as much, as well as important extra curricular activities (oh yea, don't list a huge number of BS activities..thats not going to impress anyone. Rather, focus in on the most important activities to you which you have been involved in for a while...it'll show that you are committed to a few thing for a longer period of time.) Lastly, you're not guaranteed to get in anywhere no matter your scores. I know bunch of people who had amazing SATs and above 4.0 GPAs and didnt get into some of their schools. Learn to sell yourself on the application.</p>

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<p>Publishing a novel is lovely. I'm very happy for you =)</p>

<p>All the same, don't count on it; my neighbor had 2 of her plays published and performed by a noted theater - and they were spectacularly well received - but she had similar grades and the iffy math SAT (although I think it was higher than yours). She was also spectacular in foreign language, Spanish and French, involved in several clubs including sports (Fencing, not recruited).... but she was rejected flat-out by Yale.</p>

<p>She did get into Washington University, though. I'd onsider schools of that caliber strongly, especially with your SAT. =)</p>

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<p>bayarea--I'm sorry that I seem to be irritatinig, but thanks for the thoughtful response all the same.</p>

<p>To everyone else--I've decided to focus on getting into UNCCH or another school in the UNC system and focus on my original plan--to transfer to Yale after two years.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help, guys!</p>