<p>Just wanted to know what type of colleges, tier, etc . . . .I could go with these current scores.</p>
<p>GPA: Freshman 4.2/4.5
Lowest grade A- in AP European History</p>
<p>Freshman Classes:
Honors Global Studies 9
Honors Biology
Honors English 9
Advanced Geometry
Spanish II
TV Production I
Orchestra</p>
<p>Sophomore Classes:
Honors Chemistry
Honors English 10
AP European History
Advanced Algebra II
Spanish III
Science Research
Orchestra</p>
<p>SAT II Biology 740
PSAT 204</p>
<p>ECs:</p>
<p>Private Swim Team 7, 8, 9, 10
School Newspaper 9, 10 Editor 10
School Literary Magazine 9, 10 Editor 10
Amnestry International 9, 10
Model UN 9, 10
Math Olympiads 9, 10
Volunteering every week 1 hour at a nursing home
Research in a lab during summer between freshman and sophomore year</p>
<p>With a 204 PSAT as a sophomore, it suggests that you’ll likely make NMSF after taking the PSAT as a junior (depending on your home state). If that is a goal, then I suggest taking the SAT in June '10, pay the extra for the detailed score report, and then work on any weak areas over the summer.</p>
<p>Your PSAT also suggests that you’ll have high SAT and ACT scores.</p>
<p>If your goal is to go to an elite school, then take both the SAT and the ACT during your junior year and then work on any weak areas.</p>
<p>You look like you Could make a good candidate for top tier schools, but you also have to understand that those schools reject kids with perfect stats every year. So, you’ll also have to apply to some lower reaches, matches and safeties.</p>
<p>You’ll also have to find out how much your parents will pay for your education. That may also have an influence on where you’ll go. </p>
<p>It may be too soon for you to know what your likely major/career will be. That will also influence your choices. :)</p>
<p>outlook is good! If you stay on track and maybe broaden your EC’s you might be in the running for schools at the top of the heap. Basically your range would be top 40 schools.</p>
<p>things to decide? University or Liberal Arts College (aka big school, small school)</p>
<p>if liberal arts then schools like Williams, Amherst, Bates and Holy Cross would be good for the North East</p>
<p>Universities, then the Ivies, Boston College, Boston University, Johns Hopkins</p>
<p>I do think I would prefer universities. I went to programs at Columbia and Johns Hopkins and really liked the campuses.</p>
<p>I really don’t know about major/career, but definetly science. Maybe med or biomed engineering. When would I need to decide or at least have a pretty good idea by?</p>
<p>Well, students often change their minds about their majors (even after they get to college), but having a general idea of whether you’re a “science” person or something else can kind of help narrow your choices. Obviously, a person who is a Fine Arts person might be attracted to very different schools than a Physics person.</p>
<p>So, if you’re thinking something like “pre-med” or medical research that will make a difference. </p>
<p>When a student isn’t sure at all, the a big university with a wide breadth of majors is probably best. :)</p>
<p>You’ll have lots of choices Columbia and JHU are great choices, but those schools reject a lot of super students, so you’ll also need some reach and safety schools. What is your state flagship? That might be match or safety. </p>
<p>The SUNY system is the state school for NY. Depending on what you wish to major in it could be Binghamton, Stony Brook or Geneseo. If you are thinking of highly competitive schools like Ivies you will be expected to have some extensive extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad - I wanted to do more research, espeicially during the summer, and to earn more leadership positions. I also want to organize programs at the nursing home. Are these the right type of extracurricular activities?</p>
<p>NCM, If your PSAT score is already a 204 as a sophomore, that is fantastic! I would really suggest getting a PSAT preparation book (it is a little different than the SAT) and practicing so that you can get this score into NMSF range. Practicing 15 minutes a day, starting in the summer, would do it. After the October PSAT, you can switch to SAT preparation (which is similar) and you will get really high scores!
Selective schools will look for leadership (you are already an editor of two activities as a sophomore, which is great), and top tier schools will look for starting something new in your school or community. So, look for those activities now. For example, could you involve more students or younger children in starting a new program at the nursing home? Is there an activity at school that you would like to start?
Another idea - get the book “On Writing the College Essay” and do some of the practice creative writing exercises over the summer to really develop your writing style.
Good luck!</p>
<p>If you like Hopkins and Columbia, you may also like University of Chicago and Rice University. Vanderbilt may also be worth a look. For backup schools, Boston University and George Washington U may work. They are large and have everything. They have good reputations and yet are not so swamped with applications that they would have to turn you down.</p>
Columbia and JHU are great choices, but those schools reject a lot of super students, so you’ll also need some reach and safety schools. What is your state flagship? That might be match or safety. </p>