<p>Ultimately, is it our decision if we want to take a course? My guidance counselor kept trying to get in my way, but I E-mailed him pretending to be my dad, and put my foot down. He gave ‘‘advice’’ that it wasn’t good to jump to Geometry like that, but I politely said that I’d ignore his advice. I learned that in order to get what you want, you have to be aggressive and put your foot down. </p>
<p>I’m taking an Algebra test tomorrow, if I pass, I’m moved to Geometry. My school says they don’t accept Center for Talented Youth courses, and my family wasd planning to go to Europe this year, so what should I do over the summer? Take Algebra 2 next year, or is it smarter to do Pre-Calculus, and not go to Europe? Also, how would I convince them that I understand the material if they won’t accept the credits?</p>
<p>what exactly do you plan on doing at princeton? I mean, for undergrad.. economics? Then an MBA at wharton? .. i think you are better off going to wharton for undergrad if you wanna do business.</p>
<p>If you’re passionate about business as a subject, then yes go to Wharton. If you just want to get a good job in business after graduation, then Harvard, Princeton, and Wharton are all great choices.</p>
<p>Seriously, you’re fine - you’re a freshman. You haven’t even BEGUN anything yet…when I was freshman I didn’t know Princeton existed, and I didn’t know there were such things as EC’s, AP’s, etc (hint, so I did absolutely nothing in 9th grade, whether in academics/EC’s…w/e). You sound pretty motivated. </p>
<p>I’m now a soph and still not worrying about college, but I believe sophomore year counts so I guess I’m doing a couple things this year. If you’re a freshman definitely you should find lots of time to have fun/relax as well (like 90% of the people do). I don’t recall a single instance of me studying in middle school and freshman year. </p>
<p>This was a long and useless response to the obvious question “Do I have a chance”, by the way. As for the math thing I don’t know, I don’t think that going from Algebra I -> Geometry -> AlgII/trig -> Precalc in high school is going to be the deciding factor of your admissions (since obviously every student is good at different things), but it seems every poster here so far claims otherwise.</p>
<p>Even at a school like Princeton, don’t they consider that perhaps a student may not excel in math? What’s the deal with Algebra I being such a risk (even if it may be below average considering princeton level).</p>
<p>I think a lot of people here have given you good advice, but I have to be honest here and point out something I’ve seen through your posts in this thread. The thing is, no offense, you seem a bit arrogant, and if that comes across on your Princeton (or any school’s app) it will deal a severe blow to your chances. You mention how you have a high IQ and that you can’t stand being surrounded by the intellectually inferior people around you, but I think more productive would be to look at the facts and just deal with things. For all the placement tests you mentioned that you just barely failed, don’t attribute it to constant bad luck - instead, think to yourself, why am I not safely over the threshold? Most truly qualified people, to be honest, would not fall below the mark as consistently as you have, even if it’s just by a small margin. Don’t be so assured about your SAT score either. You mention that it’s higher than 58% of high school students who take the exam, and that you hope to score at least a 2300. But your aggregate M+V is 1020, and while that’s respectable for someone in 7th grade, it’s not especially high for kids looking to attend Princeton. For some perspective, the strongest kids in my grade scored at least a 1200 M+V on their 7th grade SAT, but they’ve still had some trouble breaking 2300. Kids I know who scored around your level in 7th grade are making around 2000 now. It’s not impossible but realize that your score is not astounding and that you’ll have to work hard for what you want.</p>
<p>I understand that you may be frustrated and slightly bitter about the circumstances you’ve been thrust into, but rather than deplore your unfulfilled potential, do as much as you can to fulfill it. Work hard. Understand how your school works, what classes are best, and what classes your school will allow you to take under what circumstances. Don’t pretend to be your Dad and yell at your counselor btw. Find some pursuits and dedicate yourself wholly to them. Strive for some positions of genuine leadership. For community service I recommend you find a local institution and independently volunteer there over a long period so you have a good idea of your aggregate hours and develop relations with the people there; choose that over school community service clubs that often leave you with a mish-mash of half-hearted endeavors spread out over many projects. </p>
<p>Try to make the best of things over the next couple of years. Good luck.</p>
<p>Yes, I also thought that was very nervy and immature to contact your guidance counsellor as your father. Princeton likes people who take charge of they’re own situations. I understand that you’re trying to do this, but couldn’t you have emailed them under your own name or actually asked a parent to email them?</p>
<p>first of all, you’re a freshman. you shouldnt even be thinking about AP classes. wait until you’re a senior. algebra in 9th grade is normal. thats what i took and now i am a senior taking pre-calculus. it takes a certain type of person to get into the top colleges, and sometimes you just have to accept the fact you’re not that type (i did). you can get into a college, and thats all that matters. i would recommend looking into some of the fine public colleges throughout the country. some of them are hard to get into and its a shame that people overlook them just because they’re public. for example, the university of florida only admits 42% and the average student has a 4.0 GPA. an easier college is the university of arizona. it is an excellent college and accepts 80%. i would recommend looking into it</p>
<p>Just to clarify, my dad also wanted me to take Geometry, he sent the beginning E-Mail, but he felt intimidated by the response, so I just finished it for him. </p>
<p>Thanks for your advice, guys, I think I’ll be fine now. I’m taking a Pre-SAT every Friday and reviewing it the next day with Elite. I’ll make sure to come across as humble on my resume.</p>
<p>My only question is: Isn’t chemistry a prerequisite to AP Chemistry and Biology? It was for the past 4 high schools I’ve attended. I think you’re fudging the circumstances a bit. </p>
<p>The AP curriculum is universal and it just doesn’t make sense logistically to start with an AP science unless your middle school was doing high school level chemistry. In which case, that’s admirable. It’s true, you’re not on the fast track for math. Here’s a suggestion that requires less work: Summer between junior and senior year, take Precalc, save a year and you’ll make it to calc.</p>
<p>As far as extra currics go - find something different that you can be passionate about. You want your passion to shine through your essays. I don’t find a lot of people are passionate, and that’s upsetting. You’ll forget what your interests are, at this rate. Be who you are to the best of your ability and you’ll be fine. Even if you like something as mundane as checkers, make the most of it. Become a checker champion, win awards. Join the debate team, make it to TOCs. Find a cause and fight for it. Make a difference because you want to - not because your parents can tell the neighbors that you did this and that and that X activity secured you a spot at an ivy league.</p>
<p>Look, it seems to me like you want to go to Princeton for the prestige. I’m a prestige whore myself, but let me tell you, when you get to college you’re going to actually want to learn. Your parents will be paying top dollar. Let’s say you do get into Princeton, whether you’re passionate about academia or not, you’ll be miserable in a major that isn’t suited for you. Best investigate a school and find academic programs that fit your needs best. It’ll affect all aspects if your life in college if you don’t. You’ll fail or it’ll affect how you interact socially…Just, Princeton’s a great school. It might not be great for you though.</p>
<p>And gosh - if you’re not a humble person you won’t come off as humble. Don’t make sure to “come off” as something. Try to better yourself as a human being. The fact of the matter is you’re going to do damage to yourself socially and emotionally if you continue being so arrogant. Don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re a human being. A kid, at that. Live life and and enjoy it.</p>
<p>You know what kind of kids get into top colleges? The kids who make the most of life and have fun with it. The kids who are the best without forgetting to live, and most of all to love. Don’t do that to yourself, don’t forget to live. It sounds corny but the fact of the matter is loving life is important and everything else is worth jack**** if you don’t.</p>
<p>Where will you be in 30 years with an ivy league degree? Maybe you’ll have a well paying job, maybe. There’s more to life than awards and being rich. The point of good colleges is they provide more opportunities and offer thorough educational assets than other schools. X student wants to go to X school because they have the best science department in her chosen field. That student will love that school not because of the bumper sticker her mommy or herself can stick on the back of her car, but because she’ll feel rewarded and will really be able to explore something she loves. </p>
<p>I’m 3 in the morning so I’m losing it coherency wise…but seriously, kid. Seriously.</p>
<p>My school allows you to do Science courses with no previous Background in the course. For example, you can take AP Biology as a Freshman, but most who were qualified to do so took Honors Biology anyway, because AP was too hard, and the head of our Science Department told us that we would not receive college credits for it. Really, though, how is it possible to have a life and still be an excellent student? Everything extracirricular I’ve ever done is related to school in some shape or form.</p>
<p>I’m a pure nerd, pretty much, which makes it even more pathetic that I got stuck in the average math class. I have no life whatsoever, and there really isn’t anything I enjoy to do. I like Charity work to a degree, but that isn’t really a hobby. My only hobby so far has been to play StarCraft and read books. </p>
<p>I’m not necessarily saying I want to go to Princeton and only Princeton, there are lots of other great schools, my life isn’t over if I don’t get in. I like Princeton’s location since it’s close to New York, I like its campus, although I’ve never actually been there, and I like its strong academic program.</p>
<p>As for my math class, I’m taking Honors Geometry concurrently with Algebra B. I was kind of scared, because I would only have a 4.4 instead of a 4.5, because the Algebra class isn’t weighted, but I just found out Princeton doesn’t look at Freshman grades. I’m going to do Algebra2/Trig over the Summer so I can take Pre-Calculus next year. Regarding that, though, how much better is it to have Statistics and Calculus BC, or do most kids just have Calculus BC because their schools don’t let them take Algebra 1 in 7th grade? Also, I met someone who was taking Linear Algebra and Multicalculus as a Junior and Senior, with Calculus BC as a Sophomore. Should I do Multicalculus too, making up the other courses over the Summer?</p>