Do I have any chances at anywhere good?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello CC,</p>

<p>I am a current sophomore and after reading some of the comments on this site, I was hesitant about posting this. I decided to post it anyway because I am really clueless about the college admissions process and have no clue where I rank against others my age. I am going to be honest here, so please don't post anything mean if you feel that my grades are inadequate or you dislike my character. I'll give you a brief story. </p>

<p>I was an awful student in middle school and worse, I was an awful person. There were two tragic experiences in 8th grade. One was getting cut from the school team for behavioral issues (I was good enough to make the team), the second was at the end of the school year when I realized that I had cyber-bullied a friend without even knowing it. After these events I realized I needed to make a personality change and I did. My friends that I perceived as poor influences were removed from my life, never to be contacted again. I also started to take school seriously because I had constantly been told that I was wasting all of my potential. This change in my character has had some mixed results. Some of my peers are dumbfounded by how somebody that was once so outgoing had become very timid. Others respect me for realizing that I was headed down the wrong path and quickly made a change. Now that I am better student than before, and with such an odd situation, I have no idea where I rank or where I should be applying to in two years.</p>

<p>In the past two years, I have become interested in the sciences and I think that I want to go into a career in science. I haven't figured out which area of science I like best, but in time, I think I'll know. The problem that I have is that I am not and cannot take the highest level of math in my school because one of the requirements to be in that class is high scores in the fifth grade (FIFTH GRADE? THAT IS SO FRUSTRATING!) and remaining in that class throughout middle school. I have asked my guidance counselor if I'd be able to get into to a better math, but I was turned down after a three month long battle with the head of the math department. This is troubling because I am never going to be where some of the kids in my school are. That said, I plan on taking two or three advanced math classes in my senior year, which is allowed. </p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some advice on where I can possibly be admitted. I know that I am not eligible for any of the best schools in the country, but I was wondering if I could get into some good state schools and maybe a few private schools. My sister goes to a very lousy private school and I see it as a huge waste of money because her high school grades were horrendous. I wouldn't want to attend a private school without truly loving the school, the academics, and the people. Also, I wanted know if I have any chances in the field of science because I am not taking advanced math. There are 600+ students in my graduating class. My school is a very competitive public school in New York that has one of the top IB programs in the state. There are also a few AP classes, but my school tends to push the IB curriculum a lot more. Here are my grades so far. It's pretty obvious that there was a big change made in my character during the summer going into freshman year. All of these classes will be going on my transcript, even the eight grade classes. All of these classes are either regular or advanced; I'm not a year behind, but I am just not in the advanced math class. Also, none of my middle school teachers recommended me for the advanced classes, so I have none in my freshman year. The advanced classes are called Pre-IB.</p>

<p>8th grade:</p>

<p>Spanish 2: B-
Living Environment (Bio): B-</p>

<p>9th grade:</p>

<p>Earth Science: A
English: A
Global History 1: A+
Integrated Algebra: A-
Spanish 3: A
Studio Art: A-</p>

<p>10th Grade (so far):</p>

<p>Chemistry Pre-IB: A
English 10 Pre-IB: A+
Geometry: A
Global History 2 Pre-IB: A+
Health: A+
Digital Photography: A
Science Research 1: A
Spanish 4: A+
TV Journalism: A</p>

<p>ECs</p>

<p>I don't have much yet, but I've been in the process of getting more.</p>

<p>-2 years in the school paper. I was a staff writer my first year and now I am a chief reporter. (Wooh!)
-1 year of student council which I hated it and won't be continuing.
-I just started these clubs this year: Future Engineers' Club and Computer Science Club </p>

<p>Research</p>

<p>-My group has been working with my town's planning board and Cornell University Cooperative Extension to find the source of pollutants to a tributary lake leading into a large river. We're going to one of the best science fairs in New York this May.
-I'll be applying to a few research programs for this upcoming summer.</p>

<p>Awards (This is pathetic)</p>

<p>-One of my articles won bronze for the best sports feature award at the Empire State Student Press Association's High School Journalism Convention
-I had two articles that were nominated for at the Long Island Press Student Journalism Awards. One was for best sports feature and the other was for best fashion feature. I didn't win either of them.</p>

<p>If anyone can give me any advice on where I could potentially apply and if I still go into a career in science, that would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, I go to school in New York, and I don't know much about any of the SUNY/CUNY schools, so if anyone knows about that, that would be great. Also, if anyone knows of my chances at any reputable private universities, please let me know. I know that my chances for top tier universities has likely been obliterated, but maybe there are some schools out there that might be better for someone with my scores. If anyone can give me any feedback on anything, that would so greatly appreciated. I know that compared to others, my grades, scores, and ECs are substandard, but I'm willing to make the best of what I have. Thanks you so much for reading such a long post. I will chance back!</p>

2

<p>Hey, thanks for chancing me! </p>

<p>You can relax a bit because colleges don’t care about your middle school stuff, unless you did something drastic that got you into some serious trouble. You are on the right track, and your awards/ECs even now, tower over most high schoolers’ ECs and awards lol. You don’t need to worry about too much, as long as you maintain this through high school. Get those scores you want on the standardized testings, and you will be able to go pretty much wherever you want. You also have quite a compelling story to tell in your college letters, if the need arises. Usually, going into high school, kids do poorly, but you did the opposite; you started doing excellently. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.</p>

3

<p>As the above poster said, Colleges don’t care about middle school. Unless you got arrested or something serious like that, they will not take that into consideration. Your grades seem fine so far. Keep getting the As and A+s and you’ll be on a good track. Your ECs and awards are actually better than you think and, while not the greatest in the world, they’re definitely above the average student’s.It’s hard to give a shot at ‘anywhere good’ yet because SAT/ACT scores are one the most important factors of an application. As long as your scores are decent you shouldn’t have any trouble getting into good schools. If you can get a 2100+ on the SAT, you’d be in contention for top private universities (Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Cornell etc.) Keep up the good work.</p>

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<p>@Smithg1227 Thank you!! It feels so good to know that there is still some hope. I’m going to work hard over the next year to improve my sat score because, as you know in my other post, I got a poor PSAT score. I’ve honestly thought that my application would be thrown away immediately after top colleges saw an the horrible 8th grade scores and regular math. You really helped me out. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Vortex, your replies to other threads kind of belie your contention that “I am really clueless about the college admissions process.” You seem to be doing your research; in the posting here you have a good awareness of what your strengths and weaknesses are; and you are being proactive about building a strong case for admission to a highly selective school. </p>

<p>FWIW, here are my observations: Don’t worry that 8th gr will be on the transcript. Colleges don’t consider anyone else’s 8th grade record, so they won’t consider yours. Your HS grades are fine. Don’t worry about not being able to take the top math class, and don’t worry about some A-'s along the way. 99% of students in the US would love to have your transcript. Prepare well for the standardized tests, and develop some ECs that you have a genuine interest in (otherwise, colleges will see that you are simply padding).</p>

<p>You state above, “I know that I am not eligible for any of the best schools in the country.” Don’t confuse “prestige” with “best.” If you are wanting Ivy, you will submit your app, scores and all of your supporting materials, and you very well may come out as one of the lucky few who gets in. But you will also have matches and safeties that should include schools that you will have visited and that you feel confident will also give you a great education. (In other words, if you apply to Harvard, also apply to University of Rochester, and SUNY Albany. All three are amazing schools.)</p>

<p>Many successful students concentrate on three things in searching: strength of curriculum (especially in your areas of interest), fit, and affordability. Hitting the sweet spot in these three areas sometimes involves some tradeoffs. So do your research, make your visits, don’t get hung up on prestige, and you’ll have a really satisfying search experience.</p>

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<p>@MidwestDad3 You don’t know how much it means to have someone take the time to give me this advice. Thank you. I just got a very poor PSAT score back, which gives me a reason to work extremely hard over the next year. Your constructive yet supportive advice has given me the confidence to think about schools that I wouldn’t have before. When I made this post, I tried to be as honest as possible and I honestly felt that there was no hope for me anywhere besides the SUNY’s. Now I feel that the only thing that is limiting me is myself. Knowing that my math class and pre-high school years won’t kill my chances at prestigious private universities is awfully comforting. Thanks again and I will continue my search for that college that is the perfect fit.</p>

7

<p>Consider looking at Union College, a highly regarded LAC. They are excellent in the sciences, they have wonderful facilities (the only campus we visited with a sushi bar in the dining hall!), they are overweighted in men so female STEM applicants probably get a slight advantage, and they are test optional. Their prospective student visit days are really exceptional, so try to go if you are able.</p>

8

<p>Even top colleges offer Calculus I. Which means someone is taking that class. Which means they admit people who weren’t on an advanced math track. And if you can take an extra math class senior year, that will help, too.</p>

<p>You’ve got great grades. Who cares how you did in 8th grade? By the time a college is looking at your transcript, that will be ancient history. You’re doing great now, and that’s what counts. </p>

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<p>@MidwestDad3 I am going to look at Union. My grandfather has always wanted me to go into engineering and he has always respected the profession. I joined the future engineers’ club and I am really liking it. When I see my guidance counselor for scheduling, my second choice elective (behind Science Research 11) will IB Design Technology HL, an engineering course. I’m looking forward to that class because I have become really close with the teacher. Thanks for the recommendation.</p>

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<p>@SansSerif Thanks so much for your response. I knew that top schools offer Calculus I, but I was under the impression that class was reserved for the kids who didn’t get a 5 on the AP test (or in my case, a 7 on the IB test). If my counselor allows it, I might end up taking 2 or 3 math classes senior year. Other than the required and dreaded IB Math Studies, which is referred to as “the lightest of the IB courses” by the IB coordinator, my school offers AP Stats and AP Calculus AB. I’m not entirely sure that I’d be permitted to take AP Calculus AB, because one of the prerequisites is Pre-Calc, but maybe I could get around that. Considering that everything works out with this year’s scheduling, I’d be going into AP Computer Science for my junior year and IB computer science my senior year. Both computer science classes are math electives. Do you think that this is good to negate my lack of math throughout high school. Do you know anything about AP Stats because I do not. Thanks again for replying.</p>

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<p>I’m not a math person by any means so I can’t say exactly what schools are looking for in that area. But I will say this – and someone else could tell me I’m wrong - from my non-math perspective, statistics is easier than calculus. Back when I went to high school (which was long ago, but these are basic subjects that probably don’t change) I only took up to Algebra 2 because I was going to major in Journalism. I ended up taking Statistics in college, which I would assume is at least equal to AP Stats, and I got an A. </p>

<p>Since you’re going to major in a science-related area - and maybe engineering - it might be more important for you take Calculus. But of course, not if you don’t have adequate preparation. Someone else will hopefully be better able to answer that for you.</p>

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<p>@SansSerif Thank you for your input. I know that it is important to take the hardest math possible and I’ve been in a constant struggle to get there. My counselor doesn’t exactly have much faith in me, or at least as much faith as I have in myself. I’ve constantly urged to be in a better math and she has never been able to satisfy my discomfort. I just fear that I’m going to see a repeat in history and I’ll be forced to take a class that is not challenging me. Thanks again.</p>

13

<p>It all lies in the test score.</p>

14

<p>8th grade doesn’t matter</p>

15

<p>@bschooler2011‌ Alright, thank you!</p>