<p>Hey so I'm new to this site and just thought to post this question that's been bugging me.
I am going to be a Freshman in high school & am taking 3 honors classes and a regular math class. I am not worried about GPA, test scores, clubs, etc. I will be trying my hardest and doing all honors for the rest of my high school years. But did this one year of only 3 honors out of 4 possibly ruin my chances? I know how picky Harvard is, and I wouldn't be too surprised if it did.</p>
<p>You have to take “the most rigorous courses,” and honestly, I would recommend switching into honors math. Don’t be so harvard. Why does everyone think Harvard is the ONLY school. Berkeley engineering out ranks Harvard. College really depends on what you want to do/major in. So I would recommend taking the hardest classes available and keeping your options open! If you focus too much on Harvard and you don’t get in, then what?</p>
<p>Thanks for the input! While I was changing a screwup on my schedule this morning, I discussed it with the guidance counselor & we both agree Honors math is important. So i’ll be in Pre AP Algebra 1 & onto calc by the time I’m in Senior year. Thanks again</p>
<p>“I know how picky Harvard is and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did [ruin my chances]”</p>
<p>No. Absolutely no. Honors math is better for you as a person and will help in the rest of your high school career, but realize that most Ivy League schools won’t reject for something so simple and pointless. It’s your freshman year; colleges are lenient for 9th grade since you’re still adjusting. Of course, you should still get all A’s if possible, but matters this small will not affect your eventual app.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing: the main indicators of HYPS admission are SAT and the transcript. As long as you push yourself every other year, and do well, you’ll be well through the academic bar.</p>
<p>And the academic bar is just the first step. The real key to admission to Harvard, or Berkeley, or any other top school is distinguishing yourself from other candidates. For some, this happens by circumstance, e.g. URMs, low-income, interesting life story. For others, this is extracurricular achievement; e.g. USAMO, Siemens, starting a company, etc. The only way to distinguish yourself is to work really hard in one area. And the only way to do that is to know who you are/what you want.</p>
<p>In fact, if you think 4 honors courses will be too much this year, I might suggest dropping one. Focus on more important things. Adjust to high school. Join a bunch of different extracurricular activities to find out what you like. Discover who you are; that’s going to make much more of a difference in the long run.</p>
<p>Also, as Whartonplease says, don’t fixate on Harvard. Admissions to top colleges rarely makes sense. I have seen people rejected from Cornell get into Princeton. I have seen 2400 URMs with good extracurriculars go to mediocre schools. And the more you learn about these colleges, the more you realize where you fit in.</p>