Four Year Plan

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>So, I don't want to flood the "Rate my Schedule" thread with my odd need to post my projected four year plan for high school, as I am currently a freshman. Tell me what you think!</p>

<p>BTW: My ultimate goal is MIT, but because of selectivity and cost I also would like to go to Missouri S&T, still looking at other colleges though.</p>

<p>Freshmen:
Honors Biology (B, should be an A by end of semester)
Honors English (B+, Will be an A)
Honors MUSH (B, This is the only class I'm not sure if I can get up to an A)
Honors Geometry (A-, trying to get closer to A or A+)
Honors Intro to Engineering Design (A)
Orchestra 1 (A) (I play bass)
Latin 1 (A)</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Honors Chemistry
Honors English 2
AP World History
Honors Trig
???
Symphonic Orchestra
Latin 2</p>

<p>Junior:
Honors Physics
Honors English 3
AP Gov and Comp. Politics
Honors Pre-Calc
AP Biology
Symphonic Orchestra
Latin 3</p>

<p>Senior:
AP Physics C
AP Lit & Comp
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus
AP Statistics
Orchestra
Honors Latin 4</p>

<p>Self-Study:
I want to do Japanese and French, but not sure if I could do that by myself. Would like to do the AP tests for them at some point, but only if I get good at them.
AP Psychology (Probably this year)
AP Human Geography (Probably this year)
AP Euro History (This year or next)
AP Art History (This year or next)
AP Microeconomics (Unsure when)
AP Macroeconomics (Unsure when)
AP Latin (Senior Year, after taking Honors Latin 4)
AP Music Theory (Unsure when, depends how Orchestra goes)</p>

<p>That makes for 8 AP classes in a class, and 8-10 Self-Study. Is this too much?</p>

<p>During Summer School I will be taking classes required to graduate; 2 P.E Classes, Health, and Personal Finance, along with some other classes I just want to take.</p>

<p>I hope to see if I can test out of Trig, going to Pre-Calc as a Sophomore and Calc as a Senior, Opening up room for AP Environmental Science, or College Prep Math. </p>

<p>Sports:
Cross-Country
Swim Team
Track/Muggle Quidditch (Weird, I know, but if I can start the team that's what I'm doing!)</p>

<p>EC's:
Gay Straight Alliance
Student Council (I'm the grade-level Treasurer)
Plan to start a Random Acts of Kindness club
Mu Alpha Theta (Honors Math Society)
Looking for more, but with sports it's hard to go involved.
I also write a lot and plan to enter short stories into competitions, school collections and I participate in Nanowrimo, which is National Novel Writing Month (Write 50k words in a month! Hard work, but I normally overachieve and get 100k-250k)
Teaching myself Piano
Hope to teach myself Guitar at some point</p>

<p>I plan to get into volunteering and get a summer job.</p>

<p>Advice? I will take any and all.</p>

2

<p>Let’s see. 1/4 of the way through the school year, you are struggling a bit with B’s in 3 freshman-level classes. At my kid’s school, freshman honors classes are a joke compared to most AP classes–but you are saying you might self study as many as 4 AP classes in your spare time this year? Meanwhile you are somehow going to get good enough at French and also Japanese, all by yourself to consider AP testing, all while maintaining a full academic and busy sports schedule, writing a novel, attending summer school, working a job? Your AP plans seem wildly unrealistic to me. </p>

<p>Have you discussed this plan with your parents, your counselor, older students who are in AP classes? They will probably have some good advice for you. My suggestions: First, focus on doing well in the classes you are actually in. Second, if you are seriously considering testing out of trig, then seriously work on that. If you feel you MUST self-study AP (not sure where this compulsion to do 8-10 is coming from), focus this year on ONE AP that is actually significant to your interests and career goals, rather than the huge laundry list you’ve got there. And you’d better get started soon because the first quarter is pretty much over…</p>

3

<p>I definitely see your concern! I’ll have to explain my B’s; basically, i understand the material and can do homework quickly and easily (I rarely even have homework because i do it during class.) My grades are bad because of poor decisions I made in the first week of school (Neglected all summer work, so I took two tests, one in English and the other in history, on books I never read.) However, I’m slowly getting a LOT better on getting everything done (My grades in middle school were abysmal because I never did homework, so I admit the transition is a but odd.)</p>

<p>I do see your point about French and Japanese. Those are definitely goals-to-do-if-I-can-somehow-find-time-but-not-necessary, I don’t think I’ll do it, but if I did I’d be more likely to do Japanese as it looks like an easier course to do by myself, and I already know a bit about the culture.</p>

<p>On my school: We have a two semester year, and block schedule. One hour of a study hall bi-daily.</p>

4

<p>Here’s MIT’s admissions website, if you haven’t already looked at it:
[What</a> To Do In High School | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool]What”>What to do in high school | MIT Admissions)</p>

<p>Remember that you’ll probably change a lot in the next three years…it’s fine to think about your future, but don’t expect your goals and interests to stay the same. Don’t plan too far ahead. </p>

<p>(Case in point: when I was a freshman, my plan was to go to a local college and get whatever degree would allow me to become a registered dietitian. I had been fascinated by nutrition for several years, and I spent a lot of my free time reading books about it. I didn’t like math much, so I just took Algebra I. Now I’m a senior and I want to go to a university and ultimately become a mathematician, but that probably isn’t going to happen either.)</p>

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<p>Any actual reason for this, or is it just that U.S. News says it’s good?
(Because it’s sort of strange to have “ultimate goals” re: college when you’re only two months into your freshman year.)</p>

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<p>How do you know this?</p>

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<p>Self-studying isn’t especially impressive and you may as well use that time to work on your extracurriculars. If your school offers an AP course, you should be taking it in class. If your school doesn’t offer an AP course, there’s no need to bother with the test unless you want to use the AP credit to take higher-level dual-enrollment courses at a local college. </p>

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<p>Figure out how many honors and AP courses your school offers, and get As in all of them. Again, there’s no point in self-studying ten AP tests.</p>

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<ol>
<li>Where is Algebra II in this? Is it included with Trig?<br></li>
<li>What is College Prep Math?<br></li>
</ol>

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<p>Be more original, and try to have a focus (a passion, or something that looks like one). Don’t just join a bunch of random stuff…you should try to find a couple specific things you’re interested in and really focus on them and accomplish things related to them. I’d recommend looking into prestigious competitions and free selective summer programs/internships. They have some listed here:</p>

<p>[Internships[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/competitions/index.html]Academic”>http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/competitions/index.html]Academic</a> Competitions](<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/internships/]Internships[/url”>http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/internships/)
[Academic</a> Summer Programs](<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/summer_programs/index.html]Academic”>http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/summer_programs/index.html)</p>

<p>I also recommend keeping a notebook where you write down interesting phrases/ideas when you think of them. That way you’ll have some material to use for essays later on (and your essays will probably be about things that happened during high school, so you shouldn’t start them until your junior year or so).</p>

5

<p>True, I may change what I want to do. I’m not even quite sure at this point, though I’ve been thinking about it since 6th grade. Fairly certain I’d like it to be science related, or possible math. Chemistry and Physics most interest me, but I haven’t even taken those courses so I can’t be sure. I do think that I will most likely go into research as what little exposure that I’ve had to Engineering has been dull and uninteresting. If I went into something other than science or math, I’d probably go toward being an author, but that job is so coveted and so hard to make a break in it would be more of a hobby author.</p>

<p>I first looked into MIT by looking through good science colleges lists, but I really love it because of the research possibilities and the available resources. Of course, I am sort of just listing a science college that I’ve heard is great, and I’ve definitely searched the website fairly thoroughly, but nothing serious like speaking to current students or visiting. However, my level of college likely won’t change, even if it isn’t MIT specifically.</p>

<p>Well, I guess I don’t know 100% that my English and Biology grades will be A’s by the end of the semester, but I’m pretty certain, as long as I do find on my finals I can do it. My English grade will probably be an A once I finish editing this one essay actually. Biology is the maybe a B, but I’ve feel that I’ve gotten a hang of it now. (The tests are really difficult and I never needed great study skills, so I’ve been building those up to pasts the tests. Went from completely bombing a test with a 59% [I’m ashamed of that grade] to getting a low B the next test. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a firm handle on how to deal with the tests now.)</p>

<p>I’m actually already fitting in as many AP courses as I can into my regular schedule. Most AP classes are offered in 11th or 12th grade, and those years are full schedule wise for me. I might be able to talk to counseling to allow me to take one of the AP courses such as Psychology in 10th Grade. Seeing that you don’t even know what College Prep Math is, and honestly I’ve been looking around and think it’s more of a review course for College, I think I might put AP Environment Science in that slot instead.</p>

<p>I know I could fit more AP classes into my actual schedule if I didn’t take Orchestra and Latin all 4 years, but those two are important too many because I love doing both. </p>

<p>Yes, Trigonometry is Algebra II.</p>

<p>I would love to get into more clubs, but those clubs are about all I can manage with my sports. I chose all of my clubs based on what’s important to me, and what I love doing. Are there any types of clubs you think with be specifically helpful?</p>

<p>Thank you for the links, they’ll be helpful! And thanks for answering, I loved reading it and will think on it.</p>

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<p>At my school, “college prep” = regular non-honors class. I’m assuming it’s below the level of pre-calculus. If you like math and you finish pre-calculus in your sophomore year, I’d recommend taking Calculus BC in your junior year and then finding a way to take a more advanced class (multivariable, linear algebra, differential equations, etc.) at a local college. </p>

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<p>I definitely wasn’t advising you to join more clubs. (All clubs are the same, btw…colleges don’t really care what clubs they are so long as you show leadership and dedication.)
In terms of college admissions, clubs aren’t all that great because everyone does them. Leadership positions look good, and you should definitely stay in clubs that you’re interested in, but you need to do more than just clubs. Right now you’re just doing what everyone else is doing, and your ECs are not spectacular like top colleges will expect.</p>

7

<p>What do you consider spectactular ECs halcyon?</p>

8

<p>So, College Prep is officially out. It would just bring down my G.P.A (We do a weighted GPA for honors/AP courses, which give awards.) I will look into the college courses, but honestly I’m not really interested in going to actual college classes in High School, I’d prefer to stay with High School while I’m young. Won’t completely cross it out though!</p>

<p>What would you recommend other than clubs and sports? I hope to do Volunteering of course, and will look into a summer job.</p>

9

<p>Things that sound difficult even if they aren’t. Things that make them look twice. Things not everyone can do. Everyone does clubs. </p>

<p>Sort of like this, I guess:</p>

<p>[Case</a> Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Study Hacks - Cal Newport](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Case”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport)</p>

<p>And I’ll be the first to admit that my ECs suck(ed).</p>

<p>I mean, clubs are fine, but you should do other stuff too. And your ECs should all work together to form a coherent whole, if that makes any sense. They shouldn’t just come out of nowhere…they should say something about your character or your interests. It shouldn’t look like you did it for college.</p>

10

<p>Oooh, Cal Newport. I read his A+ Student book and found it interesting, and have been looking for his High School Superstar book for ages. Will look at that link.</p>

<p>Does writing a book count? It’s been one of my goals to publish a book by end of senior year. I have plots planned out and feel I could do this.</p>

<p>EDIT: Link isn’t working D:</p>

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<p>Generally, do you think a large portion of the students who attend top tier schools are like this or do you think they are also filled with students who I guess you would say do “average” ECs?</p>

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<p>This too:</p>

<p>[Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)</p>

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<p>See here (it depends what you mean by “publish”):</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1550024-publishing-book-put-application.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1550024-publishing-book-put-application.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you’re a good writer I would suggest submitting some of your work to [Scholastic</a> Art & Writing Awards | Scholastic Art & Writing Awards](<a href=“http://www.artandwriting.org/]Scholastic”>http://www.artandwriting.org/).</p>

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<p>If they had average ECs (define "average, though), then it’s probably either because they were underprivileged (some kids can’t do “traditional” ECs for various reasons, like having to babysit or work to support their families…working and babysitting are still ECs, though) or because their academic accomplishments were unusually amazing.</p>

13

<p>Wow, thanks for being so helpful, that’s a lot of things to look for :D</p>

<p>I do have a school literary magazine I plan to submit to, along with a school district one. Always looking for contests!</p>

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<p>I guess I’m just running on into a chain of questions here and sorry to you both about that. Hope this doesn’t sound dumb, but what do you mean by underprivileged and academic accomplishments that were “unusually amazing”?</p>

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<p>College admissions is holistic…how much they expect of you is dependent on how many opportunities you had. They want to see that you took advantage of your circumstances the best you knew how. When I said “underprivileged” I was thinking of something along the lines of a low-income kid who has to work or babysit and therefore doesn’t have time to do clubs or internships or anything that would get him an award. </p>

<p>“Academically unusual” would be like someone who takes graduate-level math classes in high school or something. A genius.</p>

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<p>Thank you for your time and answers.</p>

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<p>halcyonheather and I had an argument on a similar thread to this, BUT this time I’m going to agree with her. All the time you are planning to spend self studying for the ridiculous amount of APs you have planned, is much better spent doing other ECs. And if you are serious about engineering and MIT (which has been mentioned could very likely change) but if you really want to go into that, you need to focus on math and science courses. why would you self study AP Art History unless you are passionate about going into art? AP Classes I think you definitely should take are; AP Calculus AB or BC (don’t feel like you have to skip trig either, if anything you should have just self studied geometry) AP Physics 2 (by the time you are able to take this they will have changed the AP course and test) AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP foreign language of your choice (don’t need more than 1 but colleges like MIT are picky about that stuff) For ECs, do something outside the box, you said you are in GSA (which I totally support) but instead of just being in the club, spend your free time speaking to the community, write a book about gay rights, try to start a political movement, start a charity to support young LGBT adults or even teenagers who have been thrown to the street by there parents, but while clubs are better than nothing, they don’t stand out. If MIT gets 75,000 applicants (just a guess I have no idea what the real number is) about 60,000 of them are in clubs or play sports (or both) but less than 10% of them get admitted. So you need to stand out. But I admire your tenacity.</p>

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<p>I actually love history of all sorts, and I’m actually looking into Art History as a… Prep AP for the future really hard ones in Junior and Senior year. So, I won’t do it if it starts to interfere with other commitments, but it’s a like-to-do. Honestly, all the ‘self-studies’ are more like-to-do’s, (except for the Economics, as I feel those would be helpful in me being able to understand how our economy works and just well… economics.)</p>

<p>My book I was talking about? It’s LGBT, so I plan to do a lot with that. RAK, the club I want to start, focuses on bullying and helping people who are just plain having a rough time. I also hope that if I pioneer a Quidditch team (league in my district?) then that will help me stand out. Plus, I just love all things Harry Potter.</p>

<p>A charity I’ve always thought was interesting, but I honestly have no idea where to start. Maybe I can look into it more.</p>

19

<p>That’s good, but don’t overwhelm yourself. I know plenty of people at my school who take way to many AP classes sophomore year (Which is significantly harder than freshman year) and end up being overwhelmed to a point where they don’t care anymore. I’m taking Pre Calc Honors and AP Euro as a sophomore and it’s a ton of homework (History classes for me aren’t that hard, but I’m terrible in math and science, I’m usually good at English as long as it isn’t super boring) but there aren’t enough hours in the day to self study all of those classes in your free time, because with the classroom classes with the sports you do on top of the ECs, you will barely have time to eat and sleep.</p>

20

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You’re going to do all that, just for a name? The majority of people who get into MIT, I speculate, are most likely passionate about what they do. And that’s why they’re so good at it. They don’t merely want to tack a name onto a resume, and that’s what separates them from the rest (being at MIT is probably just an additional recognition for their hardwork).</p>