<p>UGH another Freshman year sob story… bear with me guys..
Soooo as you probably already deduced, my Freshman year didn't go so well. I had a series of medical issues causing me to have missed a lot of school which resulted in mediocre grades (B's, an A, a C, and a D). I am now currently a sophomore and have A's, A+'s and one A- in all of my classes. I take honors grade level math (geometry), Honors Chemistry (which is a year advanced), Honors english (everyone is on the same grade level) regular (aka regents) social studies (the lowest social studies you can take besides remedial social studies), and spanish. I plan on taking a math course over the summer to be one year advanced in math, and as for every other course, I'm being recommended for all the most advanced courses next year. I'm interested in some very competitive colleges mainly because i'm highly interested in neuroscience and some of the best neuroscience research programs are in competitive colleges. Plain and simple, I was wondering if i had any sort of a shot if i continue to progress at the rate i've been progressing at.
Thanks!</p>
<p>First lesson: it’s okay to ask for a medical leave, an incomplete, or medical accomodations when you’re very ill.
Second: some schools don’t count freshman year. Unfortunately, they’re either super competitive (Princeton) or unaffordable unless you live in California (UC’s). CSU’s are a little more affordable but you’d have to pick carefully and get into the Honors Program; majors are impacted, too; and you need to meet the a-g requirements including one year of art/music. You may start a thread that asks “Colleges that don’t want 9th grade results” or something like that.</p>
<p>You need to stay in the Honors version of your classes and take AP classes if possible during your junior year. </p>
<p>Typical junior year APs include AP Us History, AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition. Will you be in a few of these classes?</p>
<p>How high or low performing is your school? To what schools are typical seniors applying? Where is your valedictorian going?</p>
<p>Can you work on an independent research project with a teacher, for instance senior year? Or is there somewhere you can work on research, such as a lab? </p>
<p>Do you know your EFC? What is your parents" budget? Will you need financial aid? Merit aid?</p>
<p>Neuroscience is offered at a lot of colleges by the way so you should be able to find quite a few schools that offer it.</p>
<p>If your grades suffered because of a medical reason, colleges will understand that. A lot of colleges won’t even consider your freshman year, so don’t sweat it 
you’re doing great now and that’s all that really matters.</p>
<p>In response to @MYOS1634, As of now, I’ve been recommended for AP physics, AP language and composition, AP US history, AP phycology, and Honors Precalc Junior year. I’m planning to take all of them and if need be, i can always drop down a level in a class if i’m really suffering.</p>
<p>The school knows about my medical condition, it’s all on record (idk if this makes a difference). </p>
<p>I go to a public school and I’m not sure how high preforming we are. I know many seniors apply to competitive colleges and many seniors don’t apply to college at all. Both my siblings once attended and they both went to Harvard. </p>
<p>I plan to join science research next year. I don’t think i’m going to achieve anything fantastic in it but it is something I think I’d enjoy.</p>
<p>and i have my music requirements under my belt (I think). I took Women’s chorus freshman year as well.</p>
<p>My school has a valedictorian every year. Many of them go to very competitive colleges, others still do pretty well for themselves</p>
<p>Thank you for anyone who responded. You’ve been very helpful :)</p>