<p>I know its early but I am a sophomore and am definitely looking at schools like lehigh and bucknell as my top choices (although I know that can change within the next two years). However, I am trying to set myself up to be the best applicant possible for those schools, so I had a question to all of you who were accepted.
So, junior year courses were already picked, but we still have time to change them for next year. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and have taken all honors courses available, plus ap statistics sophomore year. For junior year, I plan on taking all honors and ap calc bc and ap chem next year. However, there are some of my friends who are almost equally as smart as me (GPA-wise) and are taking those classes, as well as ap English Lang and comp (whereas I am taking honors English 3). However, I also play and am heavily involved in 3 sports (xc, winter track, spring track) and am treasurer for student council (although that doesn't take much time), while my friends are in at most just one sport. Plus, I think I can maintain all A's and a 4.0 GPA with my current schedule, whereas I would likely get lower than an A if i took AP English (based on other students who took it), and I would also have less time to worry about my other APs that are more important to me (as I am a math and science kid). My school offers I think 16 APs (most ever taken by a student was around 10) and I am planning on having 6 (if I don't do AP English) plus Multivariable Calculus (weighted like an AP). So although I am taking one less AP than some other students this year, do you think schools like lehigh will understand due to my hopefully perfect GPA and my extracurriculars? Also, since I plan on majoring in engineering, do you think it is a big deal to not take ap English, since I am taking the most rigorous math/science classes a available? For those who were accepted, let me know if you took the most rigorous classes, or if you think I am looking like a strong applicant.
Thanks so much</p>
<p>XCtrack28 - my S was accepted to Lehigh, Bucknell, Boston College, Richmond, Maryland, Miami, and a bunch of other great schools. S is also a multi-sport athlete, Eagle Scout, NHS officer, President of Leo Club, and multiple other club memberships and leadership positions, and held part-time jobs. I think the operative word here is balance - you want to take as challenging a course load as possible without shooting yourself in the foot by sabotaging your grades. Unless you are a “genius” who doesn’t need to study, it is very difficult to do multiple sports and EC’s and work, and take all honors and AP courses (depending on the rigor of your school, of course). My S didn’t even take honors English or Social Studies (too much reading and writing which would have eaten up too much time he didn’t have), but did take honors and AP’s in math, the sciences and foreign language. Got into GREAT schools, and as of last night, I’m happy to announce, decided on LEHIGH! Simple lesson… balance, rigor, great resume. If you go lighter in one area, make sure it is rounded out by strengths in another. Showcase your strengths, and still be much better than average in everything else. No one is perfect at everything!</p>
<p>From what you reported, you are looking like a very good candidate for Lehigh. Keep it up for the next year and a half. Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with Yocco, if you’re a math science guy, focus on those and don’t kill yourself with AP English. You should have not problem getting into Lehigh if you continue to do well like you have been. My S was accepted into Lehigh w/ straight A’s math/science. All A’s in those classes (all honors & AP). He did have a few B’s & B+/A- in the english and history, but like you, he’s a math science guy going into engineering all the way:
2 yrs calc (AP)
2 yrs physics (honors & AP)
2 yrs chem (honors & AP)
comp sci (AP)
intro to Eng
decent SATs (2220 / 770M) SAT subject Math II - 780, Chem - 740
5’s on all AP’s to date</p>
<p>Now, if you want merit money from Lehigh, that’s another story… good luck. They are, or say they are a need based school, but we got priced out. $57k sticker. Only gave us $12k need based. Lehigh is a great school, but at $45k/yr real money, we could not justify cost. He or we would have had to take on significant student debt. What kills me is after saving for my kids college since they were born (2 behind my current senior), I’m told our need is not great because we’ve got so much saved. So, you’re penalized for doing the right thing. Well at $45k/yr, it’s basically gone in less than 2 yrs… but don’t get me started.</p>
<p>Thanks guys I really appreciate it because I was stressing out a bit about that but now I know what I’m doing should be good. And yea another problem may be actually paying for it assuming I can get in, but I’ll start worrying about that later on</p>