@waterfall27 Generally you want to take the hardest classes offered to you. If that’s what you are doing then you’re good! I don’t believe colleges will fault you for not taking APs not offered to you.
@waterfall27 That looks likes a good schedule, better than mine. I agree with @Madeline25 to some extent. Choose the hard classes possible, but make sure you do not overwhelm yourself. As of right now, I’m only planning to take 2 AP classes next year and 3 the year after that. I do like the fact that you are taking two math classes. I’m, technically, taking two as well, Regular Algebra 2 and Computer Math (Mathematical Programming). I’m also URM (African-American). My AP classes next year are AP Chemistry and AP Computer Science A. I am however taking similar classes this year, like English 3 Honors and Chemistry. Hope this helps! I was writing this during lunch :))
@frazzledazzle Well that’s good.
@ak2018 @Madeline25 @waterfall27 I know from experience that sometimes it is good to take classes that aren’t the hardest available. Last year, I chose to go into Honors Algebra 2 knowing that it might be too hard for me. I ended up having a C+ and a C for semester grades. Looking back, I made the wrong decision and let others influence my decision. My best advice to give is to go with your gut and know your limits. That way, you are taking the most rigorous courseload that you can take, while also staying in your comfort zone and ability levels. It also makes, in my opinion, for a better and happier education.
@frazzledazle @ak2018 I totally agree. My comment was intended to comment on colleges not faulting you for not taking APs/harder classes if they are not offered and rigor is usually in relation to the hardest schedule offered at your school. I looked at it again and realized I used poor wording, sorry. You should totally not take off more than you can chew for all the reasons frazzledazzle said above.
@frazzledazzle @Madeline25 I had also stated that earlier, but I totally agree with you. Just because AP and Honors classes are available, doesn’t mean you should take them all.
Quick question: Is anyone here in the Robotics club or team at their school?
@ak2018 @frazzledazzle @Madeline25 Thanks for your responses! I mean, my schedule is not the most rigorous, because as a sophomore AP Stats and AP Euro are offered, and last year, AP World was also offered, but I decided to opt out of AP’s last year and this year and take honors classes instead. I haven’t yet taken any non-honors classes (other than gym, lol) and I don’t plan on doing so either. Also, for what it’s worth I have an unweighted GPA of 3.71 (4.44 weighted) from freshman year. I’m just generally pretty worried about the whole college apps that we’re gonna have to start super soon, and I wanna get some tips from people!!
Out of curiosity, have any of you guys taken the SAT or any subject tests yet? If so, how did you do? Also, what colleges are you guys considering as of right now?
Hey guys! Is anyone in FBLA? We had state testing for it today and I think I did well! I tested for Intro to Financial Math (formerly Business Math). It was pretty easy minus a few questions that had vocabulary I didn’t know (I didn’t study at all oops).
Hope everyone’s school year is going well!
@waterfall27 I also had a GPA of 3.71 (unweighted) and I share your same worry about applying for college. That’s why I’m here as well everyone else on this thread. I honestly find it so great that I was able to find a community of the most hopeful and intelligent people who share my same interest in college. I am also planning on taking the SAT during junior year.
@mamaba we have FBLA but it is not at all serioius
@waterfall27 Also as of right now, I am considering these colleges (I am from Virginia and my parents already told me I can’t go out of the state which I okay with):
1 Choice (Dream School) - Virginia Tech
2 Choice - University of Virginia
3 Choice - James Madison University
4 Choice - George Mason University
5 Choice - Virginia Commonwealth University
6 Choice (If my dad makes me go to a community college): Northern Virginia Community College or NOVA
Getting into Virginia Tech as a mechanical engineering major, its top major, would be my ultimate dream come true and would honestly make high school seem as if it was all worth it. I’m okay with the other colleges except NOVA, I would honestly hate going to community college. It would be like a repeat of high school. I want the actual college experience. Staying up and studying until 4 a.m. in the library right before a big final exam, going to see a football game with friends, meeting new people, seeing new places, learning new things, making study groups, and a whole lot of other stuff. I want to experience it, good or bad. You see what I’m saying?
@waterfall27 TO get into Ivies you need essentially straight A’s while being exceptionally great at a specific EC. Like if you’re into debate go to nationals all 4 years of high school
with around a 2350 SAT
@waterfall27 Also I am planning to take the Chemistry, Math Level 1 or 2, and maybe U.S. History subject tests.
I’m a URM also. I am going to take AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP USH, AP Lit, & AP Spanish Lit. I am taking the ACT in Feb. I looked at my explorer test from a couple years ago. I got a really good score so my ACT should be fine.
@waterfall27 Unfortunatly 3.7 is definaley on the low side for Ivies although you still have time to bring it up and improve. You never know. Admissions are wild cards sometimes. There are plenty of other amazing schools than those that are ranked in the top 20.
I’m planning on probably taking Math II, Bio, and Chem SAT IIs, but definatley not until later.
I think with colleges I’ll probably apply widely to lots of ones I like and see what happens. Scholarships are definitely a big deal for me and will be a huge factor in my decision since I want to go to med school and it’s hard to predict that.
@waterfall27 I had a GPA of 3.25/3.75 (UW/W) freshman year. I struggled in Hon. Alg. 2, and my experience in the class was the causation of my advice to you. Now I’m in Acc. Pre-Calc this year and thriving. I have an A+ this quarter, but a B- last quarter (I struggle making class transitions at the beginning of the school year). My GPA (year 10 alone so far) is 3.43/3.86.
This is the top 5 for my college list:
1 Choice (Dream School): Caltech
2 Choice: McGill
3 Choice: Harvard/New England Conservatory dual-education program
4 Choice: Dartmouth
5 Choice: Princeton or UMaine
As for SAT Subject Tests, I plan on taking the Math II, Biology or Chemistry, French, and either US or World History. I’m probably going to take them at the end of junior year.
@ak2018 I agree with you. A genuine college experience would be lovely to have.
I don’t even know a lot of schools but I doubt I have the potential to get into Ivy League; my realistic dream school would be UCLA. I don’t want to spend too much money and I live in CA so my family’s basically been paying for these public schools anyway
@frazzledazzle Thank you! Those seem like a really good choice colleges. Hope you get into your top choice!