High School Schedule (Class of 2015)

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, so I was wondering if someone could look though my schedule and give me some advice on what I should do. Right now I'm a freshman. My schedule is a bit hectic and seems unrealistic and unreasonable, but hopefully I can follow through on it. I want a degree in both business and medicine, but medicine is top priority. </p>

<p>7th and 8th grade- Took physics, integrated one (Algebra 1) and integrated 2 (Geometry)</p>

<p>9th grade-
Honors English
Honors Biology
Pre-calculus (Skipped Integrated 3 [Algebra 2])
Medical Science
PE
AVID (College prep class)
Digital photography</p>

<p>10th Grade-
Honors English (zero period)
Honors Chemistry
AP Calculus AB
AP World History
AP Psychology or AP Digital Photography
Anatomy and Physiology
Spanish 3 and 4</p>

<p>11th grade-
AP English
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
AP US History
AP Human Geography or AP Psychology
Spanish 5 and 6</p>

<p>12th grade
AP English
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics (or Multivariate Calculus)
AP Government and Politics
AP Environmental Science
AP Spanish 7 and 8</p>

<p>AP Digital Photography- I got permission from the teacher to allow me to take it, however I can only take it my sophomore year, and no other year. </p>

<p>AP Psychology or AP Human Geography- Not sure which one to take if I decide to take AP Digital Photography</p>

<p>Sports- Golf, Tennis, Cross Country, Bowling.
Right now I am doing golf as a sport, but I’m not sure if I should do it all four years, or I should do tennis instead for three years. Cross country would be for three years, and bowling would also be for three years. The sports can replace a credit for PE</p>

<p>Clubs- Key Club, Knowledge Bowl, Multi-cultural club, Science club, FMPA (Medical club), DECA (business club)
Right now I am in Key club, and knowledge bowl, and plan to be in it for the next four years. The rest of the clubs listed, I will be joining them in my sophomore year and continue on them till I graduate. </p>

<p>Volunteering- Red Cross, Help at an elementary school, Hospital, homeless shelter, senior center, soup kitchen.
Currently, I volunteer at the Red Cross, and elementary school, and a hospital. Every once in a while I go to a homeless shelter, the soup kitchen, a senior center and such to help out. I plan on volunteering more in the summer and in more places. Currently I have at the very least 100 hours of volunteering filled in. </p>

<p>I plan on taking the ACT and SAT in my junior year. I took the pSAT this year. </p>

<p>I want to apply for the University of Washington, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, etc…I’m not sure if I will be able to get in. </p>

<p>My GPA is usually 3.95 or a 4.0, no lower. I want to be vaild dictorian for my class (2015), however I'm not sure if a student with a 3.95 GPA could be one. </p>

<p>Thank you for taking your time in reading my long post. I hope you can give me some advice.</p>

2

<p>If you ace precalculus as a freshman, wouldn’t calculus BC (= full year of college calculus) as a sophomore be a more appropriate course than calculus AB (= semester of college calculus)? Of course, if you are that far ahead in math, you may want to consider whether majoring in one of the more heavily math-based subjects (math, computer science, statistics, physics, economics, engineering) is what you really want to do.</p>

<p>Where is physics in your high school schedule?</p>

3

<p>I took Physics in middle school, My school district offered high school classes in middle school. However, I didn’t really find Physics something I liked to study.</p>

4

<p>I agree with the hectic and unreasonable aspect… not necessarily a bad thing or a good thing. I think hectic is more appropriate than unreasonable- this sounds extremely similar to my current situation/ planned courses. It depends on the person at the end of the day if they can handle this. As far as AP Physch vs AP human geo.- it depends on you- don’t just look at the AP courses your school offers and shortlist the ones you think look best on an application. Passion and genuine interest should appear through your schedule as well. Physch is less challenging (at least at my school) but if that’s where an interest lies then take it. I know I would anyday take that over Human geography. I am a type A personality who cares wayyy to much about college this young but remember that high school is the prime of your youth- don’t forget to live! Have relationships, friendships and free time. School is so so so important but it means nothing if you live a miserable life!</p>

5

<p>This seems desiring and to consider many APs is to be very dedicated and determined. Please don’t stress about this as much as it seems like you already are. You see organized and well above many many average students. Doing sports and clubs make you have many extra activities besides your academics. Remember, if you are planning to get into an ivy league, you must get credit and getting 5s on all of your AP classes that you chose. Overall, taking 14 AP classes seems wide and unrealistic along with your other activities. Stick with what you are being happy the most, not what colleges want. I suggest you focus more on academic and volunteering more then sports. Do sports, but don’t do all. That will ruin your life. </p>

<p>Becoming Vale Dictorian must be ahead of all students of class of 2015. I believe you have the best chance to aim for your goals in life as long as you are shining. </p>

<p>Overall, you have given yourself the best chance into getting yourself into Harvard. Don’t be so down with an A-. Because you are asian, they will expect you to be well rounded and dedicated. Make sure you stand out and be very different to Harvard. I believe this is your best weapon and key into getting into colleges. I am 100% sure you are not the only one in your situation. </p>

<p>In my best advice, I advice you to be happy with your life. Don’t have it so you have too much events coming along with your life. Be happy with your chances as well. Don’t do golf because colleges want you to, but because it makes you smile. If volunteering is what you enjoy, do more of that instead of sports. If your an athlete, do more of sports. </p>

<p>Have a common balance between the 2 as well as your academics. </p>

<p>Fine Arts- I don’t see any fine arts in your schedule. This will not affect you but consider the positives about trying choir or orchestra. </p>

<p>Assuming you take the SAT in your jr year, have a goal to have at least a 2300. (Or a 2400). This will give you the best chance into getting an ivy league. </p>

<p>Lastly, I think what makes you important in school is to be happy. </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

6

<p>No arts may be a problem at schools which require an arts course in high school (e.g. California public universities).</p>

<p>No physics in high school may be a problem at schools that prefer to see all three of biology, chemistry, and physics. Also, note that the pre-med course list in college does include physics.</p>

7

<p>The fine arts is Digital Photography. Physics in middle school is a high school course. On the transcript it will say Physics was taken. It’s the same as the math taken in middle school.</p>