<p>Freshman year: GPA 3.4
Algebra I
Orchestra
Guitar and Keyboarding ( 1 sem.)
Exploring Computers (1 sem.)
Gym (1 sem.)
Study Hall
English
Civics
Physical and Environmental Science
Art (1 sem.) </p>
<p>Sophomore year: GPA: 3.9-4.0
Composition (1 sem.)
Introduction to Literature (1 sem.)
Geometry
US History (First semester) APUSH (Second semester, I was bumped up to AP because I succeed highly in the course and made the curve on tests drastic)
Biology (second semester)
Adventure Recreation (Gym)
French 1
Business Law (1 sem.)
Foods Biology (first semester)
Summer School: French 2A online</p>
<p>Junior year: GPA 4.0+
American Literature (1 sem.)
Advanced Composition I ( First Semester)
AP Language and Composition (Second Semester)
Accelerated Algebra Two with Trigonometry
Accelerated Chemistry
AP Biology
Physics
AP Government and Politics: US & Comparative
AP Psychology (1 sem.)
Dual enrollment at local technical college: Certified Nursing Assistant
French 2B and 3A online
Summer School:
Personal Finance (Graduation requirement)
French 3B online
French Immersion camp that translates to an entire credit of french</p>
<p>Senior Year: 4.0+
AP Literature and Composition (1 sem.)
AP Calculus
AP Statistics
AP European History
AP Physics
AP Chemistry
AP Macroeconomics (1 sem.)
Adventure Leadership (Gym, 1 sem.)
Pre-calculus (Second Semester, Precalc is built in at my school as Algebra review the first semester and introduction to Calculus the second)</p>
<p>I want to get into a top private school such as University of Southern California, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, et cetera. Freshman year I dealt with mental illness (depression, anxiety, and anorexia), and sophomore year I dealt with my parents divorce.</p>
<p>Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!!!</p>
<p>^^ No, that’s incorrect. All selective colleges, including UPenn, Columbia and Brown, put MORE weight on your transcript with its documented course rigor and GPA, as it is a 3-YEAR window into your potential as a scholar. Whereas your SAT/ACT and SAT subject tests are just a 1-DAY window. (FWIW: Some colleges, such as Harvard, put more weight on AP tests than the SAT/ACT, as they find AP’s to be a more reliable long-term predictor of academic success on their campus.)</p>
<p>What’s important for top schools is that your counselor checks “most rigorous” on their report. At some schools only two AP courses are offered and that would make your schedule “most rigorous,” other schools offer 25 APs and you need to fill your schedule with them to earn “most rigorous.”</p>
<p>My school offers 17 ap classes, I will be enrolled in thirteen of them. However, I am considering doing an independent study of AP Environmental Science during my junior year summer. Which would then mean 14 AP classes. The classes we offer and I am not taking are…
AP French 6
AP Spanish 6
and AP Microeconomics</p>
<p>I was going to suggest that you lighten up a bit for what appears to be a brutal senior year (AP Physics, Chem and Calc) - you don’t want to harm your GPA after all. But then I noticed that during your junior year you already completed Physics, Accelerated Chemistry and AP Biology simultaneously while maintaining a 4.0. Great job!</p>
<p>A small suggestion however, would be to take AP French, if available, instead of either Econ or Statistics. I believe that it is better to cover all five of the core subject areas (math, science, english, history and foreign language) first before branching in to the “softer” AP classes.</p>
<p>I’m a rising junior, so I haven’t taken any of these yet. I plan to not really have a life outside of school, my volunteer work, my clubs and my job. However, AP French is level 6. I would only be at level 4 when I end it, which will complete my 4 credits of french I need for school. I don’t intend on having a career involving french, except when I join the peace corps. Anyway, if I complete all these with a 4.0…do you think I can make it in to my target schools?</p>
<p>Wow - if you have only completed your sophmore year described above, then my answer changes dramatically.</p>
<p>Your junior year will be demanding, and frankly I am surprised that your GC allowed you to sign up for such a harsh load, especially three labratory sciences. The fact that you only earned a 3.4 GPA during your non-demanding freshman year courses only heightens my concern.</p>
<p>Another note is that adcoms don’t want to see foreign languages on your transcript as preparation for living abroad. Rather, they want to see applicants excel in a subject discipline that requires different skills and study habits.</p>
<p>Your ambition is commendable, but I would encourage you to be realistic as well. Be sure to have a back up plan in case the workload becomes overwhelming next year.</p>
<p>As Pancaked said, the most selective colleges want students who have taken the “most demanding” courses their high school has to offer, so taking 13 out of 17 AP courses would seemingly qualify for “most demanding” – but check with your guidance counselor. If your ACT/SAT and two subject tests match your GPA and course rigor, you would certainly be a qualified applicant to a selective college, including the eight ivy league schools. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess as to how you would fare, as so much of the college applications process is subjective and comes down to how an Admissions Director “feels” after comparing your transcript, teacher recommendations, essays and EC’s to everyone else who is applying. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>As mentioned prior, I was dealing with a very difficult circumstances. Rather than following through with the thoughts and ideas of suicide I have made a 180 degree turn in my life and decided this is the direction I am going. If you think I can’t work through it, that’s fine, but I am ready and willing to do anything by any means necessary to achieve.</p>
<p>That is something your guidance counselor should definitely mention in their Secondary School Report (SSR – see above, page 2), as it needs some sort of substantiation from your high school. You, of course could write an essay about it, or mention it in the “Other Information” section of the Common Application, but it’s more helpful when your GC mentions it. See: [Writing</a> Recommendations | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs]Writing”>How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>I would never be so foolish as to think that you could not excel with your schedule. I know absolutely nothing about you. Your teachers and GC approved your schedule and they know you far better than anyone on CC ever could.</p>
<p>What I do know is that many ambitious students begin academic years with the best intentions and most resolve imanginable but struggle nonetheless. I am not stating this as a criticism of you, rather as a warning based on my observations of similar situations.</p>
<p>Congratulations on the challenges that you have already overcome. Mental illness and family dissolution are significant sources of emotional turmoil. My advice is simply to exercise prudence and have a back up plan available.</p>
<p>^^ Yes. Did you not read post 14? As you don’t yet have an SAT/ACT score, it’s difficult to tell as your chances also depend on whether your tests scores are in sync with your GPA and test rigor.</p>