I am a sophomore and I just got my PSAT score and I got a 157
oh my goodness
My GPA is 4.13
I got two B’s in honors chem and APEURO
I really wanted to go to duke university
but I guess that dream is crushed
I have like almost 200 hours of community service [I have been volunteering at a local library since 6th grade]
3 awards for (fencing) sports [ not a school thing, club fencing]
even if I say that I get all A’s after this semester and so forth, with a PSAT score like that…sigh
what are my chances at duke university?
or UC Berkeley
or any ivys
(even though im probably don’t have any change there lol)
PSAT scores from sophomore year don’t count…they’re just practice. You should get an SAT tutor (if you have money) or buy study guides…you can get your scores up dramatically!
Study your ass off and get a 2200 on SAT. Then you’l have a pretty good chance.
really? would that really help me ?
and @qpqpqp except for studying my ass off does everything else look okay?
should I join more clubs?
Im in key club, pacrim, and nhs, and teens for troops so far but.
im only active in NHS 
Most important is to keep your grades super high and take all the AP and honors classes you can handle.
If you want to go to Duke or an Ivy League school, I don’t think joining the photography club is the answer. Find a place to do some meaningful volunteer work - something that will change your life. Read to nursing home patients or help kids in a homeless shelter with their homework. Do something that takes real effort and sacrifice and then tell the schools about it through your essays. You’ll need great grades and test scores, too, of course. Do something that will change you outside of school, though. Even if you don’t get into Duke, you will have benefited from the experience.
thanks @stepay !!
and @greeninohio I’m not in a photography club??
Start studying for the SAT, even doing their questions of the day will help, but working though study guides will help more. In a year’s time, your PSAT will go up and by the middle or end of your junior year you will be ready for the SAT. Also, one of the most valuable pieces of advice you can get from this website is, DON’T get too tied to a specific university or college. Plan on finding several that are suitable for you, including one or two that you are sure to get in and sure to afford.
^^^^^very important
@NorthernMom61 thank you so much for your advice
@emily09098 You are welcome.
First off, it’s chance, not change. Second, capitalize the first letter in a sentence. Third, make sentences that end with periods, don’t just ramble on and on. Your “chances” are not ruined. No college will ever see that score. You have a year until it matters as a junior for National Merit, but if you have no need for that, then it is more time until it matters. Study and I’m sure you can get a fine score. Best of luck and great job on the grades!
yo you’re over-reacting. its just a psat. you have almost two years to take the sat and get a decent score. if the sat isnt your thing, try the act. i got a 167 on my psat but the score that i submitted to colleges was the 33 i got on my act. dont sweat it and take some measures to ensure a higher score next time (study, tutor, practice tests, etc.)
You will find a great school. Remember, Ivies reject some applicants with 2400 SATs. So you should look at a wider range. If you like Dartmouth, look at Colgate or Bucknell, for example. Like Duke? Look at Emory.
Take the ACT soon. Some students do better on it.
Don’t discount your club fencing. It’s a nice EC to have. And good luck!
thank you everyone who replied I really really appreciate it @albert69 @russiabear @MidwestDad3 !!
Sophomore PSATs are not seen by anyone. You CAN study hard and raise your next PSAT and your SAT score. And even your next PSAT score will not be seen by colleges, but it can help you qualify for National Merit Awards (and go club fencing, one of my Ds was a club fencer!!)
It does seem like your list is more based on prestige than fit and knowledge. Think about what you want to study so you can make sure the colleges you apply to are strong in your major. Visit some schools of different sizes and types (state flagship, liberal arts college, large research university). Talk with your parents about cost. There are net price calculators on all college websites where they can plug in their financial info and see what your likely cost of attendance will be.
A copy of the Fiske Guide to College is a useful thing. Although if you want to fence in college for a team (not just a college club, which can be a lot less intense than the kind of club fencing you are probably doing), then the list of schools is a lot shorter. There are maybe 40(?) colleges with varsity fencing teams.
@intparent thank you so much for the input
so club fencing would help though right?
My town is really really small and Im one of the 3 fencers who fence in the COUNTY
so I’m hoping that counts for something
and also I really really want to be a psychiatrist
are there any good schools for that??
thanks!!
So like basically I’m the only high school girl who fences in competitions in the county
Club fencing helps as an extracurricular activity. If you can get out of your area to some competitions, that would be great. But if you did want to fence in college on a team, you would definitely have to start competing in some large regional and even national events. Otherwise it won’t help you a lot with admissions.
So a psychiatrist is a doctor (actual MD), and you have to go to medical school for that. But you can be a psychologist without going to med school. You should do some research if you don’t know much about the difference.
Western Psychiatric at the University of Pittsburgh is one of the best places in the country for psychiatry. There are other top programs, as well. But you are getting way ahead of yourself. That doesn’t come until after medical school, which doesn’t come until after college (unless you are in a combined program, which are exceedingly competitive to get into).
The primary thing you need to know right now is that there are many paths to med school, but top grades in college and an excellent MCAT score are really, really important.