<p>I'm a Junior in High School, hoping to become an undergraduate at a fairly competitive/good college. Throughout the past two years I have been an A-B student, taking 4 honors classes every year. This year, however I tried to bring it up to a new level by taking 4 AP Classes, including AB Calc, AP US, AP English Language and Composition, and AP Physics C. Unfortunately I suppose I overestimated my ability to keep everything in balance and ended with a C+ in Calc and English for the first semester, and a B in Physics and AP US.</p>
<p>So now I'm at the end of Semester One of my Junior year and I'm freaking out. I'm fairly confident that knowing what I do now I can do much better next semester, but I'm still worried. Have I completely destroyed my chances of getting into a good college? I could definitely use some words of encouragement right now, but I would rather have honesty.</p>
<p>Yeah. If you’re talking Ivy Leagues, that’s one thing. But if you’re talking about just getting into a competitive 4-year institution, you’re golden as long as you keep on working. Are you interested in any specific colleges?</p>
<p>Yeah, I kinda figured Ivys were out. I’m an Engineering Major (for now :P), so somewhere like Drexel or WPI were the kind of places I was considering.</p>
<p>One thing that I found that can be fun to play with is the [Academic</a> Tracker](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board) at CollegeBoard.com. It’s a tool that lets you plug in your grades, classes, and SAT / ACT scores in and compare it with the median of students admitted to that college. You can sort of see where you fit in compared to kids who have already been accepted; it doesn’t take into account the soft factors like volunteer work and extracurricular activities, but then again most colleges don’t obsess about those either.</p>
<p>C+ in a high school Calculus class is a red flag for an intended Engineering major especially at tech schools like WPI.
B in Physics less so but still of note when they look at your transcript.
Select safety colleges that are more forgiving for less than stellar math and physics grades but accepts students with a strong transcripts.
How are your SAT scores?</p>
<p>I haven’t taken the SAT yet (I’m a Junior, so I’m going to take it in the spring), but I got a 2100 on the PSAT, so I think I’ll probably do pretty well on the SAT hopefully.</p>
<p>Also I was considering doing a Post-Graduate year at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, so maybe that might help some, right?</p>
<p>Sorry, just because you’re planning to do something, it doesn’t get put on your transcript, only accomplishments.
Don’t count chickens before the eggs are hatched.</p>
<p>Haha no you don’t get it. The Maine School of Science and Mathematics is a fairly good high-school. I’m planning on going there for an extra year before applying to college, that way if I get better grades that year I can even out my transcript.</p>
<p>No. I don’t think its typical anywhere. It was just a thought, like maybe my Transcript would look better if I did that and got better grades that year. I’m trying to avoid it, but if thats what it takes…</p>
<p>It probably won’t happen if I can avoid it.</p>
<p>Ohyama, yours is a tough schedule and those C+'s aren’t going to help, but I don’t think they’ll hurt a whole lot if your overall gpa is decent, your SATs are as good as or better than you PSATs, and you have relevant EC’s. Bringing those C+'s into the B range second semester would be very helpful. Maintaining the B’s (improving would be gravy) is also important. </p>
<p>DS has been admitted to WPI with a 3.27 with nearly the most rigorous coursework available at his hs, SAT’s of 2030(?)/2400, 1450/1600, and lots of relevant EC’s plus one with lots of volunteerism, involvement, and leadership. He visited and applied early. They even gave him a little merit money. </p>
<p>You can still get admitted to a competitive college with 2 C’s on your transcript. I don’t know about Ivies but there are plenty of other places that will take a student of your caliber.</p>
<p>Hey guys! Thanks for all the advice. I think from now on Ill just have to try and get straight A’s and see what happens. Hopefully a PG year wont be necessary.</p>