I'm a rising junior.

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>So, I've been lurking CollegeConfidential for officially three years now. I've learned a whole lot about college admissions and reality.</p>

<p>I've also lowered my self esteem quite a bit and had to seek out counseling for it.</p>

<p>Yes, I am a product of these forums.</p>

<p>I am personally in a rut - I have always wanted to attend an Ivy. But, this is impossible. </p>

<p>I had just finished my second semester of sophomore year this past Friday and have earned myself 4 'C' grades in the past two years. I also took high school courses while in middle school and earned two 'C' grades, for a grand total of 6 'C' grades on my transcript. I've earned a higher amount of 'A' marks, and have earned an equal amount of 'B' grades. All of my 'C' grades have been in the math and sciences, all but 1 'C' which was in a freshman world studies course. I have had an upward trend in grades since my pre-9th grade coursework (meaning, C-less for two semesters), but my second semester sophomore grades totally screwed that all over: </p>

<p>8th grade 'C' marks: Second semester Computer Info Tech & Honors Algebra
9th grade 'C' marks: First semester Honors World Studies & Honors Geometry
10th grade 'C' marks: Second semester Honors Chemistry & Honors Algebra II</p>

<p>De-lovely!</p>

<p>I'm overly involved in the outside-school community. </p>

<p>Editor-in-Chief, national journal of popular culture
Editor of fiction, author liaison, national high school literary magazine
Editor of poetry and prose, high school literary magazine
Tutor, school writing center
Co-author, curriculum for a middle and secondary school audience to be implemented state-wide in fall 2006
Reporter, all-city high school newspaper
Chairman, Teenage Republicans of ________
Student Representative of the Local School Council
Class representative in the school Student Council
104 community service hours</p>

<p>All this involvement is just the beginning. I did almost all of these my sophomore year, and was somewhat inactive freshman year (albeit a class presidency, club founding, peer mentorship, etc).</p>

<p>I know that you might remark saying that I am too involved and this is what takes time out of my schedule from academics. I love every single thing I do, and find happiness moreso in my success outside of school than within it. (I would focus much more on school if I were doing better in it, but that's not really worth mentioning here.)</p>

<p>I'm working on a novel right now, and I know how the whole publishing/book dealing works. I doubt it will be anywhere by fall 2006, but I hope on completing the manuscript by next spring.</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>I'm taking a very challenging courseload next year:
AP English Language
AP European History
AP Biology
AP History of Art
Honors PreCalculus
Honors Spanish 3
++ 2 courses in writing and political science at a local university</p>

<p>This summer, I'm taking two college courses in archaeology at another local university - both of which will commence this coming Monday.</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>I've taken the PSATs and scored well - 76 and 78 on reading and writing, and a 69 in math. I've only become deficient in school once I hit high school, not only because I was not used to the upbeat of it all, but also the lack of challenge I felt in all my courses. I really didn't care about school because I lost interest. I took the SATs in the 6th grade and scored in the top .0025% amongst my peers if that says anything.</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>Colleges, especially the higher-ranked ones, love grades and I certainly don't have what they want, because a B-average just won't make due. </p>

<p>Will a school like Yale or Brown receive my application well? They both incredibly stress the importance of the academic record, and all else as secondary to it. Using common sense, I doubt either will spend more than 1 minute, let alone debate, on my application.</p>

<p>Your opinions?</p>

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<p>Wait, are you going to be a junior or a senior this upcoming school year?</p>

<p>Because if you are a junior, then your courseload is more impressive than a person with an A average with easy courses.</p>

3

<p>rising junior. which means going-to-be junior, if i interpret that correctly.</p>

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<p>You should care about school and regain interest, Is there any way you might switch to a school that inspires you more?</p>

<p>To get into Yale or Brown, you will have to do well at your school. High SAT scores will not undo low GPA. However, if your school was a bad fit and another turns you around, there's a chance........</p>

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<p>You speak strangely.</p>

<p>But... nice extracurriculars.</p>

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<p>avoid saying ur a republican..... most ivies arent a fan of "dubya" , neither am i</p>

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<p>Those Cs will most likely do you in. Especially because you performed well on the SATs, they may think you're lazy. Did you see the video of the Amherst admissions committee? They were right about to approve some kids app and discovered he had ONE C in 10th grade and they all laughed and tossed it out. 6 Cs is murder. Sorry, but its true.</p>

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<p>FilmXOXO17, thanks for giving me what I wanted to hear - confirmation of my own thoughts. </p>

<p>And, yes, I will be a junior this upcoming fall.</p>

<p>Zagat, I've tried transferring to different boarding schools in New England, but my parents have always stopped me. I go to one of the better public high schools in the state and they believe, as do I, that it's good enough for me. I just wasn't as challenged as I wanted to be, and college classes (until now) were not an option.</p>

<p>What are some colleges you all suggest for me, if I continue with this pattern, both extracurriculars-wise and with consideration given to the possibility of high test scores and "mediocre" grades? I've always been a fan of the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, but I went on an admissions tour and they also could not emphasize more the importance of high grades in comparison to all else, as do many other public universities. I need a somewhat large, private college/university that will accept me on a whim - but who knows which that will be? </p>

<p>I've loved Brown [and medicine] since the television show Providence, but I doubt they'll let me in, esp. with the Republican antics! Yale has always been an interest, what with Rory Gilmore fictionally attending. I really loved Madison, but I don't know if I'd fit in on that campus, but it's so large that everyone just seems to find their own niche, so I don't even think I should worry about that. When I was in 7th grade, I was obsessed with the idea of going to a small, liberal arts college, and bannered around my love of Swarthmore and Colby; we all know that the former [and the latter] is out of the running. I'm pretty much indifferent to all else. My parents would like for me to attend Northwestern, but I understand they're more formulaic than most. I don't know.</p>

<p>Cost really isn't an issue, either. Should I repost this in the College Search & Selection board? I know how some people get aggravated when they see one thread on two diff. forums.</p>

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<p>Then again, if you have a good upward trend in your next few years in highschool, you do have a shot. Your ECs are good, and you should still apply to 1-2 reach schools, you'll never know if you don't try, after all. I'd suggest that in addition to Brown or Yale (your dream schools) you look into Bowdoin, Colby, Bates, Hamilton, and similar LACs.</p>

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<p>Film, I totally broke the upward trend I had - my original dilemma. I am hoping that another trend - a good one - will form. Hope with me! All the LACs you named, minus Hamilton, overly care about grades. Also, I am trying my best to stay away from the LAC scene, for now.</p>

<p>What are some match and safety schools for me? I've been looking at places like Creighton, Drake, the Univ. of Illinois, Knox, Loyola Univ. of Chicago, and the sort. Those places are not typically safeties (except LUC) and some are barely matches for me. I just really want to go to Brown.</p>

<p>Oh, oh, I just wish it was so much more clean cut!</p>

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<p>Why don't you apply as your reach schools to Universities that don't look at Freshman grades? That way, you'll have less Cs and a better chance for admission. Some top schools that don't look at freshman grades are Stanford and Princeton. Unfortunately, I don't know much about the schools you listed, so I can't give much advice about those.
Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks! Filmxoxo17, I was just thinking about Princeton & Stanford today. I do have a feeling that, even though they say they don't consider anything pre-10th grade, they certainly will look over it. I really like Stanford, and when I visited the area surrounding Princeton last summer (I couldn't visit the university because of time constraints), I really enjoyed the environment. </p>

<p>Stanford and Princeton look for academic elites. I am not one.</p>

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<p>Okay, not just for kicks, but for a friend...</p>

<p>Similar stats (more leadership-filled and more of a social science emphasis) with PSAT scores of Verbal 61, Math 53, Writing 54. </p>

<p>What are her chances at the Ivies or schools at that par?</p>

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<p>Cornell actually says they see it as a strength when a kid shows an extreme upward trend. If you got all As this year, it's possible they'd...consider you (I didn't see this school on your list, just sayin'). But I don't quite get why you want to attend an Ivy League school in the first place. I understand sometimes people don't do well academically when they aren't challenged enough but mediocre grades won't compensate for the SAT, which basically shows you are pretty damn bright.</p>

<p>Also, must any college view those 8th grade Cs? Probably not.</p>

<p>You could always transfer. That could work for you. Get into an academically challenging college (non-Ivy), do well for a full year, and then apply to your dream schools.</p>

<p>I hope you work to your potential this year. The classes you're taking at the university should be fun and hopefully they'll challenge you. Good luck. :)</p>

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<p>Or you could even try transferring out of a CC. It can be done.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=64086&page=1&pp=20%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=64086&page=1&pp=20&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Look at that. It might inspire you.</p>