<p>I'm about to go to highschool next year and I'm gonna meet my counseler 2 weeks from now. I'm wondering what courses I should take and if joining sport teams in my school would help substantially. I'm also wondering what sort of things I can do to help boost my chances into getting the top colleges. oh, by the way, I'm attending a public highschool that was ranked the 14th best public highschool in 1999(of California0. I have no clue what the ranking is now.</p>
<p>Does you high school offer special programs such as IB or say honors classes or AP classes. What is their special deal? Look at the Senior year and work backward. Regarding sports/are you now an athelete? Do you like sports. High school is about fun also. Make a general 4 year plan....tell your counselor your goal is to enter a select college. You are starting at the right time and I wish you luck there CA kid.</p>
<p>The highest ranked public hs in California around the year 2000, according to Newsweek, was University HS in Irvine (#22), then North Hollywood HS (#30) and La Jolla HS (#32). The #14 just among California schools was Lynbrook HS in San Jose.</p>
<p>It seems like another 8th grader asked similar questions on CC recently, so might search around the boards to read that thread.</p>
<p>Definitely take the honors sections of any classes that offer honors. Also, the working backwards in your plan is a good idea to make sure you end up at the level of AP math and AP science you desire since those subjects are mostly sequential. In my experience with my kids, the honors and AP classes were not alot more difficult and just included higher level thinking with less busy work. These classes are usually more focused and less of a discipline problem, too.</p>
<p>When you get there and choose activities to try, I think it's better to focus on a couple of them you might enjoy (sport, music, debate, science club, etc) and make a contribution, rather than overloading yourself with many extracurricular activities. Keep in mind that if you participate in a sport, they will likely practice or play every day during the season, possibly with additional personal training. Marching band is fun for alot of kids, but is another activity that takes up alot of time during the fall semester. Try to make a difference in whatever ECs you choose, as colleges all ask if you earned a letter in your sport and what leadership positions you held in your clubs.</p>
<p>Finally, remember to keep perspective and have some fun. You are still a kid and I don't think it's healthy to obsess about college admissions yet. It's good to have a plan, but also try new things, meet new people
and enjoy your high school years. Good luck to you...I'm sure you have a successful high school career ahead of you!</p>
<p>First of all, what kind of classes are you taking now? (Algebra I, etc...) That will help you to decide what other classes will challenge you the most.</p>
<p>I'm planning to be either a doctor or a writer when I grow up, so I'm planning to join the Math and Science Team, and the Lit. Club. I was just wondering, will going to summer school and getting a job look better on my college application? And yes, the school does offer honors and APs. I don't know about IBs, but the probably should.</p>
<p>Do you have some colleges in mind yet that you are interested in attending? Ask your counselor how many students were accepeted to Ivy League or other top universities? </p>
<p>Ask if you can pattern you academic plan after a student who recently made it into the Ivies? </p>
<p>Do you know any current high school seniors who got into a top ranked school. Ask them how they did it? What did they do the last 4 years that resulted in their successful admission into a top college.</p>
<p>It took too long for me to edit my original message so this is some additional information</p>
<p>The point is, your public hs doesn't play around and can compete academically with most private/independent schools in the nation!</p>
<p>Given this information, it looks like your high school will prepare you well for entrance into the college of your choice.</p>
<p>Do you have some colleges in mind yet that you are interested in attending? Ask your counselor how many students were accepeted into Ivy League or other top universities? </p>
<p>Ask if you can pattern your academic plan after a student who recently made it into the Ivies? </p>
<p>Do you know any current high school seniors who got into a top ranked school. Ask them how they did it? What did they do the last 4 years that resulted in their successful admission into a top college?</p>
<p>Chances are, your high school counselor will take very good care of you and your academic future!</p>
<p>[
[quote]
I was just wondering, will going to summer school and getting a job look better on my college application?
[/quote]
My first words of advice is stop considering the implications of college of everything you do ... instead I would suggest</p>
<p>1) Take the most challenging course load you can take while doing very well (A and/or B) and not kill yourself with work ... do this to challenge yourself and to learn (and as a nice side effect you'll be preparing yourself for college as well as you can).
2) Make sure you cover the college prep requirements (take enough English, math, science, etc)
3) Do stuff other than study ... do stuff you enjoy ... it could be music, sports, debate, whatever ... do this because you enjoy it and want to hang out with people with similar interests (and as a nice side effect you'll have ECs that are more likely to show some passion).
4) Read ... and read stuff that interests you and pushes you ... do this because you want to learn</p>
<p>I'm reading a lot into you brief posts ... but they sounded like you asking for advice of "what should I do to make myself look good to colleges" ... instead I would suggest focusing on having a fun in HS and pushing yourself to grow academically and socially ... and the when you're older figure out what colleges are a good fit for the great kid you are.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>you probably will not have that many options of classes freshman year but i'd recommend taking all of the honors classes that you are qualified to take. If you are asking if you should join a sports team, it sounds that you wouldn't normally join a sports team. My point is only do activities that you really like and will have fun doing. Just have fun Freshman year.</p>