I’m in my sophomore year of high school and my first semester is ending with a C in Pre Calc and a C in Chemistry. I’m so incredibly disappointed in myself as I ended freshmen year with a 3.9 unweighted GPA. Even if I work really hard and get A’s for the remainder of High School, should I just give up my dream of going to an Ivy League school?
I’ve heard that colleges like to see a pattern of improvement, so will it look really bad? I’m so stressed and any input would be appreciated.
First, take a deep breath and breathe. There is more to life than the Ivy League. Remember, you are more than where you will go to college.
Focus on understanding and learning Pre Calc and Chemistry. If you haven’t spoken to your teachers, talk to them tomorrow. If you haven’t gotten a tutor, find one for each class within a week.
It sounds like these are the first classes that haven’t come easily for you. If this is true, this is likely the first time you’ve needed to teach yourself how to learn, how to study, and how not to give up. You have taken a great first step–you’ve asked for help. Asking for help takes great maturity. Keep moving forward, be patient with yourself, work hard, and don’t give up. You’re going to be fine.
Thank you so much for your reply this is exactly what I needed to hear right now, you understood my situation exactly. Up to this point classes did seem easy and I have felt like I haven’t been trying as hard. I’m going to go see a tutor soon and I’ll talk with both my teachers. Thank you so so much.
Also, ask deeper questions: Where did you get it in to your head that “the Ivies” should be what you should aim for when there are an equal number just as good and an even bigger number that are almost as good (and as good or better in some fields or respects)?
You sound extremely mature, Bungalow. I didn’t have near the maturity that you have in high school. I almost guarantee that your teachers will respond positively and will be impressed that you’re reaching out to them. If they don’t, or don’t give you what you need, go to your counselor and ask for help and support.
Also, don’t forget about Khan Academy, Quizlet and other online resources.
That’s a really good point. I always saw “the Ivies” as schools that were well-known for a reason, that reason being their education but I definitely feel like I should research other schools more thoroughly. Thanks for your input!!
Also, your high school transcript that is sent to colleges will typically show final grades, not quarters or semesters. Check with your guidance office to find out for sure.
“The Ivies” are well-known because they are all academically good and socially prestigious privates who were close enough geographically and on the same level athletically to form a sports league. That Stanford, MIT, Northwestern, UChicago, Duke, Rice, Caltech, and Georgetown (and you could arguably add in JHU, Vandy, WashU, and ND, or heck, UMich, Cal, and UVa as well) aren’t all together in a sports conference doesn’t make them worse academically.
Vague plans like “work really hard” aren’t going to improve your grades much, let alone to mostly A’s.
You need specific plans. Start by looking at your tests from this past semester. Go over each one slowly. Why did you miss problems? Did you not understand the question? Make careless mistakes? Never really understood the concept? Understood it once but couldn’t remember it on the test? Something else?
Only when you’ve figured out reason(s) for your past performance can you think about changing them in the future. There is also a book you ought to read, “Make it Stick”, that talks about the science of what is known about learning and is filled with tips for HS and college students.
In terms of academics, I agree with the above – you need specific plans to address your issues. This is especially true in math where knowledge is cumulative (ex. if you don’t understand pre-calc well, calculus will be incredibly difficult). So see if you can figure out why the grades have dropped – is it a matter of needing to work harder or are you not understanding something? Work with your teachers after school, if you can afford a tutor consider that option, look at online resources (Khan Academy is one example). Additionally, when the time comes put forth an effort to study for the standardized tests and that upfront effort can help maximize your score.
As others above have mentioned, I’d also recommend that you give up the notion of Ivy schools being the be all and end all. When the time comes next year honestly assess your academic stats (including course rigor, GPA, standardized tests) and work to create a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (find out your parents’ budget and run the net price calculator for each school) and that you would be happy to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on hyper-competitive uber-reach schools and then don’t get in. Cast a wide net (assuming no major hook) and recognize that there are tons of amazing colleges and universities out there where you can have a great four year experience and can get you where you want to go in life.
I’d hold off on looking for more colleges until junior year. For now you should focus on:
–Improving your academics (most important)
–When the time comes study for standardized tests.
–Getting involved in activities you care about and work towards making meaningful contributions to those activities.
–Enjoying spending time with your family and friends.
It doesn’t matter what your grades are. Your chances of getting into an elite school are always terrible! In my opinion, a college brand name really isn’t a dream at all. It’s a fantasy. Instead, focus on what you want to do. Doctor? Lawyer? Engineer? Those are what dreams are made of and any college can help you achieve it.
And I’ll definitely look for more colleges I’d like to attend.