<p>Yeah, I was looking at the workload for an Introductory International relations class at Yale and the entire course is readings (which are not for a grade), 2 tests, and I think no final. For 1 entire semester. And my genetics class has no homework and a few tests. But I do have labs :(. Either way, it is better to go from a lot of work in high school to less work in college, rather than the other way around.</p>
<p>You should be taking AP classes for yourself and not for colleges. The discipline and work ethic you learn will be highly beneficial in about every other aspect of life. Or be like me and take them because you are competitive and want a better class rank.</p>
<p>My school size is a little over 2000.
My class size is a little over 500.
My GPA is .03 away from being top 15 percent.
If every colleges do value rank, why is Duke,Emory,the UCs, and USC not explicit in saying so? I’m sorry but I believe the schools have different philosophies and those who do not state they value class rank as important simply mean that they do not value class rank.</p>
<p>Where did you hear that? nfortunately your thinking is wrong. Duke has just as few not in the top 10% as any top college–maybe a few less because they bend for athletes. So do the others.</p>
<p>The rigor of your course work and how you did against your classmates is the number one factor at every college. Some expect more, but GPA, which needs rank for perspective,rules in college admission.</p>
<p>On CC it’s often said you need to be in the top 10% of your class for top schools. The truth is that most unhooked admits to top schools rank much higher than that. At the ivies and Stanford nearly half of the class were val or sal of their classes.</p>
<p>At most of the schools on your list fewer than 10% will not have been top 10%. Most of those will be hooked: athletes, URMs, wealthy legacies, staff and development kids. Hooked kids are about 40% of every class and can have lower stats.</p>
<p>For someone without a hook to be accepted in that group, they would need to have something the college really wanted. Something that provided diversity or an unusual talent.</p>
<p>I got the information from collegeboard.
Can we get back to the topic of which schools to cut down on?
It seems that what you are implying is that I have a very slim chance at any of these schools despite my scores and ECs.
If class rank can outweigh all the hard work I’ve put in to balance my lower GPA then I am truly lost.</p>
<p>If you want honesty, yes, folks here are saying you have little chance for many of these schools. You should not feel lost. 95% of the colleges in the US would love to have you. You have excellent scores and nice ECs.</p>
<p>But Stanford, the ivies, Duke, and a few others are unfortunately highly unlikely. They want it all–high rank, most rigorous classes, high scores and great ECs. Among these things, rigor and rank are the most important–and they are the 2 things you’re missing. A top score can not make up for them. Not having taken your high school’s hardest classes does not give colleges confidence you will work hard there.</p>
<p>Because you have an upward trend, schools like Vandy, JHU and CMU look like reasonable reaches IMO. I would consider taking off the unrealistic reaches and putting more schools of this level on your list. </p>
<p>You also haven’t mentioned the financial situation. You could also add schools where you might get merit aid if that is needed.</p>
<p>You also have a decent shot at the top UCs, those are schools where scores can make up for a lower GPA. Not sure how they’ll handle the rigor issue though.</p>
<p>I have refined my list to these schools:
Stanford
Cornell
USC
Chicago
Northwestern
Rice
Johns Hopkins
Washington University in St. Louis
Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon
The UCs
Emory</p>
<p>Thank you hmom5. You have been very helpful. I will very likely apply to many of these schools despite my chances of getting in. </p>
<p>When you are saying my schedule isn’t rigorous, are you referring to the 5 class list or the 6 class list with AP French?</p>
<p>I will be applying for finical aid since that will be where the bulk of the financial relief will be coming from.</p>
<p>you only apply to colleges once, and since most of your schools are common app, i say go for it and apply to your top 10…and throw in a safety. don’t feel discouraged, because no one who gets into these schools is perfect. you may have something one university really wants…so go for it, and good luck!</p>
<p>I’m taking <em>extra</em> classes at five periods. (At least at my School anyways.) </p>
<p>Shakespeare / AP Econ
Great Books of the Western World [Philosophy] / AP Government
Pre-Calc
AP Biology
AP Lit</p>
<p>Then I’m finishing up Algebra II and doing Spanish I/II at the local community college.</p>
<p>Although the more time I spend on here, the less I want to go to a super selective super reach school, but that’s just me. I suppose if you wanted some place like that, it would be best to take a full course load.</p>