<p>Succeeding in school has always been my ultimate priority in life. I'm currently a sophomore, and so far I've been able to take classes ahead of my year. But unfortunately they aren't honors or AP classes, I am just taking them with juniors and seniors. Would colleges recognize this when I apply? I currently have a 4.0 unweighted gpa and therefore get straight A's. Next year I'm taking Spanish 4 Honors, AP Stat, and AP Language and Composition. I anticipate that my gpa when I start applying to colleges will be somewhere between 4.05-4.125. I'm in the Future Business Leaders of America, which I will be president of my senior year, and I have a genuine passion for the competitive business world. Assuming I do well on the SATs or ACTs, with all my other extracurriculars and high gpa, do I still have a chance at getting into the really competitive schools like Wharton at UPenn? Or will the fact that I didn't take the "most rigorous curriculum offered by my school" hurt me in the end? Thank you!</p>
<p>Your guidance counselor will probably write about how you have been taking an advanced schedule, which means you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>yes, it will hurt you…</p>
<p>In this case it could hurt quite a bit unless your GC does what dfree said.</p>
<p>Top schools like Wharton are looking for unquestioningly hungry scholars with great motivation and talent. That equates to taking and succeeding in the toughest options available. Getting As in less than top classes is not an indication of that.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with your accomplishments per se. But know that it may not make you competitive for your aspirations – admittance to a very selective college.</p>
<p>Your competition are people with 4.0 or just off of that taking the very toughest classes. What’s the logical conclusion of that? Suceeding in school is not solely evidenced by your 4.0.</p>
<p>Not having “the most rigorous curriculum offered by my school” may hurt you. I took one less then the max honors/AP courses every year. So, my GPA qualifies me for the top 2% of the graduating class, but not the top 1%. (I’m around 1.5%). Two other applicants from my school applied ED also, but they took only 2-3 weighted a year, except they took 6 AP jr/sr. year (vs. me in 5), qualifying them for the top 5% distinction. Our counselor wrote “Most Rigorous Courseload” for all three of us. I got in; they were flat out rejected. Sure, other factors (essays, recs, activities, etc.) were apart of their admissions decision. But the bottom line is----their GPAs were lower than mine because their course load was less rigorous than mine (at least the first two years). Penn (as well as other Ivy League institutions) acknowledge and respect quality/hard work—applicants who have been keeping that GPA/transcript strong since day one. A SMALL bump in the road is fine (I had 1 B on my transcript when I applied to Penn). But, the bottom line is, if other applicants from your school are at the top of their game transcript wise (aka, they are in MAX or close to maximum Honors/APs and have gotten all As), then you’ll definitely be at a disadvantage come admissions time. (That is, assuming that extra-curriculars, essays, recommendations are all top-notch for you and the other applicants/competitors from your school). </p>
<p>As admissions ALWAYS stresses, “the transcript is THE MOST important document in your application”. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Penn’s CDS stated that rigor of secondary school record is very important, page 10.
<a href=“http://www.upenn.edu/ir/Common%20Data%20Set/UPenn%20Common%20Data%20Set%202010-11.pdf[/url]”>http://www.upenn.edu/ir/Common%20Data%20Set/UPenn%20Common%20Data%20Set%202010-11.pdf</a>
And Wharton applicants should have strong math background, take AP Calculus if you get a chance, see link below
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/256526-what-wharton-wants.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/256526-what-wharton-wants.html</a></p>
<p>You have an interesting situation, but also it sounds like it is changing. The only year-ahead program in my son’s school is all honors, but it sounds like you essentially skipped a grade.</p>
<p>As for the transcript being most important, the unfortunate fact is that it is binary. Either you meet Penn’s minimum standards, or you don’t. A 4.0 vs. someone else’s 3.9 won’t matter. Top 1% or top 2% won’t matter. I and others got into Penn with very difficult courseloads but class rankings around 10%, not 1% or 2%. Extracurriculars definitely matter.</p>
<p>I would suggest planning a campus visit to Penn and talking to advisors about your current plan. It’s only sophomore year, so you might be able to do something about it.</p>