Hi, I’m new to this. I’m a rising sophmore and I’m beginning to I guess show interest is some colleges. I’ll start off by saying this year I had a 3.2 GPA. After moving to a new place this year it was hard for me to adjust and I had to deal with a couple of bad experiences at school. I’m normally a 4.0 student but this year I sadly wasn’t. That being said, I’ll give some “stats”
3.2GPA
(Taking algebra 2 and Spanish 2 online right now so I can be head next year)
Sophmore classes:
Spanish 3 Honors
A.P. Computer Science
Chemistry Honors
English (no honors offered)
Math Analysis( pre calculus)
World history( no honors/ap offered)
Social physiology/ TEacher assistant (1/2 sem)
Extra Curriculars:
Jack and Jill( Black youth group outside of school, officer)
Black student union (founder, president)
Key club (officer)
Service learning club (officer)
Buisness and finance club( officer)
Basketball (will play for all four years
Track( starting next year, will play for three years)
Job experience-
15 hrs paid as a basketball score clock runner
Will do something this summer
Summer-
Working and next year I’m going to TASP.
Community service:
40 hrs
Urm as we’ll as possible recruited athlete
That being said, I’m dedicated to that 4.0. It’s normally something I can do, just this year was a little fought for me. I guess ending high school my gpa will be a 3.77 if I consistentally get a 4.0 for the next three years. My high school is very competitive as well.
I would like to know if I’m on a good track I guess. I understand it’s premature, but I would just like to be prepared for my chance. Thanks in advance.
Saying that you’ll end up getting a 4.0 every year after and actually executing it are two very different issues. That being said, a 3.77 is already on the low side for many Ivies. Also, how are you so sure that you will be attending TASP next year? Would you mind chancing me back?
It is great that you are already thinking ahead, but it is really too soon to be able to tell what your chances might be. As you know, your gpa needs to turn around and that should be your primary focus next year. I don’t know anything about online high school courses, but I would be careful taking summer courses just to get ahead. If you don’t get a firm foundation in your Spanish and Algebra II classes this summer it will only set you up for trouble next year.
You mention you may be a recruited athlete-in basketball I suppose? If that is the case I would expect to see your summer filled with travel basketball? You don’t mention what kind of community service you do, but it might be a good idea to find something related to basketball that you can run with. It is far more impressive to devote your time to one type of volunteer project that is meaningful than to just log hours(especially when the are required) through organizations like Key Club.
You are an officer in a lot of clubs. Ask yourself what your role has been, and are they just titles? If so, consider cutting back next year and focusing on quality over quantity. It is better to have a couple of significant leadership positions and focus on true leadership and accomplishment within those organizations.
You mention TASP next summer? TASP is for rising seniors and incredibly competitive. Perhaps you meant TASS? Still, it is certainly not something you can expect to attend.
Hi thanks for the response. I’m doing algebra 2 one on one with a tutor so I believe I’ll learn it well. Spanish two I’m doing it online and I might continue with three online and end up not taking it at my school (we are allowed to do this)
I am currently recieving interest from small d3 colleges, so I look to build on this. Basketball has never been something I’d like to do in college though.
As far as organizations go, I will try to gain a higher role. It’s tough being a freshman as you might know lol.
Yes I did mean Tass. I don’t want to expect to go I would just like to hopefully be invited.
You seem to be on a solid track to some excellent schools, but it’s hard to say without knowing what your specific interests are (current academic interests as well as potential majors) and which types of schools you are looking at. One thing that I would recommend is developing one strong passion and having all of your activities revolve around it, instead of dabbling in lots of different, unrelated, weaker ECs.(not that that’s what you’re doing–this is just general advice.) You can use a lot of the extra time from being an officer of a random club to instead cultivate fewer, stronger activities that relate directly to your passion/interests.
Can you get some college prep mentoring through Jack and Jill? In some areas, one can. That can help you with some perspective on colleges, how to think about the challenges you take on and have some impact, and how to view the application process.