Junior Terrified of College Apps

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone,

I am currently a high school junior student and oh god things are just dreadful. I don’t exactly remember my previous grades, but I know I had a GPA of 3.8-3.86 so far in each year of high school. I have a lot of extracurricular activities, piano, flute, art class, volunteer at a store and hospital, dance, and etc… Also, I participate in a few clubs at our school. Senior year will come really soon and I am starting to panic. So far this year I have gotten a C in Honors US History, which was a terrible mistake I made because I am not a History type of person. I have a C- in AP Biology due to my teacher’s abnormal grading system that differs from the other AP Biology teachers. In contrast, in every other class such as Advance Pre Calc, Spanish III, Academic English III, I have an A. I am extremely terrified about college apps because I know my parents would want me to apply to at least one Ivy League, which I think is impossible by now. I just took my first SAT and got a 1980 and I will be taking it again to try to improve the score. I am planning to major in the medical area, but still have not decided specifically what. Everyone around me is getting 4.0 GPA’s and 2300-2400’s on their SAT’s and I am literally terrified about my chances in decent colleges with my grades and everything. I would love to get into one of the top 30 universities in the US, but so far I am not sure I can anymore. If anybody has any advice or thoughts about my chances, please fill free to help out.

P.S. I am definitely going to take the AP Biology exam and SAT II Math and Biology.

The reason why I am also so scared is due to my brother’s top notch intelligence. He got into and graduated from the Columbia University a few years ago in some kind of computer/math related major. He has set the bar so high in my family.

2

Don’t panic, you’ll be fine! A few Cs will definitely make things a bit harder, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance to get into one of the top 30 universities. 1980 is low, but that’s why you take it again (and have you taken the ACT yet? I recommend that over the SAT). Anyway, I know what it’s like being the younger one in the family, but trust me: you’re your own person, and you will do just fine. Don’t judge your self-worth based upon what other people are doing. :slight_smile:

3

Why not have a frank talk with your parents? Remind them that you are not your brother and that you’re feeling terrified of not meeting expectations. Don’t accuse them, but rather, be honest and ask for help. Tell them that you need to know that they will be proud of you because you put your all into your work. It’s hard when siblings feel like they have to live in the shadow of another. Again, don’t accuse your parents of having unrealistic expectations. Just ask them for reassuring support. I hope that will ease some of the pressure that you feel you are under. If the pressure is self imposed, cut yourself some slack and be the best you that you can be. That’s all you can really do.