<p>In ninth and tenth grade, my school offered no honors or APs to freshmen, and 1 AP and no honors to sophomores. Unfortunately, my teacher lied to my class that it was "cancelled", and when I found out it still existed, I tried to sign up to take it, but the class was already full. However, I still challenged myself by taking advanced classes (no honors), 10th grade math in freshman year, and 11th grade math in sophomore year. I was in still top 5 unweighted and top 10 unweighted in a huge public school with 750 students in my grade. Feeling that my school is not academically challenged for me, I left this school with GPA of 4.0.</p>
<p>Without any experience of taking any honors or AP courses, I took the most rigorous courseload at my new school. I never understood the grading system the school had; in fact, it was completely different from that of my old school. Then, I started to get Bs (3.38 in 1st semester), and then showed a little upward trend in the second semester (3.5 uw). I ended my junior year with uw GPA of 3.82 (3.44 in junior year alone) and w GPA of 4.14. Hopefully, I will manage As (to be honest, I might get one or two Bs) in my senior year. </p>
<p>Anyway, this new school is extremely competitive and offers a lot of honors to all students, especially freshman and sophomores. This allows them to increase their weighted GPA dramatically before they become juniors. Because of my junior year grades and of the fact that my classmates took honors in their early years in high school while I couldn't in my old school, I am in second decile (top 20). </p>
<p>How will this affect my chance in admission? I know this really destroys my chance, but I want to hear your comments/opinions.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, but there is nothing you can do. Just do your best as a senior and have your guidance counselor explain the situation in his letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>So, it really hurts my chance in elite colleges, especially HYPS? Do I still have any chance/shot left? I agree with you, pattycake, but what else can I do? I am really worried about this situation because colleges consider class rank and junior grades as admission factors.</p>
<p>The only thing you can do now is work extremely hard and have your GC explain this situation. Many students have similar situations, when they change schools during HS. You really can<code>t do anything about it now. Although grades are weighted heavily, they aren</code>t EVERYTHING. Your SAT scores, EC`s, recs are all taken into account. SO just work hard and have the situation explained and see what happens. When it comes to HYPS, even students with stellar class ranks are rejected.</p>
<p>Good things first....
You really pushed yourself further by taking hard courses without taking them before in a new environment with different grading system and teachers. Colleges want students to challenge themeselves academically- that is exactly what you did. You even showed an upward trend at the end of the year-it is better than continous downtrend of grades. </p>
<p>But the bad news.....
Junior year grades are very important to colleges, and the transition between your old and new schools didn't seem smooth. How will this not happen when you leave high school for college? Although class rank isn't everything, it is necessary for you to be in top 10 when you apply to HYPS. </p>
<p>Like everybody else said, work hard and have your guidance counselor explain. I am not sure, but I think your chance is A LITTLE destroyed. Don't worry, you still have chance- as long as your other things such as SATs, essays, and recommendations are good. Good luck!</p>
<p>confused...do you have any idea where you are within the 2nd decile? if colleges are able to see the parameters for the deciles, then they will probably guess where you are within your rank. if you're close to the top 10%, and colleges can see this, i wouldn't worry. also, keep in mind there are some great schools out there that aren't HYPS, and if this school is as competitive as you say, adn you have solid test scores and ECs, you will definitely get an acceptance to at least one of them.</p>
<p>My school does have the parameters for the deciles, and I am between top 15-20%. It is very competitive; in fact, it has a good history of seniors attending top colleges-M.I.T, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and so on.</p>
<p>Well, if your school sends students to good colleges, then it is a positive thing for you (it will help you a little bit on your admission chance). But, colleges will be even more impressed if you are in top 10%, not 20%. I don't know- there are both pros (your determination and you challenging yourself) and cons (class rank and grades) about this situation. Just apply to colleges and see what will happen.</p>
<p>confused, i know exactly how you feel. i came from a junior high that did a terrible job explaining the level system at my high school. i ended up being stuck in non-honors classes freshman year that prevented me from going into the top 10% by the end of junior year, despite me being in all honors and APs sophomore year on. you feel like your GPA and rank dont really reflect your academic talent, right? just do your best 1st semester senior year. if you are truly an intelligent, conscientious student, it will show through on other parts of your application.</p>