<p>Would you just be quiet, I took Algebra 1 in California as I clearly stated, you know nothing of California schools and I don't care what you think anyway.</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz,
I'm being rather blunt below don't take any offense if you decide to read below, otherwise don't bother reading.</p>
<p>I don't mean to be rude, but you ask for advice on matters like this and then when people respond you flat out tell them they're wrong. If you know so much better why ask? </p>
<p>I really think you need to get somethings straight, your overall record is basically average for the USA. To be blunt, unless you live in some type of slum or ghetto, or go to a school with a majority of mentally deficient kids; you will not stand out that much in the application pool. You cannot count on the "My school sucks" excuse, because it really doesn't. The norm for my school is Algebra I in 9th grade as well, however, about half of the kids choose to do Algebra I in eighth grade. Taking Algebra I in eighth grade does not put you ahead in the game by any means.</p>
<p>Your PSAT score of 168 is rather average as well. I don't see how you could have gotten the highest sophomore score at your school or whatever, especially if you say your school is the 2nd best in texas or whatever. The average score for most of my friends and I was some where in the 190 range, our sophomore class average was probably at least 160-170, thats including the kids who just fill in random answers.</p>
<p>Now, the schools you are applying to a above average schools. You have a chance at getting into most of the schools, however, I would say that U Chicago and Cornell are definite reaches. If you want a chance at either of these schools or an Ivy you will really have to up the course load and ECs.</p>
<p>In conclusion, you seem to rely on the fact that your school "sucks" or "is behind" and the fact that you got a 1510 on a practice SAT as a crutch. Both of the above are not sure fire excuses and will not fly with the admissions officials at colleges, so either work harder or reconsider.</p>
<p>I have a good GPA too since people here have been telling me freshman year doesn't count that much.</p>
<p>Do you consider what MomofWildChild said in those last few posts to be advice. I consider what you have said in your posts in my threads to be advice, not hers.</p>
<p>Yes, you do have a decent GPA, but I don't think anyone can count on GPA to get into a school now-a-days. </p>
<p>She was being painfully blunt, but what she says has some value. Being in Algebra 2 may be advanced for your school, but its generally "the norm" for most of the applicants to elite colleges. She's criticizing you, but she doesn't really give you any advice. </p>
<p>As I've said before, just up the SAT/PSAT(Or keep the 1510), maybe compact a few courses to get even further ahead of your school. If you do that along with keeping your ECs and GPA decent, then you should have no trouble getting into Cornell or U Chicago ED(Cornell's ED is 33% almost). However, thats a lot of if's and its easier said than done.</p>
<p>See what I mean. You're giving me constructive criticism. She's giving me the speech about how I'm not perfect so therefore I'm worth nothing.</p>
<p>Whizzer, many of us have tried advice, and you just get argumentative. We are through with advice. Sorry to be harsh. I have given you advice, and as you said to another adult who tried to give you advice, "I'm not listening".</p>
<p>No one is saying you're worth nothing. Please take that into consideration, that's pretty much common sense.</p>
<p>You have to face the fact, that almost 99% of the applicant pool that you're going against, is going to have math that is ahead of you. This is not saying you are dumb. It is just saying, "You are 1 year behind." </p>
<p>Just like saying, if a foreign student comes to USA, he is behind in English.</p>
<p>This does not make that student "worth nothing."</p>
<p>Momofwildchild is not calling you dumb, she is telling you a FACT. She never said "you are not perfect" all she said was, "You are incorrect, algebra I is standard for 8th graders." which, it is.</p>
<p>I've seen all your posts, and if a person does not type something positive about you, you start to go out on them, raging like they're saying you are dumb. Well, maybe you are starting to act dumb, if you can't take criticism to face that you do lack in some areas then others.</p>
<p>Texasmathwiz THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING</p>
<p>Just step back for one moment and read what you've said.</p>
<p>If you're so caught up about "You don't have to be perfect" I don't see why you can't take a simple opinion that is pointing out one flaw about yourself that proves you are indeed, not perfect. You are basically saying "I don't believe in perfectionism, but if you tell me I'm not perfect or have a flaw, you are wrong."</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz, no one's accusing you of having a light courseload or not doing good enough in your school. you're probably one of the best students at your school, but in the applicant pool you might not be able to stand out. take your math class for example, i know of a lot of texas sophomores that want to go to HYPS and are in algebra II. however, i'm a sophomore also and i'm in calculus, so are a lot of my friends. i also know of at least 2 sophomores that are taking calculus III at a university right now... so... although i'm sure that you're one of the top students at your school, you have to take into consideration what other students outside of texas are taking.</p>
<p>That's fine, I agree gotrice. But I just resent MomofWildChild arguing with me about something I know. I go to the school and I even asked my counselor about this. Algebra 2 in tenth grade is advanced for my school and she said that is true for the majority of Texas.</p>
<p>I'd like to say something though. I'm sorry to anyone who I've annoyed, or misunderstood. Everyone needs to understand that it is hard to read posters minds. I can't see the genuine smile or reassuring look on anyone's face when they diss me. And some of the people on here don't have the verbal skills to show their kindness in words. I guess I don't either judging on what people here think of me. So I'd like to start over. Sorry to those of you who didn't mean any harm. And those of you who did, I think I've already explained what I thought of you.</p>
<p>I think what everyone is trying to say is.... Even though Algebra 2 is advanced in your school, in most schools it is standard. And since in college admissions you are not just competiting with your school you are competiting with the entire US/world. And though in your school this may be advanced in the grand scheme of things it puts you right with everyone else. (Which is in no way a bad thing). I hope this help clear everything up.</p>
<p>Thanks. It slightly does, I understand the intent of the posters, they just put it in a more harsh way than I'd like.</p>
<p>But I beg to differ about the Algebra 2 thing. I've gone to only the best schools and I've never heard of Algebra 2 not being advanced. My school isn't top in the country or anything but the two schools I've gone too were some of the best in their states. California and Texas, currently the two biggest states in the union.</p>
<p>I will respect those opinions and pleasantly disagree though. I don't want to argue about it, anyone who thinks that, just know that I don't agree but I'm not going to argue and start a fight.</p>
<p>Now let's please get back on topic.</p>
<p>I'm not going to get into a whizzing contest with you, but Alg II in 10th grade is the norm for a top college prep track. The majority of the schools in Texas are pretty lousy (I am in Texas). If you want to PM me and tell me where you go to school,I will give you my honest opinion on where your school ranks. I know that many, many kids in Texas go to private school because a lot of the public schools are simply terrible. There are some good suburban school districts, of course and I hope you are in one of them. Judging from your PSAT score's rank in your school, I question that.</p>
<p>Yeah it's really weird. My school has some of the top TAKS scores and all that, but I don't even like it that much. I have never heard of Algebra 2 being the norm anywhere, but I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about. I've gone down the educational track where it is advanced, and I don't think colleges would penalize me for not being in the right school. After all I don't have much control over that.</p>
<p>Actually, it can often help you if you are in a bad school and are one of the first to be applying to a highly selective college. It shows you rose above the school!</p>
<p>That's awesome. Yeah I don't think there are many applicants to the ivy leagues from my school. Texans seem to think Texas is it's own country or something and they only apply around here.</p>
<p>OU is the southern ivy league it seems, the students act like it's so great and all the smart ones apply. I thought Rice was the big college around here, it is.</p>
<p>Bump.........</p>
<p>A lot of Texans apply out of state, but there is a lot of interest in UT and A&M, especially given the financial considerations. The private schools in Dallas and the top public schools all send a number of kids to the Ivys and top LACs every year. Check out the matriculation lists on the websites for some of the top schools- St. Mark's, Hockaday,Greenhill, St. John's in Houston, St. Stephen's in Austin. Just stick with your plan, visit some schools and see where things go.</p>
<p>By the way, you should look at Rice for pre-med. D's boyfriend is pre-med at Rice. It's awesome.</p>
<p>Yeah I thought of looking at Rice. Is it in a nice part of Houston though. Houston is kind of a crappy, crime ridden town from what I've heard.</p>