Need help....questions about requirements for top schools!

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello all.</p>

<p>I will be applying to some of the top schools in the country next year. I am currently a junior in a very good public high school.</p>

<p>I just have a few questions...</p>

<p>My junior year (this year), I did not take any APs. However, I am taking Accelerated Pre-Calculus and Accelerated Physics.</p>

<p>Next year though, I will be taking AP Calculus BC, AP Stat, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry.</p>

<p>Will this be good for some of the top colleges in the country, even though I did not take an AP junior year?</p>

<p>Next question.</p>

<p>I had a fairly rough freshmen year among my standards (battled some learning disabilities), but did alright, so my GPA isn't exactly where I want it to be nor where I believe it should be.</p>

<p>Is your unweighted GPA more important than your weighted one? I have a pretty good weighted GPA because I challenge myself, but I am unsure of my unweighted GPA.</p>

<p>Where does it need to be around?
Do they take your unweighted GPA into consideration? If so, is it the thing they care most about?</p>

<p>Alright, last question.</p>

<p>I did pretty well on the SATs for my expectations. Although I did poorly on the CR and Writing, I got an 800 in math on my first attempt. On practice tests I am hovering around a 650 for both CR and Writing, so I expect my January SATs to be around that score.</p>

<p>Is having a 2100 SAT score good for most of the top schools? (Such as Stanford, Princeton, MIT, etc.)</p>

<p>Of course I plan to get my scores higher over the spring, but I am just wondering where I place now. My goal is to get my CR and Writing up to a 700, but who knows from there. I have started taking steps to improve my scores, so I believe I will be able to do this.</p>

<p>So yeah, sorry for this unorganized, messy post. I have a lot of questions and all answers are greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>1.) It looks better if you challenged yourself junior year. </p>

<p>2.) Princeton, for example, disregards freshman year into their admissions process, although they will take a look at the courses that you’ve taken. GPA (weighted or unweighted) is of little consequence to the colleges. It’s the grades that you earned in the difficulty of the classes that you took that matters (there is a difference). </p>

<p>3.) A 2100 isn’t a bad score at all, and will make your application competitive, but it won’t be a shining aspect of it. Do your best to raise it another hundred points or so, and then work on defining yourself through ECs.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>I am not quite sure about MIT and Princeton, but if you improve your SAT in Reading you will have a good shot at Stanford. Your GPA unweighted should be around a 4.0. You should also have LOTS of EC’s. Also make sure you do well in the AP classes you are taking next year and also maintain good grades in classes you struggle in!!! Thats important.</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

4

<p>A 4.0 is a 95, correct?</p>

5

<p>Also, I will be taking my 4th year of Latin, if that’s any help at all.</p>

6

<p>bummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmp</p>

7

<p>-Will this be good for some of the top colleges in the country, even though I did not take an AP junior year?
It all depends on what is normal for your school; context is the key word. If many students at your school load up on APs junior year, your application will not shine. On the other hand, if practically no one takes APs whatsoever, then you are in great shape.</p>

<p>-Is your unweighted GPA more important than your weighted one?
The unweighted GPA is typically more important than weighted as colleges can see your course rigor through the transcript (which conveys the same information as your weighted GPA).
-Where does it need to be around?
Typical unhooked acceptances at top schools are mostly 3.7+ UW (however, your rigor can be influential in what your particular GPA means along with class rank).</p>

<p>-Do they take your unweighted GPA into consideration? If so, is it the thing they care most about?
Yes and I can not speak on if UW GPA is the most important factor but grades, in general, are the most important factor.</p>

<p>-Finally, Is having a 2100 SAT score good for most of the top schools? (Such as Stanford, Princeton, MIT, etc.)
To be perfectly honest, practically no unhooked students with a 2100 will be accepted at such schools. Hooks that may help are URM-status, first generation student, legacy, or athletic recruitment. Still, I am sure particularly unique and skilled students (business founders, I_O Participants, or world class actors or musicians) may be admitted with such SATs.</p>