Freshman year - Algebra 1 CP, Environmental Science CP, World History CP, English 1 CP, Spanish 2 - GPA: 2.7
Sophmore year - Geometery H and Algebra 2 H, Chemistry H, US History CP, English 1 CP, Computer Prog 1 and 2 - GPA: 4
Junior year - Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Biology (Maybe), AP US History, AP Literature, AP Computer Programming - GPA: 4
Im currently a Freshman, and the Sophmore and Junior years are projections and will happen if I put a ton of effort into highschool. So lets assume that I do, and I turn things around drastically, what are my chances to an elite school. I also want to include that I have great extracurriculars.
It is pointless to try and project colleges at this point. Focus on doing as well as you can in school next year, when the time comes study hard for standardized tests, and repost with actual information junior year.
There are tons of amazing colleges and universities out there (many of which are not “elite”) and if you do well from now forward you could be a viable candidate at a number of fine schools.
^Projecting at this point can be silly, but having a goal in mind can be a good motivator. If you do as well as your are projecting, your freshman grades will not be a significant hinderance on your apps.
If you are looking to become a better student, you should know that you do not become an A student simply by working harder. You need good study habits–you should also try to get good on the material you covered this year. For good study habits, it is worthwhile to look at some of the books by Cal Newport (some of his earlier ones on doing well in school). These are a good starting place for thinking about your school work more seriously and more analytically. I strongly recommend them. They will more than pay off in time if you read them closely.
Also, how do you plan on jumping from Algebra II to AB Calc? Normally students need precalc (which includes a mixture of algebra and trig).
I agree it is great to set goals but going to an “elite” university should not be one of them. That is putting the cart before the horse as they say. The very top schools (many of which have acceptance rates in the single digits) must be considered reaches for any unhooked candidate including students with perfect GPAs in the most rigorous courseloads, perfect standardized testing, and wonderful ECs.
OP, IMO your goals at this point in your HS career should be:
–Work hard, learning, and doing as well as you can in the most challenging curriculum you can manage.
–When the time comes study for standardized tests.
–Continue your involvement in activities you care about and work towards making meaningful contributions to those activities.
–Enjoy spending time with your family and friends.
In terms of your schedule, if you are not taking the most rigorous courseload available at your HS that will hurt your chances at the “elite” colleges.
In addition, I would suggest continuing with Spanish through level 3 or 4 as many colleges look for that level of foreign language (even if it means taking just one math next year or dropping computer programming). You may want take the time to look at the common data set of some colleges you are thinking about (google common data set XYZ University) and check section C for the list of required/recommended HS courses. The courses listed here are often more than what is needed for HS graduation. Not completing the required/recommended coursework will put your application at a disadvantage. Taking electives in an area of interest or doubling up on a class you prefer is not a valid reason to miss required/recommended classes.
Do your best in every aspect of life. Then when the time comes (junior year) honestly asses your academic stats (including GPA, standardized tests, course rigor) as well as your financial needs and apply to a wide range of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (you will have to run a net price calculator for each school you consider) and that you would be happy to attend. Recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
It depends on what colleges you are considering. An Ivy may be a reach even if you improve in the future, but you should get into plenty of state schools. This could include highly ranked ones like UMich or UCLA.
Of course you are free to do as you wish, but my suggestion would be to stick with the normal progression and take AP Calc as a senior. Focus on doing as well as possible in your classes next year.
@happy1 I know this isnt a good reply, but im mainly doing it because my friends most likely are. I also feel im pretty capable of doing it. Anyways, wouldnt it be a really good thing to showcase colleges?
@Lindagaf What? Im not showcasing that specific fact to colleges. How are they even able to know that I did it because of my friends. Im also doing it to challenge myself
So many kids play this “what if” game. What if I get 1500+ on my SATs and get 4.0 on all my classes from now on is an old story.
The answer to this is that, yes, it changed your odds considerably for the more selective schools. Some schools don’t even count freshman year grades. But, for the most selective schools, being top 3 in class, not even 3% if more but top 3 students is what they consider. Those who do as well as you with similar profile without those freshman grades at that level will be ahead of you in terms of academic admits to these schools. Academic admits are those kids admitted purely in academic accomplishments. No other hook or outstanding feature to throw them into additional consideration
"but im mainly doing it because my friends most likely are" -- following the crowd is not a pathway to get into an elite college.
--Not sure what exactly you'd be "showcasing" by taking geometry over the summer since you are already on track to take calculus senior year. What math (if any) would you take senior year?
--Elite colleges are not looking for academic drones. I'd recommend that you utilize the summer to do something different and expand your horizons -- ex. you can work, volunteer in your community, or something along those lines.
--Did you read my comments above? Do you plan to continue with Spanish? If not, that will be an issue for all elite colleges.
--Did you read my reference to the other post (was that you?) about taking math analysis over the summer? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/2145320-what-is-a-good-online-course-for-math-analysis.html#latest
--Playing the "what if I got a perfect GPA from now on and the top 1% in the SAT" game is pointless. Keep in mind that people here are volunteers who try to help students so please show that you value our time.
You have my advice but of course are free to do as you choose. Please don’t tag me further on this post.
You are getting way ahead of yourself. It’s great to have a tentative 4-year plan which will likely change over time. But I think you need to take a step back and concentrate on next year for a start. Assuming you will get a 4.0 next year after having a 2.7 this year is as likely as assuming that I will win Powerball this week. You need, and perhaps with assistance, to ascertain why you have a 2.7 and what steps will get you to a 4.0. More effort is rarely the only answer.
If you are currently in Algebra I CP, I’d be very surprised that your teacher and GC are allowing you to double up on Geometry and Algebra 2, in honors sections no less. If they did approve, they may be doing you a disservice.
Show some improvement in sophomore year classes before asking about junior year schedules, but as a preview, you should take physics before contemplating AP Bio/Chem. If you show dramatic improvement, you might take one AP science concurrently with physics. But I rarely recommend that any student take AP Bio and AP Chem concurrently. Additionally, perhaps your school systemis an exception, but most require precalc before AP Calc
As for college chances, that’s premature without test scores. For “elite schools,” stopping at Spanish 2 will be problematic.
Learning stuff over the summer is good (if you can do it well–a lot of tough stuff in between algebra ii and calc). I think colleges value students taking Calc in HS.
Doubling up on math next year seems like a bad idea to me, unless you got a strong A in math this year.
Jumping ahead to calculus is almost always a bad idea. In my experience students who got easy A’s in algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus usually have an easy time in Calculus. Students who struggled in these prerequisites usually find calculus even more difficult. I did not even take calculus in high school. That did not stop me from being a math major at a highly ranked university.
I think that it is very good that you are determined to get much better grades next year. If you can pull up your grades significantly for the next two years, this will help significantly when it comes time to apply to colleges and universities.
Also, take the classes that make sense for you. Do not worry about what your friends are doing. There are enough good universities for you and them to all find appropriate schools.
@skieurope I know im getting way ahead of myself, thats the point. But the reason for my lacking GPA is due to classes other than Algebra and Science. I already know what I have to improve on, and thats mainly effort and laziness.
@happywheels213 , before we all get too far ahead in assumptions, can you provide a few examples of what you consider “elite” universities?
I ask because some people will list only the top 10 on US News & World Report. Others will list the top 30. Other people will say anything up to 50 is elite. Other people might mean the top 3 or 4 schools in their state, regardless of where those schools rank nationally.
There are many valid definitions of “elite” universities. What is your definition?
But generally, you are putting the cart before the horse. Improve that 2.7 and prove that you’re serious about going to a choosy college. No amount of guesswork about future college choices will make that 2.7 better. Only your earnest hard work will improve your GPA. Improve first, guess colleges later.
@EconPop Thanks. I myself doubt this will ever happen, but IF I happen to do what I am set out to do, I consider going to elite colleges such John Hopkins
@happywheels213 , I don’t want you to doubt you can improve. However, I don’t want you to assume improvement will come as simple and easy as planning (or hoping) for improvement.
I believe you absolutely can improve your GPA. I have no idea if you actually will improve your GPA. An improved GPA comes with an improved effort. Only you can control the amount of effort you exert.
It is good to aim for a university like John Hopkins but there is no such thing as a guarantee with a college of that calibre. Keep in mind that JH accepts fewer than 13% of the students who apply. That means a lot of kids with 3.8 GPAs and 1400 SAT scores do not get accepted.
But if by your senior year you improve to a 3.8 and score highly on the SAT, you will definitely be able to enter a great university. It may be JH, or it may be somewhere else, but it can be great.