Possible College Acceptance/Future Valedictorian??

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I need help. Lol, like I need serious help.

Long story short, to every teacher, faculty, staff and student or basically person, I’m identified as “well rounded”, “overachiever”, “talented” “smart”, etc. But to be completely honest with you, I don’t feel that way. I study in order to pass and I set hiiiigggh standards for myself (A’s only. (95+ for regular classes, 90+ for AP classes). This year is my first year (2014-2015, I’m a sophomore) taking AP classes. As you can see by the title, I really want to be valedictorian, but I am sooo terrified that it won’t happen. I didn’t take APHUG my freshman year of high school because I was scared that it would mess up my GPA and rank. I took all regular classes and I had all A’s throughout the whole year with a 4.0 GPA, but my rank was 15 because I didn’t take AP classes. Saddened I took BOTH APHUG with WHAP (I know, bad decision) this year. It was hell but I’m alive. The only B’s I have are from WHAP and my overall GPA is a 4.25.

My problem is that, some of the people with higher GPAs and ranks that I are at that higher position because they cheat or they’ve taken easy dual credit courses which raise your GPA. My school counselors told me that GPA will fluctuate during my high school career, but my rank is set and won’t change by the end of my junior year. That means I have to take all the AP classes that I can handle, plus dual credit courses and probably some CBE tests. I’m scared that one screw up will mess up my chances of being valedictorian.

I’m sick of the people with higher ranks than me who do literally nothing to get them. I work extremely hard. I haven’t slept correctly since the beginning of the year. All they do is cheat and ask for answers and because they’re popular or nice, they get them. They have A’s in really hard classes because they ask other people to do their work for them. They want to be valedictorian as much as much as I do but they’re taking the easy road and it’s not fair.

I’m taking 5 AP’s next year. It will be a little bit easier because I’m going to study a little bit this coming summer so I won’t be lost or confused during the school year. I’m also taking 2, half credit, dual credit courses this summer. I was rank 13 before my school took it down to reupdate it. I don’t know what my rank will be, but I know for sure that it will be higher.

I’m not a kiss up. I’m not a teacher’s pet. I don’t like to brag. I want people to see that I achieve all of my goals because I work hard, not because I cheat or because my teachers like me. I’m a sophomore and I’m so stressed out. I’m sophomore student council president, I’m in the girls’ soccer team, I WAS in Advanced Research (I couldn’t go to the lab every saturday) and my teachers expect sooo much from me. It’s hard. I don’t know what to do. Time management isn’t even an option. You’d be suprised. 3 am to 6 am is not enough time to finish work lol.

Any advice would help. And chances of me getting into college based on you guys’ predictions would be appreciated. Sorry for the novel lol.

2

I wouldn’t sweat nailing down valedictorian. Do your best preparing for college and if you get it, fine. The top schools see so many valedictorians, getting the title doesn’t really matter.

If I were you, I’d also stop worrying so much about what other people are up to. That will probably hurt your application more than it will help you.

3

I don’t really understand why your rank won’t change even if your GPA does?

If being val is something you want, that’s a great personal goal to have, but don’t kill yourself worrying about it because, honestly, it doesn’t truly matter in the long run; it won’t matter at all after high school. So don’t think it’s the end all be all.

4

I was valedictorian in HS - while you get to deliver the speech and have lots of fun partying it up, the fact that you were HS valedictorian won’t matter much in the long run, especially when applying for jobs/graduate school.

5

Don’t stress over being valedictorian; its truly only a title on a paper. You already have a good rank, so as long as you’re in the top 5%, you’re okay. Honestly there’s nothing you can do about undeserving people ranked higher, so don’t lose sleep over it.

If you’re already incredibly stressed, taking 5 APs is crazy. Unless you’re sure you can do it, don’t overwork yourself because it’s not worth it.

Even then, many colleges recalculate your GPA when you apply.

6

You need to rethink your perspective on this, you’ve belittled everyone with a rank higher than you as cheaters of the system and grade. Some of those kids are probably working as hard as you. Honesty, stop worrying about what others are doing and focus on yourself, that’s the best way to put you in position to be a valedictorian.

7

First of all, why do you want to be valedictorian? If you were overwhelmed with APHUGE and WHAP, I don’t know how you are going to be competitive for valedictorian. But there isn’t anything wrong with that.

It sounds like you’re putting so much stress on yourself to do well in school. Why don’t you focus on taking classes that you are passionate about and will help you in the long run? That’s way more attractive to colleges- that you know what you want, you’re already doing what you can to achieve it, and you excelled in it.

Also, community service? Extracurriculars? Way more important than GPA. Anyone can have a good GPA, but not everyone can make a difference in our society. Colleges are looking for self-starters and people who have something to bring to the table. Get started now! Get a job that suits your interests. Start a club or become an active volunteer SOMEWHERE THAT MATTERS-- a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, etc. Make relationships with those people, become part of their community. You will be so much more attractive to colleges, I promise.

I’m glad you’re a sophomore because you have time to “fix” yourself! Stop focusing on your grades so much… you do realize that high school will be over in 2 years right? Don’t you want to come out of it as a new person, who has grown? Make the most of your experiences and grow as a person while still maintaining good grades.