<p>Hey, I'm an African American rising sophomore attending a public high school in South Florida. I'm curious about what I should expect my sophomore year of high school. Here's my schedule:
AP World History
Chemistry Honors
English 2 Honors
Geometry Honors
Spanish 4 Honors
International Relations Honors
Financial Operations Honors(Part of the DECA Program)
My freshman year was okay. I ended with a 3.6 GPA. I hope to get this up a lot. I only had two ECs (Color guard and Orchestra). I won't be participating in either sophomore year but I will be doing other ECs. I would like to know if that will hurt my chances in the college admission process. I'm aiming to be a competitive candidate to an ivy or Stanford. I would also like some advice for success in my classes. One more thing, being that Pre-Calc or AP Stat will be the highest math class I'll eligible to take, I was wondering if that would hurt me as well. Thanks :)</p>
<p>I don’t see why it would hurt you. Many colleges don’t look at Freshmen grades, so keep that in mind. As long as you dedicate an hour or two to homework each night, you should be fine. It might take more, just don’t fall behind and you’ll be good.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot! :)</p>
<p>Rising sophomore as well! You could always take a math course over the summer to skip ahead, if you’re worried about your placement…though I doubt it would make or break a college app ;)</p>
<p>What they said is good ^^</p>
<p>Also, even if you get like a C average your freshman year, it doesn’t necessarily jeopardize chances for Ivy acceptances and such. What colleges love above all else is an upward, positive trend in GPA from year to year. So as long your grades from now on show that marked change, you’re good.</p>
<p>Thank guys!
@hazelphase What classes are you taking?
I wish i could have taken ore APs but they only allow sophomores to take one AP at my school.</p>
<p>@Douglas</p>
<p>English 10
Algebra II
Biology
French III
Western Civ II
and probably Orchestra/Photo/Drama as electives</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer APs or Honors classes (GAH!!), so I’m thinking of self-studying for AP Bio and Euro this year…that should be interesting lol.
What instrument did you play in the orchestra?</p>
<p>I played the violin. It’s funny you asked because I realized how much I loved my violin and how hard it would be without it next year. I’m seriously considering calling my counselor and switching out of Int.Relations and into orchestra.</p>
<p>Yeah orchestra playing is nice</p>
<p>Hey, I’m a rising sophomore too :)</p>
<p>Actually your schedule looks pretty good.
Do you want to do something Internation Relations related though?
Because if you don’t, you should just do something you enjoy, I think. </p>
<p>You definitely need to do Geometry before Pre-calc; trust me, Geometry will really help you out when you DO take it. There’s a lot of solid background in Geometry that, if you get down, will help you get a good score on the SAT.</p>
<p>And hey, I’m taking AP World this year too :D</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the math sequence thing; it’s not going to make or break your application.</p>
<p>A rising sophomore here as well. Do not worry about your math. I know many people that are in the same position and have reasonably high grades. Math placement is very…crazy sometimes. Here, it starts in middle school. If you don’t go for Algebra in 8th grade, you will never make it past Pre-Calc, and you can’t do any advanced courses. So, I wouldn’t worry, and good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks to all that responded 
I’m actually thinking about asking my counselor if I can take Algebra 2 over the summer next year so I can take calc as a senior. Do any of you have any advice about studying for the SATs?
One more thing, instead of taking International Relations, i’m going to get switched to Orchestra.</p>
<p>@Douglasgirl</p>
<p>It’s the same with my school… Freshmen and Sophomores are only allowed one AP course, while the Juniors and Seniors are allowed the luxury of much more. However im not too experienced with taking summer courses. Algebra 2 is extremely hard, and I don’t think a summer course will do it. However, in my school you can skip pre-calc and go straight to calc, so as long as you know the right stuff, you can do it. However, my teachers dont reccomend it. So by senior year you can go to calculus, if you do algebra 2 junior year</p>
<p>PS. Im a rising sophomore, who’s gonna take algebra 2. So im going to take calculus either Junior year. I hate the sound of taking Pre-Calc and wasting a year.</p>
<p>If possible, argue with your guidance counselor in regards to taking a second AP. Also, don’t be afraid to get parental/guardian override if that is an option. It was a reoccurring observation that “highly competitive” students at my school took 2-3 APs as sophomores. </p>
<p>However, your choice to take Spanish 4 Honors is excellent. It shows colleges that you have commitment and dedication to foreign languages and study in general. </p>
<p>Lastly, your eligibility to take Pre-Calculus or AP Statistics as your highest level math class would not hurt you. What would damage you is a scenario in which you had an option to take AP Calculus AB but chose not to. That is, unfortunately, what some of my classmates chose to do. </p>
<p>Overall, you’re doing great. Just make sure to get some more APs in!</p>
<p>-CErnie</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the responses. I did try to persuade my guidance counselor into allowing me to take another AP (AP Human) but she said that the department wouldn’t allow her to do it.
At my school it is a requirement to take pre-calc before taking Calc AB so if I don’t take Algebra 2 over the summer, i’ll only be able to take Pre Calc or AP Stat at the most.</p>
<p>@CErnie Thanks I plan on taking all the Spanish courses that my school offers because I really do LOVE that class. I’m also joining the Spanish club and Spanish honor society.</p>
<p>I am a rising sophomore to! this is my schedule i think I might change it a little bit.</p>
<p>English 2 Honors
Algebra 2
Chemistry Honors
AP Us History
Spanish 3 </p>
<p>I am debating between:</p>
<p>AP Art History
AP psychology
AP Environmental science
and self studying for AP Bio I loved Honors Bio so I thinks its a good choice </p>
<p>I want an Ivy two so good luck :)</p>
<p>You should go for AP Biology if you like it that much! I’m probably gonna take it when I’m a senior. Lucky you! You get to take more than one AP as a sophomore! At my school you can only take one :(</p>
<p>@ Douglasgirl2018 I think I will. Why can’t you take AP till more? at my school you start as a freshman. Have you considered using online school like keystone (I use ) or fvls to take AP courses you take them online and then they get transferred to your school. just a thought ask your counselor if you can do this I know some kids who have.</p>