Risng Junior... Just Curious

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hi Guys!
I’m a rising junior, and I was just wondering which colleges do guys think I have a chance at being accepted to?

For starters, I am an immigrant, female, and biracial.

Academics:
-4.0 Unweighted GPA
-currently ranked 2/650 (soon I will be #1 when they put in my second semester credits into the school system)
-I have taken AP Human Geography (4), and took AP World History, AP Biology, AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics this year. I’m sure that I have passed all of these exams with a high score.

Will take: AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP Language and Comp, AP Calculus AB, and 6 classes at local community college in effort to obtain an AA degree by the time of graduation Junior year

I will take AP Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Environmental, and AP Macro/Gov senior year along with the community college classes, unless I decide to take 8 AP classes (I’m still contemplating).

Expected ACT score: 30+
Expected SAT score: 2100+
Expected Math II Subject test score: 700+
Expected Biology Molecular test score: 700+
Theses are all at minimum.

Extra- Curricular activities:
-Science fair: 2011-present. 3rd place in Chemistry 2014, and 2nd place in Biochemistry 2015 (400+ participants). Will research at a local university’s lab.
-Class office: Treasurer 2013-2014, President 2014-2015, Treasurer 2015- present
-Mu Alpha Theta: 2013- present; corresponding secretary 2015-Present
-President and founder of Chess Club: 2014-present
-4th place regional youth chess competition 2013
-Volleyball 2014
-NHS: 2015- present
-Mentor underprivileged children
-Tutoring children free of charge: 2011- present
-Volunteer at hospital 300+ hours
-Going to shadow a surgeon soon

Is there anything I can do to improve myself?
In your opinion, do you think I should do 8 AP classes senior year?
What colleges do I have a chance at being accepted to if i continue to do as I plan?

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Thank you! ^

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Oh and I also play piano and perform at my school’s winter concert

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8 AP classes will only be manageable if you give up all your extra curriculars and your social life. not to mention, you’ll have lots of college app stuff to do; i wouldnt recommend more than 6 APs. if you keep up the hard work, you probably have a shot at highly selective universities.

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@sahar1811 thank you!

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8 APs is very very hard. I’d say 7 is even too much unless 2 of them are APs that you already know. For example, taking AP Computer Science but already knowing Java programming. 6 is manageable but still hard.

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@Coldsummer123 Thank you so much! I appreciate it :slight_smile:

I was thinking about taking:
AP Calc BC
AP European
AP Gov
AP Macro
AP Lit
AP Environmental
AP Physics C
AP Art studio

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What are you interested in going into for college?

Hypothetically, let’s say it’s Math.

Right now, you’re really killing yourself with all those AP classes. Honestly, taking that many will not make a difference to elite colleges. 4-6 would be fine. Heck, even 3.

Since you love math so much, let’s say you end up doing 5 AP classes and use that extra 20-30 hours per week you would’ve spent doing homework to study for and go to a state math competition, perhaps even going to the national level if you work hard enough.

That’s going to make you much more valuable to highly selective schools than those 3 extra AP classes would have.

Being well rounded is great, but if you really want to increase your chances of getting into elite schools you need to develop skills in all areas, with one area of concentration (Actors should be studying with a coach for their audition, biology majors participating in competitions and fairs, mathematics majors doing competitions, ect) to really stand out and say “Yay impressive college, you should accept me because I excel in this field, and am thus more likely to go on to do great things in this field and make impressive college look good”

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@Jadenman Thank you for your insight!
I would like to major in neurosciences. I’m currently doing a research on the effects of artificial sweeteners for the past three years and they have won awards and everything. I just don’t know how else to stand out. So would you recommend for me to only take 5 AP classes (AP Physics C, AP Calc AP, AP Environmental, AP Art, and AP European History) and spend the rest on my time researching at an university?

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I am going to apply to a few ivies, local and state universities, and dual BS/ MD programs.

In your opinion, how important are test scores? What’s the “threshold” that says “I am full of potential, but I rather spend my time researching than studying for an aptitude exam”?

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Ultimately, any threshold I can give you is only speculation and would be anecdotal evidence at best. I got a 2140 on my SAT (Only took it once) which I was pretty disappointed with and used the 34 I got on my ACT for my applications.

If you’re getting above a 2200 I think that would be fine. If you’re doing the sciences, you really want to hit those Math and Biology SAT’s hard, make sure you’re getting great scores on those.

I don’t know of many science-focused fairs/competitions because that isn’t my field of interest, but I would look into something that could allow you to compete at the state or national level. If you’re looking to do a math competition, the AMC will probably be the most recognized thing you could participate in.

The other way to stand out is with a stellar essay, which should revolve around whatever college you’re applying to within the university. Since it sounds like you’re interested in the sciences, writing about that research might be an option. Just make sure you keep things as original as possible, and stay true to yourself.

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@Jadenman Thank you so much for your insight! I really appreciative it!