Hey everyone, I’m a junior in high school with a 3.4 gpa. I had a bit of a personal circumstance freshman year which mostly dealt with anxiety and depression, but I received straight A’s / A- ‘s my sophomore year. Because of my freshman year, I was unable to meet a lot of prerequisites for AP courses. My current schedule:
AP Psychology
Chemistry (college prep)
Honors English
Honors Spanish
Algebra 2 (college prep)
Honors History
I am really wondering how I can make up for the lack of rigor in my junior year schedule. Although I am receiving all A’s, I can’t help but feel like I am inadequate compared to others who are taking several APs. I am interested in NYU and am very interested in science, specifically biology. I have not yet received my PSAT scores this year but I am estimating around a 1200? Please help me out here. Honesty is appreciated.
You can have your counselor explain it in the LOR (letter of recommendation). My nephew went to an international school overseas from K-9. When he returned to the states he didn’t have the requisite for APs until he was a senior. He aced all of his APs senior year and his GC explained his situation in the LOR. He end up at a top 20 school.
Continue to work hard and get your As and do more test practices.
You’re doing precalc next year? I think that’s a fairly low level for senior year for someone interested in sciences at NYU, so definitely make sure your counselor letter mentions why. Not to be too harsh, but your gpa/sat/courseload is light for NYU as it stands (I have no idea if you have some other compensating factors like ECs, first gen, HEOP/CSTEP applicant etc) but you will need at least a couple of more matched schools to apply to as well.
I’d suggest you look for colleges that match your actual academics (to include GPA, course rigor, standardized tests). rather than choose a college first and trying to make your academics fit. As of now your GPA, course rigor, and projected standardized tests are low for NYU.
@bopper … I understand it’s “normal” - but for the more selective colleges (and NYU is getting tougher each year as application volumes surge) many applicants for sciences are doing calculus in senior year. At least at my D’s school they are, and judging by a number of “chance me” threads.
There’s nothing “wrong” with OP’s stats or progression - but as above I believe it’s light for NYU sciences vs the competition. For SUNYs as you mention, or for NYU courses not needing much math, fine.
There’s no one “normal.” It depends on the school district and what sort of competition in the area applies to what sorts of colleges, for what majors.
OP could try an online or summer course to make up for missing rigor, maybe his school will then let him then jump next fall. And can emphasize the right ECs for a stem major.
Get a Fiske Guide to Colleges, start looking or schools you match or that are safeties- and run NPCs, to see the possible net cost, (asuming your parents are together and no self-employment.)
My DS1 had a similar schedule to Op - although he did have calculus AB in senior year, but no science AP’s. SAT 1290. Diagnosed with ADHD inattentive summer before senior year. Kid is in second year CS in college at in-state technical university and doing well. Reason - he applied to match schools, not reaches. He did not get into CS at Stony Brook - he got into their "area of interest " program. He said “thanks, but no thanks”.
So if OP is getting A’s and showing a positive trend, aim for a good match college with a respectable program. Also, OP has time to work on SAT’s and try to improve scores.
Please read- Hi everyone, thank you soo much for your responses. I wanted you let you know that I have the opportunity to take math courses during he summer in order to end up in Calculus Honors my senior year. I also have the opportunity to take AP Biology and Physics Honors next year as well. I am not sure if this will improve my chances.
– If you want to take a summer math course and take calculus that is your decision. You would have to weigh the summer class against any other opportunities you might have over the summer. But in general it is a good idea to have calc in HS if you are planning a STEM major.
– I would take either AP Bio or AP Physics next year – not both.
–Even with the increased course rigor I think your GPA and projected standardized tests put NYU as a big reach. Once again I caution you against picking a school first and then trying to get your academics to fit rather than picking schools that fit your academics. Here is a class profile for NYU https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/nyu-facts.html And FWIW NYU is very expensive and generally not great in terms of aid if that is an issue.
-Unsolicited advice: The people I see most hurt by the college admission process are ones who fixate on one or two reach schools and don’t get in. I suggest you focus your time and energies on creating a list of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (run net price calculator) and that you would be excited to attend.
Thank you, everyone. I am currently adding an art elective to my schedule. If I receive As in all my classes, my gpa at the end of junior year should be a 3.6 (uw). I am going to study for my SATs and am aiming for a 1300. The 1200 was an estimate as I have not actually received my PSAT score yet. I am also set to take a biology sat in a few weeks. I really hope a 3.6 would give me a chance.