<p>I aspire for top schools such as Vassar, Amherst, Claremont McKenna,etc. Unfortunately, I am going to be a senior in just a few months (junior year went by fast!). I've only taken 3 AP classes from freshman year to now. However, according to the UC grading system, my GPA is a lot higher due to certain honors classes considered rigorous enough to be weighted also(under the UC method I have 6 weighted classes). I know that private schools don't abide this (right?), so am I already "one-down" so to speak, for admissions? After all, people will be taking AP classes instead of honors because honors isn't weighted.. The UC system's method in determining GPA certainly helps me a lot, but I don't like UCs (tuition, big classes,etc.) My senior year schedule:</p>
<p>AP Stats
AP Chinese
Euro Lit Honors
Physics Honors (weighted)
Chemistry Honors (weighted)
Econ Honors</p>
<p>Will getting all A's improve my chances of getting in? Can a good GPA in the first semester of senior year make up for less AP classes before? Or are colleges just checking to see if you're continuing to challenge yourself (aka. as long as you're still taking a few APs and maintaining above a 3.0)?</p>
<p>I am fairly confident that my performance first semester of senior year tipped me over the edge at one of my top college choices. It most certainly cannot hurt. </p>
<p>For your own sake, I would advise you to try your best. However, getting great grades senior year won’t make up for average performance your first few years. An upward trend certainly helps though.</p>
<p>Thank you, so does this mean I should switch to a even more rigorous courseload as privates don’t consider honors as a weighted class? AKA. going from Euro lit to AP Lit (even though the AP lit teacher is horrible at my school?) After all, if senior year doesn’t really matter that much, then I don’t see the point in loading up on APs/honors. I might as well take easier courses so I have more time for SAT and personal statements/extracurriculars.</p>
<p>I took the hardest course-load offered pretty much throughout my high school career (only 1 non-honors class that could have been honors), 7 AP classes total, but my performance increased from around a 3.7 UW junior year (2 B’s, 3 A’s, 2 A+'s), and a 3.6ish UW average, to a 4.0 UW (4 A+'s and 3 A’s).</p>
<p>Just as anecdotal evidence, I’ve had friends who did not take as hard as classes as I did (they took hard course loads but could have taken an AP section instead of regular section here or there) and were admitted to Dartmouth/Harvard etc. I think what matters most is that the guidance counselor ticks off “Most Rigorous” when describing your courses. </p>
<p>Nothing in your application necessarily “makes or breaks” you… it’s the complete package that all adds up to something. Anything you do that adds to the community or helps you fit into the class the college you are applying to is trying to build will help your chances at admission. Going through the process and looking back, it seems to be there is an over emphasis on technicals (grades, SAT’s, etc. ----- which all matter, but in context), when quite honestly the kids who did best in the process brought something to the table and knew why they wanted to go to college and did things because they cared. My best advice is to dream big, work hard, and stop caring about the process. It’s like chicks— colleges are most interested in you when you stop being so darn interested in them.</p>