Simple a slacker or the not-so-average student?

Applying to College
1

<p>My high school career got off to a somewhat rough start. I always took all the hardest classes I could because I knew I could handle it. The problem was no matter what type of class I was in, I didn't see the need in doing homework. I ended my sophomore year with pretty much straight Bs (from freshman and soph years) and a 4 on the AP US exam. </p>

<p>This year I really really pushed myself and had all As last semester (couple of them minuses save for one B in honors precalc). And currently all As (no minuses). Unfortunately, when I visited my college counselor, she seemed befuddled at the schools I've chosen to apply to. Now I definitely have some safety schools (my home-state school of Mizzou where I'm like a hextuple legacy) but I test pretty darn well. Thus far I have a 32 ACT without studying, and am retaking it this Saturday to push up my reading score (26). I really have decided I want to major in either chemistry or biology (not premed or anyhting like that). Anyway so because of my cumulative GPA, which is about a 3.6 weighted, my counselor seemed to begin to steer me away from schools, especially my no. 1 choice UNC-CH (also considering UC Berkeley, UMich, maybe possibly Georgetown, and then some other safeties). This year my weighted GPA is about a 4.32 on a 4.5 scale (2 APs, chem and world, and 2 honors the rest is stuff I have to take as electives). Next year I will be taking APs Bio, Gov, Lit, Calc, and Stat. My chemistry teacher keeps asking me what Ivys I will be applying to.... :/</p>

<p>This being said, I think I've got some awesome ECs: Eagle Scout, marching and concert band (in concert both percussionist and pianist), lots and lots and lots of volunteer stuff, lots of political stuff (students for Obama, Prez of Young Democrats)</p>

<p>My question is will colleges really see my cumulative GPA and just throw my application out the window? Should I stop dreaming because I'm reaching for the unreachable? Hypothetically what would be some good test scores to help me come back up from these grades? Will my freshman and sophomore years of high school haunt me forever?</p>

<p>EDIT: BTW the title should read "Simply a slacker", my mistake.</p>

2

<p>c’mon can’t I get ONE response before I get buried here in other threads?</p>

3

<p>Reach
Match
Safety</p>

<p>You have your Safety. You have your Reaches. Now, you can humor your counselor and find a Match or two, or you can let her know that you like your Safety enough to be happy there if you don’t get into any of the Reaches. It really is your call.</p>

4

<p>happymom is right: Go ahead and apply to a couple of those reaches. You never know, and then you won’t have to wonder for the rest of your life. Just don’t pin your hopes on them. The most important schools on any list are the safeties, followed by some really solid matches. That’s where you need to concentrate your efforts.</p>