Steer a sophomore onto the right path?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm Asian, currently in 10th grade. If I have a slight chance, I plan to apply to Columbia and MIT (dream colleges).</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.5 weighted (I've gotten a B and a C on my exams, but my class grade averaged my grades to A's<- will the B and C look bad on my transcript?)</p>

<p>Most rigorous curriculum my school can offer + AP online courses during summer time</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Girls' Varsity Golf: 8th, 9th, 10th (9th at district in 9th grade)
Science Bowl: 10th
Make a Difference Club: 10th
National Junior Honor Society: 9th
National Honor Society: 10th, treasurer
Band: 10th, 1st chair in school, 1st alto sax at all-state small school band in 10th
(I've been playing sax for about 9 months)
Music Club: Founder, president 10th
Psychology Club: Founder, President (10th)</p>

<p>Volunteering/Work Experience:
Working part-time at the family restaurant (not for pay, just to help my dad out) 10th
Volunteering at a nursing home that I went to visit since 1st grade
Internship at local hospital (paid) 10th
Volunteering at an adult care center for people who have Alzheimer's etc 10th</p>

<h2>Running two websites (for my dad's restaurants)</h2>

<p>Babysitting siblings 5+ hours daily (Does this count? My parents work a lot, and so sometimes they are unable to give me a ride, plus I have to stay home and watch my siblings whenever my parents work, which restricts the amount of stuff outside of home that I am able to do)</p>

<ul>
<li>Currently working on starting a nonprofit summer band program for kids unable to pay for music lessons and band camps</li>
</ul>

<p>I haven't taken any SAT II's but I'm planning to take the bio one this year, and the math II one next year. Should I take another? I know that I should get at least a 2300 on the SAT, or a 35/36 on the ACT. </p>

<p>I plan to apply to MIT, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins senior year. Am I on the right path? </p>

<p>I plan to dual major in biology and neuroscience, or neuroscience and psychology. (Not decided on that part yet, but I have still have time hehe). I have a passion for music (I've been singing and playing piano for about 10 years, but I don't do that outside of my house), but music is more of a life-long love and hobby than a decided career path.</p>

<p>I'd really love any advice to improve, etc.</p>

<p>Also while I'm here, one more question that may or may not be irrelevant:
My school determines class rank through weighted GPAs. Band, which I'm unwilling to quit, counts as a class at my school.</p>

<p>AP and Honors classes are based on a 5 point scale, and all other classes are based on a 4 point scale. Therefore, when my weighted GPA is determined, band brings my GPA down by .1 (I have a 4.5 instead of a 4.6, like I would have without band). Three other people in my grade also have straight A's, but they do not take band, so they have a greater GPA than me. If I am not valedictorian because of an extracurricular I choose to take, will colleges count against me? My instinct tells me no, since I'm going with what I am passionate about, but then again, apparently it helps a LOT to be valedictorian.</p>

2

<p>Also I skipped a grade. Does that hurt or help my chances in any way, shape or form? o3o</p>

3

<p>Looking at your numbers and activities/awards so far, you seem on the right track! I know people suggest more extracurriculars all the time but yours seem solid and numbers are the most static things that stay on your resume, that is why colleges look at SAT scores/GPA, your exam grades shouldn’t show on your transcript, just your overall grades (colleges usually don’t have time to go that into detail). Keep your straight A’s and work on those online courses, they help in the long run. As for valedictorian, it is definitely a good position to have but keep in mind how many valedictorians with perfect SAT scores are denied (then again many of those DO get accepted lol). Applying to prestigious schools requires a bit of luck for everyone, as long as you stay focused in school and do things that you enjoy, you should be a good candidate. Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me please:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1247460-chance-asian-harvard.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1247460-chance-asian-harvard.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Thank you. And my worry is that colleges may take my exam grades into consideration because they show up on my transcript. My school includes everything from mid-term grades to conduct to exam scores. I have a B in conduct in one class, but I don’t think I should be too concerned about that hah.</p>

5

<p>on right track.
do courses you enjoy,if you enjoy band - take it, they won’t look down on it </p>

<p>

if you could get that going, and make it successful, it would be a fantastic EC, that could really give you edge. </p>

<p>It’s also great that you started the must and psychology club, really adds to your ECs - even if they’re just simple clubs. </p>

<p>Lot’s of your ECs have to do with music, psychology, neuroscience which is great -keep heading in that direction -you seeem focused, and not like your doing this stuff for the sake of the resume. </p>

<p>Suggestion is to try to get a research opportunity in the field of biology, neuroscience or psychology.</p>

6

<p>Thank you! Do you know how I could figure out about some research internships involved with biology, neuroscience and/or psychology? I know about a science program held in my state sponsored by MIT, which I’ll apply for next year, but I don’t know of any others. I was planning to do research projects through the Psychology club, but I’m not sure how well that will go with just a few students running the whole show. It would be so awesome to shadow a neurosurgeon (my dream career) or intern at a research facility, but I’m not sure how to do that hehe.</p>

7

<p>Colleges don’t look at exam grades to my knowledge…</p>

8

<p>Really? asdkflasdfklasdfa;sdfasdfk;las;df PHEWWW.
I’ve been worrying about that for awhile now. Then all I have to worry about is getting straight A’s, because anything less would get me a 3.7 GPA.</p>

<p>At my school, you can only take 5 classes a trimester (6 if you take band in the morning before school even starts). The system was designed to help kids who fail, and so a regular class lasts two trimesters but AP classes last all three. Plus we have required classes, so I can only take about 3 AP classes a year unless I self study online. It’s easy to have a huge GPA drop with just one B especially since there are only 5 grades that determine your GPA for the trimester. u__u</p>

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<p>Derpderp. o3o</p>

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<p>Also does anyone know any great books/websites I can self-study algebra 1 through trig pre-calc? My school isn’t big on academics (they only offer 8 AP classes, 2 of them are online) and so my math foundation is very shaky. I still plan to take the SAT II math II, but I need to prepare for it really well.</p>

11

<p>Try Khanacademy.org. It’s got videos and exercises for trig and algebra–it’s really helpful.</p>

12

<p>Okay, thank you. I’m also reading Sparknotes right now. Is that good at all?</p>

13

<p>Eh, Sparknotes is better than nothing</p>

<p>To address your initial concern, if exam scores appear on the transcript sent to colleges, then it would be looked at; however, it should be understood that it’s just one exam and the overall grade in the course will definitely trump any weight the one exam carries. For the future though, play it safe and make sure you do well on all the midterms etc. They’ll be more willing to forgive bad scores in freshman and even sophomore year if you do will junior year.</p>

<p>Thus far, you are on the right path, continue being involved in your activities, would also help you with securing leadership positions. And of course, make sure you’re prepped for your standardized tests and continue to take the most rigorous courses as while doing well in them. Your band project seems like a very interesting pursuit if you can pull it off. So you should be in good shape come application time.</p>

14

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>And yikes. I may get a few B’s on exams here and there… Ahh if only my school didn’t put those on transcripts. u___u I’m going to have to study really hard from now on so that I can do well.</p>

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<p>Derpderp o3o</p>

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<p>Derpderp o3o</p>

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<p>derpderp o3o</p>

18

<p>Wow my cousin went to Yale. :o</p>