<p>Hi,
I need some advice.
I'm going to be a junior in high school this fall, and I am frustrated. I study really hard and I feel like my grades don't show the amount of effort I put into my schoolwork.
I've always wanted to go to NYU for college; with the way my grades and standardized test scores are going right now, I don't know if it is attainable. Do you have any advice to help me raise my grades?
My weighted, overall GPA is a 3.6. My school is a blue ribbon school (my friend told me that it adds .2 to your GPA meaning my GPA would be a 3.8? i'm not sure if this is accurate). I've been taking SAT classes; last fall I took the PSATs and I got a 1590 :(. I'm taking both the SATs and PSATs this upcoming fall. I've been taking SAT classes and right now I'm sitting at a 1700/2400. I also got a 610 on my biology SAT2 which isn't that great... Is there a way that I can turn this dilemma around and make myself more eligible for NYU? I've also been taking all honors classes. I figured that if I take less honors classes, and I get As in regular classes (which is more attainable than the B's I've been getting in Honors) then my GPA could possibly go up. My biggest concern is if one year of high school can make a difference for my GPA. I also do taekwondo outside of school (I'm testing for my black belt in december) and I've been playing piano for 8 years. I also tutor kids at a school in Newark voluntarily. What can I do to improve myself and how?</p>
<p>Your help and feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank You!</p>
Hah. Doing that will actually decrease your chances. Colleges, no matter what, prefer if you challenge yourself. They’d prefer someone with B’s in Honors or APs over someone with straight A’s with normal classes. You should stick with the more challenging courses unless you think that you really, really can’t handle it.</p>
<p>Have you asked teachers for help? Perhaps you’re just not getting the material. If you don’t get something, no amount of studying can really help. Get some help. I assume you’re doing all your homework as well? As for SATs…well, you sound like someone who will do better with the ACT. Try considering that?</p>
<p>You can probably find some SAT study tips on the SAT forums though.</p>
<p>Is there anything you know you’re interested in? A general field, anything? You should try looking for a job or internship that’s related to that field. Or you can just get a job and get some valuable experience.</p>
<p>It looks as if NYU may be out of your reach, but you should think of this positively & not want to get in a school where you may be in over your head. Your GPA isn’t your biggest problem, it’s your test scores, you are around 300 pts (for three parts) off their average. If after visiting other schools, etc., you are still convinced you want to attend NYU, perhaps transferring from a SUNY or CC would be an option?</p>
This is a misleading “forced choice” question, as if these 2 choices are the only options. Top schools have plenty of great applicants. They accept the kids with largely A’s in honors classes.</p>
<p>
Simply putting in hours doesn’t accomplish much if you aren’t spending the hours effectively. There’s a book I suggest you read about studying. It’s called “What Smart Students Know” by Adam Robinson, written by one of the founders of the test prep service Princeton Review. I have never seen a better explanation of the steps you need to follow to really <em>learn</em> the material, and if you’ve learned it well you the grades take care of themselves. </p>
<p>It also should go without saying, but these days it doesn’t – when you study are you in a quiet place w/o distractions? No TV or music on? No texting friends? No web surfing?</p>