Good evening (or whatever time it is for you…)!
Do forgive me if this is a little messy. I hardly - or never, I should say - post on threads (I’m more the “stalk posts to find answers” type of guy) and really only made this account to post here. This is a super long post. I’m sorry.
I’m currently a high school sophomore set to graduate next May, my junior year. I’m also dual enrolled in a local community college and am set to graduate with an Associates of Arts the same month as my high school graduation. There’s a few more detailed stats and stuff to go over, but before I get into that, I just want to preface that the whole reason I’m writing this is to take in tips, maybe get chances, things like that. What should I do my next year? Anything I should add over the summer? More volunteer work, less work? Etc, etc…
My current high school GPA is 4.35 on a 5.0 scale. All of my classes are honors. My high school offers no higher than honors courses and I am taking the heaviest load they will allow at the current moment.
Individual high school grades:
Animal Science I (Req.): 95
Horticulture I (Req.): 86
Enviro Science: 96
Eng. I: 94
Eng. II: 93
Math II: 89
Math III: 76
World History: 90
Civics & Econ.: 93
(Current req.) Animal Science II: 96
(Current) Biology: 89
Obviously, that 76 in Math III is going to harm me in the long run. The agriculture classes will likely do the same, as they have no correlation in what I want to major in or my future career goals, despite being required classes in my school.
Individual college grades:
Art Appreciation: A+
College Transfer Success (Req.): A+
English Writing & Inquiry: A+
Phys. Ed: A+
General Psych: A+
(Current) American History II: A+
(Current) Writing & Research in the Disciplines: A+
(Current) Health & Wellness: A+
Note: Yes, every grade is an A+. No, I don’t know what they are on a percentage scale. My school only gives them to us on a lettered scale. It’s irking at times, but it is what it is, and what will be will be.
I am currently in two honor societies; the two that my college offers. I should be set to join NHS next school year, as my high school only offers NHS to juniors and seniors. I should have 100 or more volunteer hours by graduation. I am in STEM Club and Art Club, and I was in a Suicide Awareness Club my freshman year (we were only allowed one club freshman year, and two sophomore). I am an FFA Officer (FFA is the only “EC” program my school offers) and am on the Parliamentary Procedure team that went to States, and will likely go again this year.
I plan to work on a bachelor’s of Political Science, and a possible minor of History. I should begin taking politics courses for my Associates in summer/fall/spring, as well as other more individual courses (ethics, communications, etc).
I’ve heard that it’s important to mention that I would be a first-gen college student from a poor community (I come from a Tier 1 county in North Carolina), am bisexual, and transgender. I’m lower class. I’m also white.
Pre-ACT: LOW. I’m a terrible test taker. My pre-ACT score was a 26, and I’m projected to make a 30/31 on the official ACT. This was a test taken without warning or studying, so I’m hoping that with the official test I will be better prepared to make a higher score.
Pre-SAT/SAT: Haven’t taken it yet. I’m aiming for a 1400 MINIMUM on the SAT, but would much prefer the 1500+ range.
I will be applying for financial aid. I will be trying to apply ED, if my mother allows, as I’ve heard the acceptance and financial aid situation is better with ED applicants, and I think Duke is one of the best if not the best option for me. Other schools I am interested in include NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, George Washington Uni and Appalachian State - out of this group, Duke is the stretch!
So! Any tips? Chances based on what I have presented thus far? Anything anybody thinks I should do, change, add?
Thanks y’all. Again, sorry for the length, and sorry for all the “I,” “I,” “I,” sentences. I swear I’m more literate than this…