<p>Hey guys, I just started my freshman year in high school. I go to a very small private school (60 people in my grade), which harms my chance greatly at top 10%. My school offers the IB program, which I will take in 11th and 12th. Overall, I'm pretty smart and making all A's except for two core classes that is taught by the same teacher. The problem is the teacher, and not me. Every single student in the teacher's class is having a problem. I'm afraid this will hurt my college chances. Due to being around the top 10% (#6) in my grade, I am pretty sure I won't be able to go an Ivy, as every freshman's dream is, but hopefully a good school. I also play tennis, but not at an extremely competitive level. Are there any tips any of you guys have, whether you guys are high schoolers or are in college? Thanks</p>
<p>Don’t screw up.</p>
<p>Seriously. You’ll regret it three years later when you’re applying to colleges. Every homework assignment counts when you go to a small school. I’m in the same situation… my class is 43. Ton 10% is 4 students. The local public school’s top 10% is 60+ students. It matters less there.</p>
<p>Do your homework. Study. Get involved. That’s really all a freshman should concentrate on.</p>
<p>Talk to sophomores who had that teacher last year and find out what if anything helped them be successful in his/her classes.</p>
<p>Meet with that teacher and ask for advice on how to be more successful. This may or may not be helpful but it won’t hurt.</p>
<p>I would say the majority of freshmen do not dream about getting into an Ivy League school.</p>
<p>AuGirl - I’m trying to involved as much as possible. My school only allows 1 club, and I’m in the Math Club. Also, I’m in Student Council and play tennis. Are there more ways I can get involved? My friends and I are thinking of starting an Ultimate team.</p>
<p>milkweed - He’s a new teacher and I have tried, he just looks for perfection. For example, he gives a 12 question reading comprehension page to do for homework. The answers are about a paragraph each. He decides to be really lazy and only grades two. On one of them, he gives me no credit because I forgot one word.</p>
<p>Stay out of the way.</p>
<p>In my experience, freshmen tend to complain about homework, teachers, etc… but the advice I always give is to buck up. It’s life and it’s not changing. Middle school and high school can be vastly different in terms of difficulty and expectations.</p>
<p>At my school 50-75% of the kids are on Honor Roll in 7th/8th grade. By 9th grade it’s only 25-50%. By 11th grade it’s probably no more than 20%. Even people who get into amazing colleges with relative selectivity have at least one C+ per year. It’s just that much harder.</p>
<p>I’m on my school’s honor council and 95% of our cheating cases involve either freshman or new students, because they’re not used to the work-load and they get really stressed out.</p>
<p>Don’t do drugs.
<a href=“http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UGqFniDBUBY/TJzqPkuOQSI/AAAAAAAABjo/P0UFq6a_94s/s1600/75378-TrollFace.png[/url]”>http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UGqFniDBUBY/TJzqPkuOQSI/AAAAAAAABjo/P0UFq6a_94s/s1600/75378-TrollFace.png</a></p>
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<p>To be honest, the workload hasn’t been to much, except for my classes with him. But yea, I get what you mean. I should stop complaining. I tend to procrastinate a lot. Do you know any ways I can stop?</p>
<p>The question you should be asking is… how can I start.</p>
<p>Tell your parents about it and tell them to ban the things you like unless you’re doing well (and do all your assignments), get signatures from teachers after turning in assignents (I’m guessing you don’t hand everything in?)</p>
<p>Just general embarassing stuff that’s actually good for you.</p>
<p>My biggest regret was my freshman year, as my grades were the worst during that year. Only after the start of Junior year did I realize how much I effed up my chances at some top colleges. Learn from my mistake and don’t do the same!</p>
<p>Euroazn - I hand everything in. I just tend to do projects on the last minute and start my homework at around 7. I’m doing fine now, but if I stopped procrastinating, I could do so much better.</p>
<p>
What a freshman :3
I WISH I had the time to start homework at 7. Lol.</p>
<p>haha actually it’s mainly a thing at my school. It’s been really easy so far, but once I reach IB, I’m screwed. Do colleges give more weight to IB than AP?</p>
<p>Not really 
Basically, IB humanities are harder but IB math/sci are easier.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>Some of the colleges that I have seen prefer AP over IB. Others could care less. I’ve never heard a college say that they preferred IB or AP though. I’m not sure why that is. =/</p>
<p>But try starting homework earlier… It’s good for you. Do any assignments that you need the internet for last, that way you won’t be tempted by facebook, cc, or anything else like twitter. (My personal problem is twitter. haha)</p>
<p>I’m a freshman too and I’m just have a quick question. I messed up on a test or two, did not read the questions right, but still low 90s, would this affect me big time in the end?</p>
<p>Basically here’s the thing for IB Credit. Harvard’s only going to give you credit for the Diploma. And only the HL classes on the diploma. No one f’s with SLs.</p>
<p>MIThopeful16 - Is it then harmful if I take Standard Level courses? This is my school’s first year with IB so there is very few courses, but so far this is how my junior year schedule will look like:</p>
<p>Math HL
Spanish SL
Economics HL
History HL
Literature HL (Would take SL most likely if offered)
Not Sure about science yet. Next year, I will double up in sciences seeing which one I will take in IB.</p>