Tips for a Rising Junior

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi :). I realize that my stats aren't very good compared to most of the people that post on this forum . My school district is great while my high school is considered "good". I have always been above average academically, but not enough to really stand out so I'm trying to change that. Here are my current stats:</p>

<p>Cumulative Weighted GPA: 3.656
Class Rank: 64 of 515
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.594</p>

<p>COURSES:
9th Grade:
Algebra I, Honors English 9, American History, Phys. Science In Action, Art Foundations, Honors German II, Introduction to Graphics, Personal Finance, Debate I, Introduction to Aquatics, Pottery & Sculpting
10th Grade:
AP Human Geography, Biology, Honors English 10, Geometry, Honors German III, World Geography, Athletic Training, Introduction to Behavioral Science, Advanced Pottery & Sculpting, Fitness Swimming
11th Grade:<em>
Chemistry, Human Physiology, Algebra II, AP English Language and Composition, AP European History, Honors German IV, Psychology, AP Psychology, Lifeguard Training, Athletic Training Internship
</em> - those are the that classes I signed up for in the Spring.</p>

<p>ECs:
350+ hours of volunteer work (I volunteer at a hospital 4 hours every week)
40 Assets Club
German Club
Environmental Club
Hope For a Better Tomorrow Club (give presentations to underclassmen about common insults (fag, retarded, etc.) and their origins/what they really mean)</p>

2

<p>Do you have a specific question?</p>

<p>Your qualifications are good. You should have many fine choices. Just try not to get distracted by all the College Confidential focus on “tippy top” schools like the Ivies. </p>

<p>Without test scores or Junior year grades it’s hard to tell where you should focus, but have a look at schools ranked by US News in the 21-75 range or so. Don’t overlook LACs or “regional” universities.</p>

3

<p>Hi :). I realize that my stats aren’t very good compared to most of the people that post on this forum. My school district is one of the best in the state and my high school is considered pretty great by most. I have always been above average academically, but not enough to really stand out so I’m trying to change that. Here are my current stats:</p>

<p>Cumulative Weighted GPA: 3.656
Class Rank: 64 of 515
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.594</p>

<p>COURSES:
9th Grade:
Algebra I, Honors English 9, American History, Phys. Science In Action, Art Foundations, Honors German II, Introduction to Graphics, Personal Finance, Debate I, Introduction to Aquatics, Pottery & Sculpting
10th Grade:
AP Human Geography, Biology, Honors English 10, Geometry, Honors German III, World Geography, Athletic Training, Introduction to Behavioral Science, Advanced Pottery & Sculpting, Fitness Swimming
11th Grade:<em>
Chemistry, Human Physiology, Algebra II, AP English Language and Composition, AP European History, Honors German IV, Psychology, AP Psychology, Lifeguard Training, Athletic Training Internship
</em> - those are the classes I signed up for in the Spring.</p>

<p>PSAT Score:
Critical Reading: 63
Math: 49 :frowning:
Writing: 67</p>

<p>PLAN Score:
26</p>

<p>ECs:
350+ hours of volunteer work (I volunteer at a hospital 4 hours every week)
Piano lessons for about 10 years
Athletic Trainer
40 Assets Club
German Club
Environmental Club
Hope For a Better Tomorrow Club (give presentations to underclassmen about common insults (■■■, ■■■■■■■■, etc.) and their origins/what they really mean)</p>

<p>I plan on eventually becoming a physical therapist.</p>

<p>I’m still very undecided on where I’d like to go to college. My guidance counselor uses the “Safety/Good fit/Reach” strategy, but my Safety and Good fit lists tend to merge together:
Safety/Good fit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Iowa, Creighton University
Reach: University of California, Los Angeles</p>

<p>People have told me that I’m shooting too low, but I feel like I’m overestimating myself most of the time.</p>

<p>So CC, how can I stand out more in my junior year? A lot of the kids in my grade take summer school courses to get a better ranking, but my family can’t afford that very easily. Should I take on more ECs?</p>

4

<p>(I kind of underestimated my high school in this, so I edited that plus a few other things.)</p>

<p>But nevertheless, thank you for your answer :). I do get distracted by hopes of attending an Ivy from time to time, especially when I’m browsing the CC forums. It’s a bad habit. I know I could be happy at one of my state schools, even though they’re not “prestigious”.</p>

5

<p>State of residence?</p>

<p>Cost constraints?</p>

<p>Intended or possible major? (or general area like humanities, social studies, science, engineering, business, etc.)</p>

6

<p>You’re in my boat. Haha Just take the hardest classes you cam and try and do well in them. I would put some good study time in your standardized tests as well.</p>

7

<p>Do your homework if the class grades you on it. I got shafted because of this in AP spanish (policy is no half credit for late hw…if I got half credit on this one hw assignment I’d have an A for the year)</p>

<p>be openminded and respectful towards your teachers. You’re gonna have to get recs from them.</p>

8

<p>Ahh! Sorry about the mess I made with my two separate posts. My bad.</p>

<p>ucbalumnus: I live in Nebraska, need A LOT of financial aid (lower end of the middle class), and would like to become a physical therapist.</p>

<p>tcwest2012 and squidgetx: Thanks for the advice :). My school doesn’t offer a lot of AP classes, but I took as many as I could.</p>

9

<p>UCs like UCLA are not likely to give significant financial aid to out of state students.</p>

10

<p>I wrote this up with a student like you in mind, take a look: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1163088-hey-you-yeah-you-ive-answered-bunch-your-chance-thread-questions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1163088-hey-you-yeah-you-ive-answered-bunch-your-chance-thread-questions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>My Advice to you:</p>

<ol>
<li> Go to the undergraduate school and PT school that will be the least expensive for you. Becoming a PT is a 6-7 year endeavor, and though they get paid well, it is not phenomenal money. You truly don’t want to be saddled with much debt when you start this career. The great thing about being a PT is that once you graduate and get certified you can live anywhere! This is when your adventure can truly begin. You can live in a great place, and make a great income! If you want, you can get a job in Florida, NY, San Diego, or Hawaii. But you won’t be able to do this as easily if you have huge debt. </li>
</ol>

<p>It looks like the best schools (not necessarily the most exciting) for you would be instate Nebraska schools, and then go to the Nebraska Medical Center for your PT degree. Remember, when you are in PT school you can go to other states to do your clinicals, which can be fun. </p>

<ol>
<li> Don’t pay attention to other posters and their stats and try to measure yourself against them; after all, they are just other high schoolers like you who are trying to figure things out. You have really great things going for you in your area of interest; especially the athletic training class and internship. You are taking a good mix of classes, and you have great EC’s. You are farther ahead in your goals than most rising juniors or seniors! Do try to take Anatomy and Physiology your senior year, and really study for your SAT. You can raise your score with some work in that area.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>Also, if you go to a state school, try to get more experience with the sports teams and athletic trainers. Try to observe as many PT’s as you can working in different areas. The important things about getting into PT schools is getting good grades, taking the prerequisites needed, and having experience and a demonstrated interest. The undergraduate school does not matter much at all, so I said it before, but I will say it again, SAVE YOUR MONEY!</p>

<p>On another note, tf you are looking for a fun volunteer opportunity that would be of interest to a future PT, try to volunteer as a counselor at an MDA (muscular dystrophy association) or other type of camp for children with physical disabilities. They seem to have more trouble finding young male counselor’s than female.</p>

12

<p>ucbalumnus: That is true :/. Money is a big concern of mine that I should have talked about in my first post. I’m hoping to get a better score on the PSAT next year to qualify as a NMSF.</p>

<p>Omicron: Thanks for the link. It was really helpful :)</p>

<p>wrldtravlr: Thank you for the advice! The money issue is something I should have talked about a lot more. I agree that it would be best for me to save my money and go to a state school. And double thanks for the last paragraph in your post. I looked it up and the MDA in my city is located pretty much right down the street from my house.</p>

<p>I have a question, though: Since the University of Iowa’s PT department is ranked 5th in the nation<em>, should I still consider it? I also see Creighton is ranked 19th</em>. How much do rankings even matter?

13

<p>Safety/Good fit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Iowa, Creighton University</p>

<p>You say that you need a lot of FA…then don’t apply to out of state publics.</p>

<p>A safety is NOT a safety if you’re not certain that you can afford it. It’s not a safety if you get accepted, but can’t pay for it.</p>

<p>Be aware that most GCs are only considering “likely acceptance” when determining reaches, matches, safeties. They aren’t considering whether the school gives enough aid to those who need it.</p>

14

<p>mom2collegekids: Thanks for the advice. Most of what I am learning about the college process is from the internet. Not always the best source. A GC talked to one of my classes in Freshmen year about college and taking the ACT, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to someone one-on-one about my plans after graduation. I know they’re going to start asking me all about it next year, so I’m trying to figure everything out now.</p>

15

<p>Honestly, I think the only reason to look at a ranked PT program would be if you want to go into research or teaching at the university, and go on for a PhD. You would then look for a specific PT program in your area of interest, which might not necessarily be one of the top ranked. I would only look at Iowa’s PT program if they charged you the same tuition as an instate student, and with Creighton’s, only if I got great merit money, which I am not sure is available for PT school. I wouldn’t put much stock in the USNWR rankings of PT programs, anyway. I haven’t looked at what criteria they use, but take the rankings with a grain of salt. Its not always the professors with PhD’s that are the best instructors, especially in an area like PT, where you want to get some instruction from teachers who have actually had experience as clinicians. Most entry level PT’s will be paid similarly, with some variability depending on which geographic area you decide to practice in, not what school you went to. I have never been asked what OT program I graduated from, just for a copy of my license and certification. Employers are more interested in level of experience, so your first job with a good mentor is important, and then, of course, your skills as a PT. You will probably learn more in your fieldwork clinicals (pick good ones), and in your professional development classes after you graduate than you will in the classroom anyway.</p>

16

<p>You probably shouldn’t bother applying to UCLA if money is a big concern…I’m also going to be a junior, and i wanted to go there. Unfortunately, little to no aid is given to OOS students. :/</p>

17

<p>*A GC talked to one of my classes in Freshmen year about college and taking the ACT, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to someone one-on-one about my plans after graduation. I know they’re going to start asking me all about it next year, so I’m trying to figure everything out now. *</p>

<p>Just be aware that many GC’s only really look at “admission chances”…they don’t much concern themselves with the financial end…and often pin their (false) hopes on financial aid that just doesn’t exist at many schools. </p>

<p>If you do end up with high SAT, ACT, and/or PSAT scores, you will have more choices for colleges. So, get some practice books and practice! Good luck!!! :)</p>