Wasting my summer?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
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<p>On here, we'd all LOVE to get into a great college. In fact many of us, such as myself, have fallen in love with schools only to realize that they're 'top schools' (UGHHHHH). However, some of us are really boring and probably have no chance. We ultimately must make the most of our situations. So here is what I am doing, please tell me if what I am doing is a good or bad idea.
My family is ,well, not quite well off. You can think of us like the Gallaghers if any of you have ever watched Shameless. I have to work pretty much "all day err' day" during the summer and my junior year. Since I won't need to sleep much during the summer, I plan to study my butt off to ensure that I achieve numerous A+ marks. Here's how:</p>

<p>1.) I will have finished my summer assignments by the 30th of this month (I am halfway done with them and school has not ended).</p>

<p>2.) Honors Spanish 4: I will read the literature of the entire syllabus, teach myself more advanced grammar (they would not let me have a copy of the workbook), and get into the teacher's routine. I will then create a midterm study guide.</p>

<p>3.) AP Stats: I will borrow the textbook, read the entire thing, complete the summer assignment, and complete outlines.
Along with taking the class, I will purchase the Barron's book and make sure everything aligns for the exam.</p>

<p>4.) APUSH: Immediately complete the summer assignment, finish the other half of the book, practice multiple choice and short answers, do the blue book packets. Make a midterm study guide.</p>

<p>5.) AP Physics: I will only find more advanced problems since I self-study physics for fun, make flashcards and make this spectacular fun binder with outlines that contain some funny and artistic stuff (I am such a nerd). </p>

<p>6.) AP Lang: I have read the majority of the books on the syllabus so I will get used to AP terminology and paper formats / styles of writing. I think it may be a good idea to read the remaining books.</p>

<p>7.) Honors Pre-Calculus: I'll just finish the textbook and take notes. Then I'll do the problems of some SAT math level 2 subject test booklet, so I won't have to re-do any homework (though I did screenshot the teacher's assignments...)</p>

<p>8.) Passions- I will continue to self study several languages. Should I take subject tests and AP exams to prove that I actually know different languages?</p>

<p>9.) SATs- study during the school year and during the summer as well. I will used Xiggi's method + I am taking a semester course called Word Derivation and Etymology. </p>

<p>Is this a good plan? Will I be fine? I just need to take care of things ahead of time since my situation is different. I don't have the time or money to play tennis, run phenomenally in track, or start 10,000 clubs. Do I have a chance? My GC says I should look into Questbridge. But I am kinda boring...so... Happy Summer everybody! B)</p>

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<p>You be fine. It’s more about of the dedication during the school year and time management, but by the tone of your post you’re a highly motivated student :slight_smile: </p>

<p>“I won’t need to sleep much during the summer” Lol get some rest too, the summer is the one time you can relax a bit. I think finishing all the textbooks prior to class seems to be a bit of a stretch. SAT subject tests, while great proof that you can speak fluently, you should know with certain langauges (spanish and the asian languages in particular) the curve is highly skewed due to a large amount of native speakers taking it. If it is one of those, I’d just get up to a certain level of fluency for your own sake or put it on your app if you feel comfortable in saying you are fluent in that language.</p>

<p>Getting a job will definitely show responsibility in the college’s eyes if you decide to do that over the summer. Again, perhaps you are a different student than I am, but I was pretty ambitious over the summer, perhaps overly so that I wasn’t able to get all my stuff done, so make sure you prioritize based off what is most important. Like finishing the textbook and studying for APs I would not place as high as doing your assigned work and your SATs.</p>

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<p>@shawnspencer Thank you for the great insight! I am studying some Asian languages on my own as well as Spanish in school. However, I was speaking more along the lines of Russian, Arabic,German, and French as well. I guess I’ll have to just put them on my application. </p>

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<p>Well I know German and French have their own subject tests, but I wouldn’t learn them just for the sake of taking the subject test. They can take a while to master and many people have been studying them for a couple of years in high school. Neither of those are nearly as skewed as spanish or some of the eastern asian languages though. If you have a knack for learning languages there’s nothing to stop you!</p>