What are my chances of getting into a good college?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Below is a brief summary of my high school career so far. I am currently a sophomore in the second quarter of high school. Now, I understand that my grades are bad, like really bad, but is there still a chance of me getting into a good (like really good) college in the future? Like I said earlier, my grades are bad, but if you would look at the classes I’m taking, they’re pretty advanced. Right now I am taking six APs, and I’m involved in many different extracurricular activities (I only included the ones in school). Hopefully in the future, my grades will turn out to be a lot better than they are now (as in all As). Also I am doing IB for my 11 and 12 grade years. I feel like I take hard classes, and have extracurriculars, but my grades suck so much that it wouldn’t matter either way. But back to my earlier question, do you think if I were to better my grades that I’d get into a good college into the future? The Ivy Leagues were my goal when I started high school, but do you think I could still get in? A goal school for me would be Stanford or Berkely because I want to go into medicine. Please let me know! Thanks to anyone who responds!

Freshman Year:
Chemistry H: A, B, B, A
Ceramics/ Orchestra: A, A, A, A
Biology H: A, A, A, A
Math 1 H/ Math 2 H: A, A-, A, A
Language Arts 9 H Adv: A, A, C, A
Human Geography AP: A, A-, B-, B-
Spanish 3: A, A-, B-, A-
Debate: A, A, A, A

Activities:
Track
Debate
Mock Trial

Sophomore Year:
AP Chemistry: A
AP Calculus A.B.: C+
AP Physics 1: B
AP Biology: A
AP Government and Politics: A
AP Psychology: B- (might change to an A)
Spanish 4H: A
Language Arts 10H Adv: A

Activities:
Tennis
Debate
Mock Trial
DECA
HOSA
Science Club
FBLA (maybe)
Hospital Helpers
Golf (maybe)

2

Hello there! I’m a freshman, so I can’t say much but I’ll say this: You gotta improve your grades. I also take advanced classes just like you, however I try to maintain an A in those classes. It doesn’t help that you take so much advanced classes, get mediocre grades in them, and try to juggle like 5 clubs without getting a specific leadership position/ feel of commitment towards them. If I were you, I would drop a few of the clubs that I was doing, pick 2 or 3 to really commit and focus on, and maintain grades as best as I can. Remember, grades are first, ec’s are 2nd. If you have inferior grades to other students applying for schools like Harvard, John Hopkins, UCLA, Berkely, etc., then it doesn’t help your admission because admission officers first look at grades/ SAT scores, it’s the first round of admission. If your grades are inferior, they will just toss your application without even considering your wonderful EC’s. Therefore, GRADES ARE IMPORTANT, they’re not everything, but nobody gets in Stanford/UCLA with inferior GPA’s. If its necesary, CUT DOWN ON THE AP’s! Retake courses if you can! Find some way to fix your GPA in the past or future. Don’t take more advanced classes if you can’t handle the rigor. Taking IB when you can’t handle AP is a horrible idea. For EC’S, don’t just be on the tennis team, advance into JV or Varsity and then become captain! You have to find your own passions yourself and thrive in them. It’s no use if you go to like 6 different clubs and gain nothing from it. Focus on 2 or 3 clubs you really like go all out on them. But back to your question. If you better your grades, then you have a very slim chance of getting in. Im not sure if you’re allowed to retake courses that you didn’t get a good grade in, but if you can, do it! Once you rebuilt your grades, start maintaining a steady balance and focus on your EC’s. That’s all I’ll have to say.

3

Geez. You took THAT many AP classes your sophomore year?!! You’ll be fine, since most “good” schools look at course rigor. I don’t know about the Ivy League, but you should be able to get into one of the more selective UCs. Also, you’re a sophomore. Relax.