What can I improve on?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Boston University
1

<p>Location: New York City
Ethnicity: Asian</p>

<p>GPA: 92 unweighted, 98 weighted
Rank: about top 15% out of around 460ish
SAT: 2000 (760M, 690W, 550CR)
SATII: 760 Math 2c, 720 Physics
AP Physics AB - 4, AP Calc AB - 5 (Expected)</p>

<p>Frehsman Grades:
English 1H - 95, English 2H - 87
Global 1H - 90, Global 2H - 94
Math A1 - 96, Math A2 - 98
Bio 1 - 80, Bio 2 - 86
Spanish 1 - 90, Spanish 2 - 96
Chorus 1 - 97, Chorus 2 - 98
Intro to the Enviro. - 93, Intro to the Urb Enviro. - 98
Gym - 90</p>

<p>Sophomore Grades: [Here is where MOST of my grades drop BADLY]
English 3 - 83, English 4 - 70
Global 3 - 94, Global 4 - 95
Math A3 - 99, Math B1 - 100
Chem 1 - 92, Chem 2 - 95
Spanish 3 - 90, Spanish 4 - 85
Orchestra 1 - 98, Orchestra 2 - 98
Gym - 90</p>

<p>Junior Grades: [Here is where MOST of my grades go back up]
English 5 - 95, English 6 - 98
US History - 95, US History - 96
Math B2 - 99, Math B3 - 100
AP Physics B - 91, AP Physics B 94
Spanish 5 - 90, Spanish 6 - 94
Adv. Orch 1 - 98, Adv. Orch 2 - 98</p>

<p>Senior Classes:
AP Calc AB
Health/Ethics
US Gov’t/Economics
Art
Gym
Lunch</p>

<p>EC’s:
-violin-3 years (10,11,12)
-Math Team-3 years (10,11,12)-won a few first place trophies at local math competitions against a few other schools in the city.
-Internship at YMCA through my school (10) - completed 120 community service hours tutoring kindergarteners at a public elementary school, and received the best legacy award.
-Member of NSHSS (10,11,12) - National Society Of High School Scholars
-YMCA Tech Teens (10) - constructed a website <a href=“http://www.yteensnyc.org%5B/url%5D”>www.yteensnyc.org</a>
-YMCA Leaders Club (10,11,12) - did some more community service (100+ hours each year)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
-SYEP (summer after my freshman year) -Summer Youth Employment Program - worked 25 hrs a week for 7 weeks tutoring 4th graders at a public elementary school.
-SYEP (summer after my Junior year) - Summer Youth Employment Program - worked 25 hrs a week for 7 weeks in a local hospital.</p>

<p>I don’t know where this belongs but I took a College Course at Baruch College after my Junior Year. Will this help?</p>

<p>I will have a good essay and a very good rec from my math team advisor. Is 1 rec enough?</p>

<p>I will be majoring in Mathematics/Statistics.</p>

<p>I am applying to CAS ED. Would BU be a match/reach/safety? If it’s a match/reach, what can I improve on to gaurantee a safety?</p>

2

<p>Please suggest things that are possible to do. And don't say get 2400 SATI and 800 SATII's or stuff like that.</p>

3

<p>I'd say that you're in. I don't think you have to do anything.</p>

4

<p>im new to this forum and a sophmore in high school so i wanted to ask if 2 ap courses is really enough for him to get in?</p>

5

<p>It's probably enough to get into BU.</p>

6

<p>Are you 100% sure? Because I am thinking about applying to 2 schools only: one of which is BU, and the other is SUNY-StonyBrook.</p>

<p>If I self-studied AP Stats my Junior year and get a 5 on the AP Exam in May, will that do anything?</p>

7

<p>2 APs can be enough considering some schools (especially if on a block schedule) have scheduling that doesn't allow much flexibility so if you are needing to schedule a language or other specific courses and that is why you only took 2 APs courses then say that in the part of the application that gives you a chance to clarify anything not covered. </p>

<p>Your GPA and scores are more important than the APs although strength of curriculum is looked at very seriously at all schools. AP Calculus is defintely one of the more challenging AP courses and colleges know that so that may help. BU looks like a match for you but in these times the whole concept of match or sure bet is arbitrary.
Are you taking the SAT one more time? If so, remember they all take the highest composite so if you go up in 1 or 2 of the sections that will help boost your scores. Your SAT 2s are impressive especially in Physics. Did you try the ACTtoo.?</p>

<p>Please apply to more than two schools since you never know--unless you are applying ED to BU.</p>

8

<p>My guidance counselor and I had a talk about this. And no, after the conversation I do not believe 2 APs are enough. A lot of colleges, especially the more competitve ones.. will look and say "If he/she got an A in regular history, then why didn't they go for the challenge and take the AP course?" I personally have 6 APs and I did well in all of them. My GC showed how BU's trends are increasing in terms of people's transcripts, so I really don't know for you.. your SATs sound fine.</p>

9

<p>They take into account how many APs are offered though so keep that in mind. A school that offers 7 and you take 2 is different than a school that offers 20 and you take 2. I am assuming if he/she doesn't take AP than he/she takes Hoors level not the regular class. You make a good point so maybe the OP can ad one for second semester. I still think the profile overall looks good unless these are not Honors level. 12th grade looks light so if you can ad something second semester that can go on your application which you'll complete prior to starting the course.</p>

10

<p>My school offers 8 AP's I think. I should have taken 3 out of them. They are really tough man... for me. I also have taken a few honors classes, but not a lot. Just maybe 2-3.</p>