my classes aren’t that hard, due to scheduling problems (we only have certain class orders you can go by). But my first semester sounds some what tough but I really don’t know my limit. I only have one AP next year (again, that’s the way my schedule is stuck with), but i managed (with much effort), to land in a honors anatomy class. 
it’s honors…does that even help?? in our school, honors doesn’t count as much as ap or Ib. 
so thats going to bring my gpa down even if i make straight As right?
oh, back to topic, what should i focus on during my sophomore year?! other than grades…and i already volunteer at a hospital…but i would like to have more stand out volunteerings other than the typical hospital…and library (urg.) is volunteering at the library any help at all? it’s so tedious, and im afraid it’s going to sound like a vlunteering for the volunteering’s sake…
AIDE MOI!
<p>plus, i have no clue what i want to major in or want to do with my life, OTHER than gonig to a top college... :/ so my activities arent really pointed in one direction, and that concerns me..should i be concerned? it's not my fault that i don't know what i want to be right?!?!</p>
<p>ahh! with each passing second, im losing faith in my self.. :( i don't know if i will even make it into semi.mini.ivy :(((</p>
<p>take the most difficult classes you can, work hard for good grades; continue volunteering @ the hospital & library (rack of lotsa hours); start doing some ECs in your school - debate, sports, music, whatever; next summer, go to some type of summer program, sports or music camps, take community college classes, or some other program (most colleges offer summer programs for high schoolers, also look into Junior State of America)</p>
<p>thank you! :) i already am on a sports team, and on the soph class office, but im aiming for student council and definitely more clubs (is there any preferance to which club to join?). </p>
<p>Im really interested about the summer program, but does community college's course count into your gpa and such?!? surely it is not a weighted course?!?! I don't know much about how the community course works :) and it be nice if you elaborate. thankx</p>
<p>Yay! Another rising sophomore! </p>
<p>At my school, some kids take summer school to get the prerequisites for a class (like taking precalc over the summer so they can go to AP calc the next yr). Doing this hurts the weighted GPA since these classes aren't honors or GT. That's how it works here, at least.</p>
<p>Maybe try getting a job? Or tutoring?</p>
<p>oh, but for our school, precal is counted as weighted.. but is it worth it? hurting your gpa to go for a AP? Your class rank drops as well doesn't it?</p>
<p>^.^ i will certainly get a job, as soon as i turn 16, because no one trusts "immature" 15 year olds, pfft. and our school does this tutoring program, and you can join once your a rising junior.. so i REALLY want to do something significant for sophomore year, since i had a rather weak freshman year, but i have no idea.</p>
<p>what's EC?</p>
<p>build on your EC's! and start preparing for PSATs/SATs.. i know that i didn't really do much SAT studying until mid-junior year (something that i really regretted when i received my scores). also, be useful during your summer vacations (internships, jobs, programs, camp counselor, etc)</p>
<p>THANK YOU! :D althought i already know some of the above, but they are still very helpful, since it made a confirmation that i should definitely focus of sat. :) i have already started, but you know...halfheartedly, think i still have two more years ahead...but then again, it's really just one more year.</p>
<p>The selective colleges care most about applicants having taken the most difficult curriculum offered, then gpa/rank, and then standardized test scores. After you qualify on those points, they look at EC's, essays and recommendations. They try to get a feel for the total person. You need the academics to qualify, but after that you need a "hook" at the extremely selective schools to actually get in. (Large public schools are more numbers driven and may not even require an essay.)</p>
<p>Adcoms want to see "passion" in one or two EC's rather than just a list of activities. Try to package/market your EC's that way. </p>
<p>You have plenty of time, but the best way to prepare for the verbal SAT is to read. The best way to prepare for the writing SAT is to practice writing. The best way to prepare for the math SAT is to take practice tests from the prep guides. Try to read in your spare time.</p>
<p>Also, be thinking about the type of college that you want to go to. Do you want urban/rural/suburban, private/public, university/LAC, large/small/midsize? Do you care about the political atmosphere on campus, or the part of fraternities/sororities in social life, or whether the school has a Division 1 team? You can visit college campuses that are nearby just to get a feel for the different types of schools even though you may have no attention of applying there. Don't get too hung up on the prestige factor. It is way, way to early to know if you can get into HYPSM. However, only the top 10 or 15 schools are absolutely insanely hard to get into. Getting into any of the top 10 schools is more of a lottery at times than a rational selection process. If you want it to happen, then maybe it will, but don't think that all schools are that hard to be accepted to. </p>
<p>Good job so far.</p>
<p>Hmmm, people here seem to leave out a lot of important things</p>
<p>I advise the following for you:
ENJOY YOUR TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL! </p>
<p>Keep up your grades and remain involved, but have a good time, especially in your sophmore year
Don't lose sight of enjoying your high school years by being wrapped up in anticipating college admissions</p>
<p>Try to get involved with many things at your school, not just so you can write them down, but so that you can see what you're interested in, since you don't seem to have much idea what you want to do. Don't stay in clubs you hate, and try to find a few to really commit to. Do some sort of research online to figure out what sort of career you want and what sort of school you want.</p>
<p>Have fun! Sophomore year is the calm before the storm of junior year.</p>
<p>Sophomore year is the calm before the storm of junior year.</p>
<p>very well put. and thank you ALL especially dufus3709 for taking the time to help me out. :) i know how writing is important, and i absolutely suck at it...i really don't have much grammar sense :( im not native, and i had pretty much, bad english teachers all the way... except for...yeah i had it bad all the way...</p>
<p>how important writing is*</p>
<p>Writing is important no matter what you do in life because it is the way that you communicate your ideas to others and convince others to do things your way. Besides that, writing can be a source of pleasure.</p>
<p>When you start out writing, you start by forming words into sentences. Then you have to learn to form sentences into paragraphs. Then you have to learn to form paragraphs into papers. The structure can continue all the way up to novels although most people never get that far.</p>
<p>Most sophomores are at the forming sentences into paragraphs stage, and so you are not that far behind. The way to learn how to write is by actually writing. Try getting a SAT prep book and copying down the writing topic questions, or you could get a book on sample essay questions for colleges. At any rate, just write for practice. I'm sure you also get some practice in your classes.</p>
<p>Since this forum is about college admissions, let me concentrate on the effect of writing on that subject. There is the SAT I Writing section, the admissions essay, and your ability to write will affect all of your grades and your teacher recommendations. </p>
<p>Life is not totally about getting into college. The only purpose of getting into a college is to go somewhere where you can have fun and learn. You seem to be very future oriented. I would recommend that you do a lot of extra reading and practice writing in the same way that someone might practice drawing or painting. And of course, the extra reading will greatly help your SAT I verbal score.</p>
<p>yeah, I used to be a habitual reader, however I dropped it in the past year..or two. So now, Im having a bit of a trouble comprehending the context in some literature books, and I realize how far behind I am on vocabularies. -_-' no worries, I have already started memorizing some vocabs, and most of them show up in books, and that's a great way to help me memorize them ^.^</p>
<p>still i find writing very deficult. Not to mention i only have 25 mins. When i try to get my thoughts through quickly, my grammar and spelling is a mess. Plus, my parents aren't native either, so they can't correct my essays... T-T what to do?</p>
<p>Try finding people in your school (ie: english teachers) who can look over things that you write... or, you don't even have to confine yourself to school - do you known any adults that your parents are friends with who might be able to help you out?
Also, it's really great that you are going into sophomore year with the right frame of mind. The fact that you are really focused on doing well shows. One word of caution: do not get yourself involved in too many things for the sake of having things on your college list. It is best to be an *ss kicker in a few things than simply "involved" in a few. Make the hospital and library volunteer work into something special that can set you apart... and GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>oh your too sweet :) as for my parent's friends...im too intimidated to approach them..</p>
<p>I will try the sophomore english teacher :) (freshman year's teacher was such a sweet lady but a poor teacher). :D thanx, I will try to dedicate my time into something, and make it last. originally, i was planning on joining all those clubs, so it will give an "oh yeah, im involved" impression...but thanks for changing my mind :)</p>
<p>wow, it sends a e-mail everytime some replies..sweet.</p>