What should I work on junior year to get into a good college?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm a sophomore (actually I'm officially done with sophomore year), but I'm a bit worried about getting into a good college. This year wasn't a good year for me. </p>

<p>I'd like suggestions on what I need to work on to get into UF, UCF, or UM, and also some suggestions on reach schools. I want to major in Biology (I'm really interested in marine biology) or Aerospace/Ocean Engineering.</p>

<p>Some stats:</p>

<p>-I go to an very competitive public high school in Florida.
-I'm a white male.</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.5
W GPA: 3.7 (should go up after semester grades close)</p>

<p>7th grade:
-Spanish 1 (B/B)</p>

<p>8th grade:
-Spanish 2 (B/C)
-Algebra 1 Honors (B/C)</p>

<p>9th grade:
-Spanish 3 (A/A)
-Geometry (A/A)
-English 1 Honors (A/A)
-Biology 1 Honors (A/A)
-World History Honors (A/A)
-Computer Graphics (A/A)
-Personal Fitness (A)
-Journalism 1 (A/B)</p>

<p>10th grade:
-Algebra 2 Honors (A/A)
-Precalculus Honors (C/A)
-English 2 Honors (A/B)
-Chemistry 1 Honors (A/C)
-AP U.S. History (B/B)
-AP U.S. Government (A)
-Law Studies (B)
-Drawing and Painting 1 (A/A)</p>

<p>11th grade schedule:
-AP Calculus BC
-AP English Lang
-AP Biology
-AP Macroeconomics
-AP Microeconomics
-Art 2D/3D
-Drawing 1 (at a CC)
-Oceanography (CC)
-Painting 1 (CC)
-Statistics (CC)</p>

<p>I'm going to try my best to get all A's junior year....</p>

<p>AP Scores:
-US Govt (predicted 5)
-US History (predicted 4)</p>

<p>ECs:
Mu Alpha Theta
National Art Honor Society
Varsity Tennis Team (8th and 9th grade)
Over 100 hours of volunteering
Journalism Club</p>

<p>I know I don't have alot of EC's, sohat should I do in that area? My art work is pretty good - I'm thinking about entering some of my pieces in art contests. Would that help? I also love to write.</p>

<p>My PSAT scores weren't too good. Last October I got a 171....mainly because of the CR section. I got a 62 in writing and a 60 in math. I'll try the ACT and SAT next year and go from there.</p>

<p>Mainly I just want to get into UF. Right now though, I don't think my stats are good enough for out-of-state schools...but any suggestions on good Bio and Engineering colleges and areas I need to work on?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

2

<p>First off, I think you might kill yourself junior year. Junior year is the most rigorous and time-consuming year of your high school career, and taking all those classes and struggling to get all A's may/may not be realistic.</p>

<p>I'd say allocate one of the AP econ classes and set it aside for senior year. Also, if you got a C in Chem and thought it was hard, consider how hard taking AP Bio is--a subject that does encompass much of chemistry. I'm not saying you can't handle it, because considering your grades you probably can; it just might take some more out-of-the-classroom time than you'd expect for an A.</p>

<p>Be honest with your weaknesses and strengths and question whether you can really keep up with all those classes, sacrifice time possibly spent having fun and socializing for settling down and studying, and your level of procastination. I also told myself I'd get all A's in the beginning of my junior year, but you can't pretend not to have your weak habits forever 0_0</p>

<p>Take up some officer positions in your ECs that you're passionate about (president, captain, secretary, etc. of journalism club) Art contest awards would be an app. booster. If the SAT isn't for you, study for the ACT--a lot of people say the ACT is easier, although colleges weigh the both the same in admissions. STUDY EARLY AND HARD! That's the number one thing. Studying 2months+ ahead of time would pretty much guarentee you a 5+ point jump than you would've otherwise. </p>

<p>The hardest thing about junior year is time management. Get a good planner, some organizational tools and stick with them. </p>

<p>In the summer, keep volunteering and do some ECs that you're passionate about. Starting your own volunteering project during the summer and raising money on your own with some friends is also very impressive. This summer, take advantage of volunteering opportunities, go to some scholars camp, etc. JUST DO SOMETHING :)</p>

<p>Just pretend to be a college admissions officer and think about how they would look at your current progress. But overall, I think you're doing pretty good at this point, no real major reason why your prospective schools would reject you now.</p>

<p>Most of all, do things as a high schooler you wouldn't IMAGINE other students doing...those students that look beyond their horizons to do extroardinary things (win a national scholarship contest, raise money for starving children in guatamala, being the student rep. on your school's board or the only one, etc) are the ones Adcoms know are open-minded enough to change the world.</p>

3

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>It's not that I'm bad at chemistry....it's that I did absolutely no homework for that class. :D</p>

<p>The beginning of the year was really hard for me because I had to deal with the workload of my first AP class. Within weeks, I had a D in AP US History. I had an A in everything else. Then I tried to focus my attention on History, so I got a C in precalc and B's in some other classes. </p>

<p>The same type of thing happened second semester because I was introduced to another time consuming AP class: US Govt. I never experienced such a huge workload in my life. I was forced to do about 10 page outlines for History and Govt every week, along with other busywork. Consequently, I had to cut down on the time I spent studying and working on homework for other classes.</p>

<p>By looking at my grades, you wouldn't be able to tell that I'm actually very good at math/science. I could get away passing those classes by acing tests and quizzes. I had to spend all my other time on history and govt.</p>

<p>As far as junior year, I'll be only be taking seven classes at once....community college classes being semester long. We have to take seven classes, unfortunately. I'd love to take Oceanography and of course some more art classes. Art classes hardly require much outside work/homework...so I'm not too worried there. I am a little scared about Calculus, English, and the econs. However, it's too late to change my schedule now. My guidance counselor said I could handle it, but I don't know.... </p>

<p>The only issue I'd have next year is with procrastinating in classes. I know the econ and calc teacher. He's teaches both of them and he's probably one of the best calc teachers in my county. He used to teach at Yale and he loves teaching econ too. Homework in those classes won't be difficult. He said his homework in calc and econ should each take no longer than 30 minutes.</p>

<p>AP Bio is up in the air. We're getting a new teacher for that class. I have no clue how tough the class will be, so I can't foreshadow anything in that area. All I know is that I'm extremely good at Bio. I'm hoping that my innate ability in that area will help me out. Otherwise, it once again all comes down to my work ethic.</p>

<p>I'm not a very good standardized test taker. I ran out of time in the CR section of the PSAT. I'm not fast with tests whatsoever. That's one thing I need to work on somehow. I bought review books for the SAT and ACT, and I'm going to study both of them over the summer. The ACT looks easier to me, but I heard that you have to be really fast on it in order to finish in time. We'll see about that.....</p>

<p>I guess for EC's I'm going to work on trying to win some art contests or writing contests. This year I volunteered at the school in which my mom works. Next year I might try volunteering at a zoo or something. Or I could work with the FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission) because they have alot of opportunities for volunteering.</p>

<p>This summer I'm taking 2 online classes: Physics Honors and Life Management Skills. I hope colleges will like that - it definitely shows responsibility, if anything. Maybe college admission officers will think I went the extra mile by taking classes over the summer?</p>

<p>Something I would really like to get involved in is wildlife conservation....like maybe starting a program for restoring the Indian River Lagoon? Would that set me apart? I'm trying to think of anything I can do that will set me apart. lol</p>

<p>Keep the ideas coming though!</p>