Hello everyone. So I’ve made 5 possible schedules for my junior year, but I’m not sure which would be my best option. I want to get my gpa up from a pretty low number, but also be impressive and rigorous. I’m not sure if I want to be a psychiatrist, dentist, vet, or animal physical therapist…but definitely something in health. Here are the options, please just give me your opinion on which you would choose or what I could do; thanks so much!!
1 AP US History
Pre-calc
Physics honors/or regular
AP English
Spanish 4 Honors
Vet science
Animal science
2
AP English
Pre-calc
Vet science
Animal science
Spanish 4 Honors
Ap Environmental Science
AP Us History
3
AP English
Pre-calc
Vet science
Animal science
Spanish 4 Honors
AP Biology
4
AP English
Pre-calc
Vet science
Animal science
Spanish 4 Honors
AP Statistics
Human Physiology
5
AP English
Pre-calc
Vet science
Animal science
Spanish 4 Honors
AP Psychology
Some other class, maybe AP Us history
p.s. I have to do hw for AP enviro so it would be nice to know now…as well as AP USH, but I’ve finished most of the work (not a big deal if I don’t end up taking the class, I can just take it senior year) except for the extension of my notes.
The best schedule would have AP English, APUSH, physics (preferably honors), Precalculus (preferably honors), Spanish4 H, then whatever you like.
I know…but I’m really not amazing at math and having those two difficult math classes in one year seems a little difficult for me no matter how much prep I do. And I don’t want my GPA to struggle anymore than it already is…
Then take precalculus and physics non honors.
What colleges are you aiming for and what field /majors are you thinking of?
I’m really hoping for either Arizona State U Barrett (honors college), Syracuse (my mom went there), NC State, William & Mary (extreme reach), UC Boulder or Cornell, but I still have some research to do…but my GPA is only 3.3 W so I really have to pull myself together (it was because my mom passed away and I couldn’t focus in school). I want to do something in health. Currently I’m looking at psychology, dentistry, and pre-vet/animal science…but not 100% sure exactly which direction I want to go just yet.
You really need to take physics (even regular) then. Precalculus and physics regular plus the rest of the schedule above (AP English, history), Spanish 4H plus either animal science or human physiology would be the best pick.
What state do you live in?
Have you run the NPC for all of these and discussed results with your parents?
You’ll be OOS for most if the colleges you listed - you need a few colleges instate. Also, prehealth at smaller colleges where weeding is minimal would likely be better for you if you are serious about health. Health graduate programs don’t care what college you’re from but how high you rank at your particular college. That needs to be balanced with what support you get there - so, aiming for a college with a lot of personal attention or an honors program would be preferable.
Forget W&M with a 3.3 weighted (even unweighted it’d be out if reach).
So, rather than NCSU, App state or UNC Asheville, or even better one of the smaller colleges in the state.
I live in Connecticut. So there’s Quinnipiac here…but that’s definitely not my first pick. I know that OOS is expensive hit with grants and scholarships my dad says he can definitely afford some of it plus my savings account and loans would help. I just hate that because of a few grades due to a hard time in my life will poorly impact where I can go to college. Not fair lol. But yeah I know smaller schools are a choice too. I’m still doing my research, and I still need to take the SAT & ACT so that’ll help too.
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom. I think if you can incorporate this difficult time in your life into your essays, admissions will take that into consideration. Good luck to you.
For loans, you can take 5.5k for freshman year.
If your EFC is below 5,000 you’ll get a Pell Grant ($5,000 max). Whatever money you save from a job and whatever your dad can set aside for you will help.
In Connecticut, excellent universities include Connecticut College and Trinity College, both of which have excellent financial aid and prehealth support, and they’re more holistic than public universities. (Theyre more prestigious than Quinipiac and have bwtter resources hence betrer aid. However they may be hard to get into.) Check out Eastern Connecticut. Connecticut is in new England and thus UMaine is the same cost as UConn. Wheaton Ma may be a good choice?
Run the NPC on all of them. Grants and scholarships primarily come from the college so running the NPC is very important.
Smaller schools are also more likely to take your tragedy into account and if you prep and score high on the SAT/act it’ll reassure then you CAN do the work.
Yes, I will definitely put that occurrence into my essay as it shaped who I am today…thanks so much 
@MYOS1634 thanks for all the help. I’ll sit down with my dad, as well as my guidance counselor and discuss my options. I’m certainly going to apply to reach schools also because I’m a very intelligent person, it’s just that my grades aren’t reflecting that at the moment. I’m going to prep hard for the college entrances tests so I can impress with that and hopefully an upward trend. So physics next year, then?