Will I Get Into a Good University? Any Suggestions for Schools and Advice?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,

Lately, I have been thinking about college and wondered if I am going to get into a decent college. I want to major in nursing and become a RN. I prefer a university on the east coast that is a few hours away from my home in New Jersey, such as Temple University or NYU, aka my dream school. I prefer an urban setting because I don’t think I will have a car. I am currently a sophomore in high school in the middle of my last marking period and so far, I took two AP courses, as well as all honors courses availble to me. I plan on taking more! If I get similar grades like the grades I recieved in freshman and sophomore year and continue my extracirricular activities, what are my chances of getting into a good university? What schools should I look at/visit (safety schools and reach schools are welcome)? My guidance counselor says that I am doing extremely well, and I do not agree? Maybe not extremely well, but better than others. I already know I do not have a shot at Ivy Leagues (haha).

In freshman year, I got an A+ in band, A in gym, A in world literature (honors), A in french 2, A- in history (honors), B+ in geometry (honors), B+ in chemistry (honors), and B in physics (AP)

In sophomore year, I plan on getting an A+ in band, A+ in american literature I (honors), A in gym, A or A+ in french 3 (honors) A- in us history 1 (honors), A- in algebra 2 (honors), B in biology (honors), and a C+, B-, or B in chemistry (AP)

I did not pass the AP Physics exam, but I plan on passing the AP Chemistry exam with a 3.

For the next four years, I plan to continue being a volunteer at my local hospital (have been since freshman year), being a member of the marching band and becoming a historian, manager, or section leader by senior year, being a member of the academic decathlon team and recieving awards, judge on JV debate team (hopefully varsity soon), and being a player on the varsity tennis team.

I am a part of NEHS and WLHS and plan to be a part of NHS and Tri-MHS. Maybe NSHS and NMHS but I’m not really sure about that yet.

In my next two years of high school, I plan to be a part of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program, Quiz Bowl team (trivia club), varsity bowling team, Peer Transitions Program (role model for incoming freshmen), Action Team (volunteering club… hopefully I will serve as president, VP, treasurer, or historian by senior year), and Peer Tutoring Program.

Out of 329 people, I am currently #27 with a weighted GPA of 4.4 and an unweighted GPA of 3.6. I am in the top 10% of my grade.

On the new PSAT, I scored a 1040 (54 on critical reading and writing, 500 on math) and on the old PSAT I took in freshman year, I scored a 49 on math and writing and a 44 on reading. I plan to take the ACT and SAT in junior year. I am starting SAT prep classes in the summer.

Also, now you know how I am academically, what are your tips to improve myself? Any answer is great! I can take constructive criticism. Thanks!

2

Is there a college or community college nearby ? U can take college classes during the summer, and these will usually count towards. your college degree. Make sure they are not in the same subjects in which you are taking AP classes, because they may be redundant. Each college has its own policy on what classes they grant credit for the various scores on each AP test.

3

Congrats on getting started on this process. You are asking all the right questions. The big variable is money…have u talked to your parents about how much money they plan on contributing to your college education? Prices for colleges vary widely, so your options will be somewhat decided by what is affordable.

Some financial aid is determined by your parents’ wealth, and other aid will depend largely on your grades and ACT or SAT test scores. Talk to your guidance counselor about financial aid.

4

What I have noticed the last couple years is that direct admit to nursing in schools like the flagships/good state schools and selective privates are very SAT/ACT score dependent. Those programs are very very small and extremely competitive. For example Northeastern only admits about 70 students and UMASS Amherst, a huge school, has only 110 students in their direct admit nursing. So with your scores unless you improve dramatically I doubt you can get admitted to any of the “selective” nursing schools. However and that is very very important for you to understand there are many schools that offer nursing degrees and many paths to become a nurse. So you might not get in what you right now define “good” nursing school but you can get in other nursing schools that offer equally good nursing degrees and get the exact same job that students from the “selective” schools get. There is a forum in CC for nursing major, you can spend some time and read the posts there. And of course ask your parents about finances now and how much they are willing/can contribute to your college tuition. That is very important to know when you craft your college list. Hopefully, you will find out that the definition of “good college” is very relative.
Academically, I see that every year you are doubling in sciences but your grades are lower than the other subjects. I wonder if next year you do not double, or take an easy science/hard science class might give you time to study more in the one hard science you choose. Not sure what is allowed in your high school or your schedule but do not try to get all possible science classes just to prove that you are science oriented and have your grades suffer. Just my opinion. And yes if you can spend some time to improve your score that would serve you well both in getting in more selective schools AND/OR getting better scholarships in schools that offer them. But do not get disheartened if the scores do not improve dramatically. You can still find a path.

5

Thank you so much for the advice

6

Thank you so much for the advice. The thought about taking classes at a community college during the summer has not crossed my mind, but I will consider it! Yes, I have asked them and I’m relying on financial aid in the form of student loans and scholarships a lot for college. My family is quite average in terms of wealth, but we do not have as much as other average households.

7

Also, I will definitely look at the nursing forum. I plan on going to a school that is less to somewhat selective, and I define a “good nursing school” as just a university that offers nursing, I guess. Like I said, I don’t really know much about all of this yet :)) . My family is quite average in terms of wealth, but we do not have as much as other average households and I plan to be involved with student loans and scholarships. Next year, I am not doubling in science because my school district has whoever they consider as advanced kids take physics in eighth grade, chemistry in ninth grade, and finish off with biology in tenth grade. I am taking an easy science course next year about the dynamics of healthcare. Additionally, I plan on improving my grades next year and try to get straight A’s and I haven’t in such a long time. In my school, we don’t really practice for the PSAT’s because they look at it as a test to practice for the real SAT, and I feel like that plays some part into my PSAT scores. On my SAT’s, I will definitely spend time preparing for it. Again, thank you for taking the time to write these pieces of advice for me!

8

Can you take AP bio and no other science next year?
NYU is usually NOT an easy university to afford. If you spend some time in CC you see many threads discussing this.

9

I have talked to my parents about NYU and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we can afford it since they are apparently not so big on financial aid so I guess being an NYU student will always stay a dream! I was thinking about taking AP bio, but I am not sure! At my school, we file course requests and it is due in two weeks, so I have time to think about it. I understand that I sound completely clueless right now but that’s why I just joined CC! I plan on using this often, especially in junior year.