Will mediocre Sophomore grades hurt me?

<p>are you sure you want to take all those AP classes?</p>

<p>is 3 in one year really that much?</p>

<p>my schedule for next year is:</p>

<p>AP English
AP Chem
AP Calc AB
Regular US History 2
French 5</p>

<p>and then I have PE, Photography, and Orchestra.</p>

<p>Might change Calc AB to Calc BC and AP Chem to AP Physics C though. But it's not that many AP's, is it?</p>

<p>Yes, that helps. That should put you around a 2000-2100 conservatively. Matches (50/50 or better) would be schools such as U of R, Brandeis, BU, Vandy, Macalester, Colby, Case. Reasonable reaches (assuming good junior/senior grades and SAT II's) might be CMU (depending on the college), Vasser, Wesleyan, USC, U of Chicago (if you can write). </p>

<p>Be careful of public schools you are out of state for - UNC - Chapel Hill, VA and the many of the UC's are more of a stretch than the composite (in and out of state) stats indicate. </p>

<p>For the record - my son's PSAT was 195, SAT + Writing ended up at 2240, 13% at a public school know one's heard of - he's at Chicago now and having the time of his life. So ... don't give up!</p>

<p>thanks so much for the help ohio_mom. i started sat tutoring a few months ago, and i've already been seeing improvements. i did well in the math section (77), but poorly in the english sections. the one that includes critical reading i got i believe a 54, but i've been doing a lot of stuff that's definately helping and then a 60 something in writing.</p>

<p>and i'm from nj, so the only decent public colleges are rugers and tcnj. the one college that i've always wanted to go to is upenn, but since i want to do business i seriously doubt i stand a very good chance.</p>

<p>and congrats to your son for getting into chicago, it's an amazing school!</p>

<p>Can you take Honors english next year and AP senior year? That, and AP Calc AB and Chemistry should be fine as a junior.</p>

<p>well i was going to do ap english language next year and ap english lit as a senior (i believe that's the order)....so is that ok, or would you recommend doing honors english anyways next year</p>

<p>and by "fine as a junior" is that fine enough to get into a top 25 college assuming i do well, considering my grades this year?</p>

<p>You want to come as a close to all A's as you can next year with a rigorous load. AP language is going to involve a lot writing in class - if you think you can pull a b or b+ with that, and the teacher isn't a beast in grading, go for it. The AP language course will prepare you well for the SAT writing segment ... because you will be able to do 5 paragraph AP essays in your sleep by the time you are done. </p>

<p>I certainly think you have a shot at a good school - provided that you and the school are mutually a good fit. Like everyone else, you should apply to a couple of likely admits, some matches, and reaches if you are feeling lucky. </p>

<p>You are really not in bad shape - you have time to take and retake SAT's and SAT II's, time to establish a rising trend in your GPA, time to think and to visit schools. The people I worry about are the ones that haven't a clue and its fall of senior year!</p>

<p>i'm a decent writer, even though i don't have a fantastic teacher this year. and i'm use to 5 paragraph essays, those are nothing, just need to get them to AP standards.</p>

<p>and yes, i've heard it comes down to if you match the school or not otherwise there's no point in being miserable. and yes, i plan to retake sat/sat 2's if i do badly, lol</p>

<p>"i've heard it comes down to if you match the school or not otherwise there's no point in being miserable."</p>

<p>Exactly. Keep that attitude, don't get suckered into trophy-hunting colleges for 'prestige' - and you will do fine. The best school is ... the best for you!</p>

<p>thanks so much for the help ohio_mom, i already know a few schools that i'm interested in (having visited with my sister), but a large majority of those schools are top 25 colleges and ones similar to that</p>

<p>Kinda funny story, but I was in the exact same boat as you. I did sooo bad sophmore year ( 2 As, 3 Bs, and 1C first semester, 3 As 3 Bs second semester), but I did well the rest of my high school years, and I'm going to Cal, so I'm sure you still have a chance at many schools</p>

<p>I forgot to mention, I'm asian also, but I'm a poor asian, (less than 40k a year), if it even matters</p>

<p>oh, thanks so much beconfident! that gives me some hope at least, lol. and got my report card for third quarter, most grades improved slightly, but i doubt it'll be enough to get an a- in most of my classes, but it's better than going down, lol</p>