I am in the IB program and just started 10th grade and I know it is a bit early, but I am stressing about if I can get into top schools and my grades. In 9th grade, I had a 3.9 UW and 4.37 W, and I was in the top 6% of my class. Aside academics I am almost a black belt in karate, in the Math Honor Society, and do community service. I just keep stressing over college and my life ahead. ? I really want to become an engineer and go to a really good university.
So far, you look great! Keep in mind that some colleges don’t care about freshman year, so just know that you’ll have a clean slate this year. If you want to be an engineer, I would recommend getting more involved in the STEM field. For example, take an internship, participate on school teams, do some type of olympiad, make a startup, etc.
I would be willing to help you! just PM me
OTHERS PLEASE REPLY I NEED HELP!!!
No one can guess without test scores and names of schools. Next year when you get test scores, compare your grades and scores to the admissions stats published by the colleges on their websites.
Colleges typically post the middle 50 percentiles for admitted and/or enrolled students on their websites in the class profile section and in the Common Data Set in the institutional research section. The Common Data Set stats can also be found at https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
Beyond stats and scores, consider the advice offered in this blog article, which is applicable to many top colleges. https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways/
You’re in 10th grade. While it’s good to be aware of your college future, you don’t need to stress about it so much. Do stuff that you really enjoy doing and have fun in high school. Colleges don’t want the same 4.0 1600 student with 50 ECs on their resume. They’re looking for students who really love what they do. Find something you’re passionate about and pursue it. If a college doesn’t like that, then they’re not worth your time or money.
You are doing well, just keep doing what you are doing!
I agree with @JBSeattle. You are doing well. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will be fine.
For engineering you don’t need to go to a “top 20” university. There are enough engineering jobs for graduates from a wide range of very good schools. The Ivy League schools are not even the best schools for engineering. There are many very good programs, and depending upon what state you are in your in-state public university may be very good for engineering.
Engineering is a relatively difficult major which requires strong math skills. However, it looks like you are solidly on track to do very well as an engineer. Keep up the good work, pay attention to your budget and finances when you do apply to universities, and you should do very well.
Thank you all for the replies, really appreciate it.
Many schools have a preference for students with an IB diploma. There is a chart with data from ten years ago, which is very hard to find, but you can reach from this link: https://www.rjuhsd.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=13340&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=16706&PageID=7234. I have no idea who compiled this data or how accurate it is, or (more importantly) if this is still true. As mentioned, it appears to date from around 2008, so the admissions rates are off for some schools (such as the Ivies), but it shows the level of preference (again, if we take this chart as accurate–and still true). There’s a more recent chart with only about twenty schools that’s easier to find, but I don’t have a link, and because the schools listed aren’t many its use is limited.
Junior year can be overwhelming for IB. Keep it up and you’ll be in fine shape.
My only piece of advice is that everyone who applies at the top schools has more or less the same volunteer work, the same activities, NHS, etc. Think of a way to really stand out, to show your true passion. Your great advantage is that you are thinking of this early, so you have time to find that One Great Thing. Maybe you can get an internship with a professor at a local college, for example. It doesn’t even have to be engineering-based; if you have a passion for gardening, for example, you can start a youtube channel showing kids how to garden. These are simple ways to stand out from the crowd–really, to show that you are willing to go the next step to share your enthusiasm and knowledge with others, or to further develop a skill. Good luck!
It is early but for top schools not so much. If you plan and implement that plan well you should be in a great situation.
Don’t just collect clubs and leadership positions but find unique ECs that highlight who you are.
This makes it easier to write the essays and will make you rise to the top of the applicant pile