Chances for an Ivy

PianoBeastie
Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:43:01 +0000

Now that the “most important” years of high school are very near in my future, I really want to take the time now in my sophomore year to reevaluate my priorities. My education has always been my top priority and I have an ambition to go into medical school. I have a passion for molecular genetics and an interest in cardiac surgery. I am trying to do all I can in high school to build up a strong application that has a considerable chance to get into one of the Ivy Leagues- with Harvard as my number one choice (I know-ambitious).
I think that I have done well up until now as a sophomore, but want to get other opinions on my planning. Thanks so much to everyone who gives feedback!

Stats: Caucasian Female, recent relocation to West Coast (freshman year of High School and all prior schooling in Illinois)

FOUR YEAR PLAN

Freshman:
Honors Geometry
Honors Biology
Honors English
French 2
Jazz Band
Drawing and Painting
Journalism
P.E

Summer: Online Health 1

Sophomore:
Honors Chemistry
Anatomy and Physiology
Honors Algebra 2
Honors World Literature
Honors World Studies
French 3
French 4 Independent Study
Sports Medicine Independent Study
Online Latin 1 Intensive Study
Choir- Piano Accompanist
Veterinary Experience Internship

Summer: Online PreCalculus

(expected) Junior:
Honors Physics
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
Honors Literature
AP US History
(Honors) French 4/5
Health Occupations – (includes a local hospital internship)
Online Latin 2 Intensive Study
Choir- Piano Accompanist

(expected) Senior:

AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP Statistics
AP Literature
AP US Government
AP French
Online Latin
Choir- Piano Accompanist

TEST SCORES:

SAT: (6th) Math 490 Reading 570 Writing 560 —Note again- 6th Grade

PSAT: (10th) Math 63 Reading 66 Writing 66

I plan on taking the SAT for practice at the end of this year along with a practice of the Writing subject test and retake it my junior year along with another PSAT (for national merit scholarship possibility), the ACT and whatever other subject tests that I will be able to (Expected: History, Writing, Math II, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, French + Listening)
I am taking the Math I and Biology subject tests at the end of this year.

Extracurriculars:

Music- I have been playing piano since the age of 5, and love the instrument! I am very involved as an accompanist/performer, and accompany musicals
9th- Spring Musical
9th- Jazz Combo
10th- Choir

I have owned a small business since 7th grade as a private piano teacher to children from age 5 to 8th grade- I love watching my students progress and its definitely the best job in the world! Besides basic babysitting jobs, this is my only employment experience to date.

Sports-
9th- JV Tennis
10th- V Tennis
10th- Private tennis lessons
10th- JV Cross Country Running

Clubs/Etc.
9th- Speech Team, 4th Place at Sectionals
9th- only freshman representative at Model UN Conference
9th- JV Scholastic Bowl
9th- School Newspaper Reporter
9th- Freshman Class Officer

10th- Thespian/Drama Team
10th- Model UN Conference
10th- School Newspaper Co-Editor

a note regarding extracurrics Due to my recent move and starting my sophomore year in a brand new school, I have been a bit worried about some of club participation as well as my four-year-plan. The lack of consistency of clubs is due to them not existing at my former high school or new school. My main concern is on student government- I moved during the summer and was unable to be elected to a position as the elections from my new school were spring of freshman year (during which I was unaware of upcoming relocation- and not that I would have been elected anyway as the new girl
Pertaining to my plans to take Precalculus this upcoming summer online is due to a very different math class progression between my first and current high school- Algebra 2 and Precalculus was hybridized into a full year class I would have taken in 10th grade and then progressed to AP Calc BC my junior year. To stick with this plan, I am taking considering taking precalc online- Could I get any feedback on this? Is it alright that it won’t be an honors class? (honors online precalc is far too expensive)
I am also worried about APs- at my old school I would have been able to enroll in AP European History this year instead of Honors History. I also could have taken AP Music Theory my junior year along with AP Language and Composition. Is this decrease in number of AP courses okay, or should I seek a way to redeem them (via Online or whatever).
Is it alright that I haven’t got in any AP my sophomore year?

Special Notes:
I was double promoted from 7th to 9th grade- that means I never went to 9th grade and only spent two years in Jr. High. I myself took the means to make this transition happen when I was in 7th grade. I really felt that I was ready for High school and that middle school was holding me back. I couldn’t be happier with my decision today, as I cannot thank enough people for all the support I got when I did this. Looking back, I am very glad I did what I did- and I feel that I was ready for HS as my grades up to this point are all As.

Thank you for taking the time to read this :)