ED 2013 - Uneasy..

Colleges & Universities Syracuse University
1

<p>Throughout my first two years of High School I had been going through some personally though times, with problems at home and socially. My grades had met a great loss, however throughout the past last years of High School I’ve had the ability to raise them significantly.</p>

<p>I had never really attempted any AP courses until my senior year, so bare with me as I describe my situation. I see myself as an intellectual, however my SAT’s and ACT’s categorize me as average, which I find to be the most depressing factor.</p>

<p>Initially, I had a 2.91UW/3.20W GPA my freshmen year. (Pre-AP/Honors)
Sophomore year it had gone up to 3.09UW/3.31W (Honors)
Junior year it had gone up to 3.24UW/3.39W (Honors)</p>

<p>My senior year, I believe is the most crucial now. I’ve enrolled in 8 AP courses, taking a total of 10 courses in comparison to the average 7 a typical student would receive. I’m doing Dual Enrollment, Virtual School, and High School. As of now my GPA is currently 4.4375W/3.75UW.</p>

<p>After this semester is over I see myself easily achieving a 3.5W/3.35UW, but with early decision Syracuse most likely wont be able to see this at all. Throughout my extensive essay and free response I had greeted this problematic situation, with intent to find some sort of median/comfort zone.</p>

<p>SAT Scores (I’m taking it three more times this year w/ help from local tutors)
520 Math -> 530 Math -> Haven’t received third scores
440 Reading -> 500 Reading -> Haven’t received third scores
460 Writing -> 510 Writing -> Haven’t received third scores
8 on essay -> 10 on essay</p>

<p>ACT Scores (Only have taken once. Debating on taking again if SAT scores don’t improve)
Reading - 23
Composition - 22
English - 19
Science - 24
Math - 23</p>

<p>Extracurricular/Significant Accomplishments:
Honor role Freshmen-Junior years
Principle Honor role Senior year
100+ hours of community service
Photography club
Interact club
Working two years of high school 30 hours/week
Built my own computer
Self taught and profited off of Java coding (coded my own programs & sold)</p>

<p>AP Courses:
AP Physics
AP Literature and Composition
AP Macroeconomics (FLVS)
AP Microeconomics (FLVS)
AP Int. Alg (Dual Enrolled)
AP College Alg (Dual Enrolled)
AP Oral Commune (Dual Enrolled)
AP College Success (Dual Enrolled)</p>

<p>Class Schedule:
Diversified Job Training ll
Spanish ll
Honors Government
AP Physics
AP Literature and Composition
AP Macroeconomics (FLVS)
AP Microeconomics (FLVS)
AP Int. Alg (Dual Enrolled)
AP College Alg (Dual Enrolled)
AP Oral Commune (Dual Enrolled)
AP College Success (Dual Enrolled)</p>

<p>In the end, I’m hoping that my progression as a young scholar will provide some sort of beneficial relief when it comes down to examining my rough beginning throughout school.
I’m just curious if this school is a lost hope and if I should reconsider others.</p>

2

<p>FYI:</p>

<p>There is no way those are all AP courses. There are only 34 AP courses sanctioned by the College Board. The CB instituted a syllabus audit program a few years ago to combat the movement to call anything and everything an “AP” course. They are protecting their brand name. There are some prep schools who were saying that EVERY course they offer, 9-12 were AP, including PE, for heaven’s sake!</p>

<p>AP Int. Alg , AP College Alg ,AP Oral Commune and AP College Success are NOT actual AP courses, with College Board administered AP exams. </p>

<p>I just hope you aren’t being sold a bill of goods. I have been high school educator for 36 years, so I know of which I speak.</p>

3

<p>Ap Oral/ Int alg / College alg / College success are classes taken at a college. This is also known as Dual Enrollment.</p>

<p>Due to these courses being taken at a college these are weighted as a 5 on high school transcripts alongside receiving credit hours for your AA.</p>

<p>Essentially these are “easy” gpa boosts.</p>

<ul>
<li>reply from iphone</li>
</ul>

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<p>BUT—they are NOT AP courses and should not labeled as such (cheapens actual AP courses).</p>

<p>And the colleges are probably wise to the “easy GPA boost” thing.</p>

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<p>Seeing as they’re COLLEGE courses they’re weighted as AP courses in high school.</p>

<p>I don’t care much about the 13 credits they gave me, just the GPA boost. Essentially it’s going INTO my transcript GPA. </p>

<p>These classes are requirements for an AA.</p>

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<p>OK, I’m done here, OP reads what he/she wants to read—call them whatever the heck you want, BUT THEY ARE NOT AP!!! There is an inherent rigor to AP courses (esp. in science). Not all “college” courses are created equal.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>You’re just not comprehending the world “dual enrolled.”</p>

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<p>YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!! I know what dual enrollment is–I’ve been a high school teacher/administrator for 36 yrs. Courses you take at a college are called college courses, NOT AP COURSES!! AP courses are taken in high school and are sanctioned by the college board. I am not saying anything about how the colleges view them, or how wonderful a candidate you think they make you, I’m talking about how they are classified.</p>

<p>Very frankly, you’re know-it-all attitude is quite off-putting.</p>

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<p>You didn’t precisely explain yourself either when you initially replied, so excuse me.</p>

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<p>ian2buckz, you are so completely wrong. AP Int. Alg, AP College Alg, AP Oral Commune, AP College Success DO NOT EXIST. I understand dual enrollement, and that would make sense, but these are not AP courses. AP courses are not offered at colleges/universities (except for prgrams run by unis for HS students), so it makes no sense to describe a course as AP and Dual Enrollment.</p>

<p>They may be weighted the same as an AP class, but that certainly does not make them AP classes and it is wrong to label them as AP classes.</p>

<p>The “AP” label refers to the Advances Placement Program run by CollegeBoard. These are all of the AP tests/courses currently offered: (course selection obviously differs from school to school)
[AP</a> Courses - Advanced Placement Course Descriptions](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>AP Courses and Exams – AP Students | College Board)</p>

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<p>AP Weighted*, Christ.</p>

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<p>Thank you for clearing that up.</p>

<p>Your GPA and test scores are weak, but I think your upward trend in GPA and course rigor will benefit you. If you explained your situation well, and how you have changed/grown from your experiences, I think your chances are pretty good. I applaud your initiative in improving your situation, best of luck in your college process.</p>

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<p>Thank you. The interview was superb.</p>

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<p>CollegiateDreams–thank you for backing me up.</p>

<p>It’s situations like this that led the College Board to implement their audit process to certify high schools as AP providers. They have a brand name to protect.</p>