High School Class of 2014

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
3502

<p>I’m sure his lack of a fourth year in foreign language was not the only reason he was rejected, but it probably contributed. Our school has a very good record of sending people to UVA–15 or more a year. This guy was well-within range. Every year, our guidance counselors give us presentations that stress the importance of four years of foreign language. crc016, your sister may have had some other hooks/good EC’s that got her in. That doesn’t make foreign language any less important for prospective applicants.</p>

<p>Oh, and hjs, he did not have an otherwise perfect application. His SATs were above 2000, within range for UVA, but not extremely high. His ECs could have been better. But in today’s admissions climate, you need to take every advantage you can get, and a fourth year of foreign language certainly doesn’t hurt.</p>

<p>And another note: Since UVA has to consider the availability of language courses in certain counties, there may be different expectations for applicants from different areas of Virginia. Almost every person from my school who is accepted to top schools has taken four or more years of language. My friend was a distinct exception to the general rule at my school, and he was rejected. It might not have been the absolute deciding factor, but it did make him stand out for the worse.</p>

3503

<p>@Studios: The only “hook” my sister had was being an URM and maybe 10 years of piano. Maybe your friend was too ordinary…</p>

3504

<p>Thanks for your comments, hjs, but you’re missing the mark. My general point was not that four years of language is the most important quality of one’s application but that it is important.</p>

<p>From William and Mary’s admissions site:</p>

<p>“There are no required courses to apply to W&M. We recommend that students take four math courses culminating in Calculus, regardless of prospective major. Calculus is preferred over Statistics. We recommend taking four science courses (regardless of prospective major) culminating in Physics, and four years of single foreign language as ways of demonstrating a challenging, well-rounded curriculum. However, these classes are not required, nor are they the only way to demonstrate a challenging curriculum.”</p>

<p>From UVA’s admissions information site:</p>

<p>"Required:
4 years of mathematics
4 years of English
2 years of a foreign language
1 year of social science
2 years of science (3 for engineers)</p>

<p>Recommended:
4 years of mathematics, including calculus
4 years of English
4 years of a foreign language
4 years of science
4 years social science"</p>

<p>As one can see, four years of language is not required but is recommended. I was simply asserting that it’s in one’s best interest to take four or more years of foreign language.</p>

<p>I cannot understand why some of you would react with incredulity when I said that a major factor of my friend’s rejection was his lack of four years of foreign language. It is a recommended requirement, and with UVA becoming more selective every year, neglecting to fulfill a recommendation could be quite detrimental to one’s application.</p>

<p>@crc: To my knowledge, UVA, having a holistic admissions process, practices affirmative action. Your sister’s being a URM is a significant hook, then, and her acceptance therefore cannot be compared to my friend’s rejection (as my friend is not a URM).</p>

3505

<p>hjs, did you even read the excerpts directly from UVA’s and W&M’s admissions websites? I think it’s clear that my saying that four years of language is important is accurate.</p>

3506

<p>So @hjs876959, how’s the whole Med school prospective coming along?? Any schools in mind?</p>

3507

<p>Heyyy all! Im new on this thread! I go to Winston Churchill Highschool, Number one school in maryland and very proud of it!
my plans for my junior year schedule are as follows:
AP world history
AP comparative government
AP Lang
Honors Anatomy (like an AP class, called advanced placement, but college board doesnt make an exam for it)
Honors French 5
Honors Precal
Honors Chorus (i take chorus every year hhaha)
what are your plans for the summer and for next school year!!! what are your ECs??? I loooooveeeee cc and cant wait to tell you more about my plans and my ec’s</p>

3508

<p>Courses:
AP Bio
AP Stats
APUSH
Calculus
English III Honors
Chemistry II
Physics
Spanish II
Programming
Career Search
Financial Literacy
P.E.</p>

<p>ECs:
Just piano, volunteering at the library, and working at McDonald’s. I’m not really in any clubs because they all seem to have meetings when I have to work or something.</p>

3509

<p>Whoa, how do you even take 12 classes in a year lol?</p>

<p>Also, glad to another person on this site who actually works instead of getting an internship or research or something fancy. Worker at Subway, here. :D</p>

3510

<p>@elle822: Nice classes! I wish my school offered all of those.</p>

<p>So next summer I have decided that I will take 2 classes at a university about 30 minutes away. These classes are General Chemistry 1 and Introductory Physics (or Modern Physics). I feel that this is my only shot of having advanced chemistry and physics exposure before college since my school fails to offer their respective AP’s. </p>

<p>Is this a bad idea? Should I spend my time doing something else next summer?</p>

3511

<p>@elle822 I got to Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Mont. County too! </p>

<p>@nate42 I took Physics and Chem in Sophomore year and I am SO happy I did. Now I can take both as AP and do other classes I want also. Definitely take those classes</p>

3512

<p>@hjs: I was simply wondering if I would be lost in college Physics without any prior experience. Many undergrads at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest said I would be fine but I would rather be safe than sorry. Since these 2 college courses will not count for or against me, I am thinking it as a pure enrichment opportunity.</p>

3513

<p>^ What the heck?</p>

3514

<p>So, people on this thread…what are some NON-academic, NON-school related plans that you all have this summer (to escape all the school talk JUST for a little bit)? Just for hecks. I’ll start off.</p>

<p>Playing basketball in summer league
Getting my learner’s permit
Celebrating my birthday
Pool parties, hangouts, etc. with friends
Sleeping excessively</p>

<p>You guys?</p>

3515

<p>^ Nice, thanks for joining us. I plan on playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and catching up on some TV shows (just finished Breaking Bad; it was intense).</p>

<p>EDIT: Oh, and happy early birthday!</p>

3516

<p>Alright. I’ll do it.</p>

<p>It’s semi-school related but I’m really, really excited. I’m going to a summer program at Carnegie Mellon, and I just had to share. :)</p>

<p>Besides that, I wanna get 3 point turns down because I can parallel park and kinda drive stick but not a 3point turn yet! Ugh.
I want to write more. After I finished my last(and only) short story, all my creativity died. I used to do poetry, but I haven’t done it in a while.
I need to read! I haven’t read in god knows how long besides for school and I just miss my relaxation.
Hell if I could actually exercise instead of sitting around all day, that would be a plus.
Learn to cook more fancy meals. I can cook basic meals all day and night but I want something more fancy under my belt.
And I’d like to play badminton and learn tennis. Liked both this year and I’d like to become better at both.</p>

<p>That is all, and it felt nice to share. Thanks Studious!</p>

3517

<p>Hey, Dan! Thanks for stopping by! That program at CMU sounds interesting. I visited Pittsburgh a few months ago, and the CMU campus looks very nice. What kind of program is it? I saw a “Game Academy” thing there, and that looked really fun.</p>

<p>I need to learn how to drive stick. There’s really only one car in my family that I’m allowed to drive freely, and it’s manual transmission. Since I don’t know how to drive it, I’m stuck at home most of the time. Also, I need to get my official license; I still just have my permit. The truth is, I’ve lost my permit card. I really need to find it.</p>

3518

<p>I’m hoping to get a lot more soccer time in, playing and watching wise. Euro2012 has been on for the past week or so, that’s kept me pretty happy. Just gotta find some friends to play a good game of pickup with! </p>

<p>Along with that, like Dan, I’d love to get some more writing done (but I’m more of a non-fiction writer). I used to maintain a regular blog and throw a few editorials here and there for my school paper and I loved it. Only problem is that since I got so busy near the end of the year, most of that was abandoned, but I’m probably gonna churn out a few thought pieces soon! I find editorial-style writing to be a great relaxer. I’ve already been pretty good about sleeping in late and being lethargic, haha.</p>

<p>Also, we don’t get permit cards in IL. It’s just a dinky piece of paper.</p>

3519

<p>It’s called “The Summer Academy of Math + Science”. I really liked a computer class I took, and found this so I applied. I never thought I would get in. Like ever. But hey I did! Looking forward to finally seeing the CMU campus and voyaging off to a foreign land :)</p>

<p>Stick is such a pain. Don’t get me started. It’s so ridiculous the first hour, so when you learn just keep doing it! You will probably stall the car alot and it might shake(my brothers sure did!) but once you get it down, you feel like a king. </p>

<p>I could get my license this month, but the local DMVs all have the driving test dates too early for me to go, or after I leave to CMU. It’s a lose lose situation. </p>

<p>Lastly is writing. I love to write, I really do. I’m doing journalism next year so I get to write for my schools paper which is really good, so I’m looking forward to it! I just hate the teacher. She was my English this year, and I didn’t learn a thing. </p>

<p>And sorry that I didn’t reply by name. I use the CC app for my iPod and it’s really sketchy and I’ve had to re-do this twice already.</p>

3520

<p>Summer has been a blast so far, and I hope that AP scores and SAT II results won’t ruin it.
After taking AP Bio, working my ass off on the SAT II and AP, and working my ass off in everything else to improve and maintain my position on the honor roll, I do not feel an ounce of guilt about relaxing and having fun.</p>

<p>So far, I’ve been hanging out with friends, going out for lunch a LOT, doing 2-mile runs 2-3 times a week, and working in the afternoon at my dad’s gastroenterology clinic. </p>

<p>I also have a research project that I am working on, and will soon start doing community service (yes…START) at a museum in the city.</p>

<p>Then, I will begin working at my school ($9/hr) :smiley: for some caaaash…but what the hell am i even gonna do with it. I feel like i only have 3 weeks to relax until July and then it’s gonna be work again.</p>

<p>and of course. SAT PREP -___-
And 6 summer reading books.</p>

3521

<p>@Dan: Thanks for the stick tips! Also, that summer program looks absolutely awesome. I’m a big math/science guy, so I envy your position. :smiley: And I suppose you’re a real Renaissance Man, what with your being good at math, science, and writing. I enjoy writing as well, but I mostly write analytically for debate. I’ve only dabbled in fiction; I should try more sometime.</p>

<p>@Rhythm: Hey, I think I recognize you from the SAT II Bio thread! Yeah, I worked pretty hard for that test too. Hoping for the best in 5 days!</p>