Hi. 
Iāve had this thread bookmarked but havenāt even posted anything. Iāve decided now that I wanna be part of the cool kids of 2018 club.
@nyuhopeful44 Iāve been so indecisive about my schedule as well. Iām taking AP Econ right now and find it really enjoyable even though I expected it to be boring, so Iād definitely go with that. Are AP Macro and AP Micro half credit courses at your school? Most people take Macro and then Micro, but they can definitely be done together as well.
@neptuna yes, they are half-credits. Iāve been back and forth on taking it because it sounds really boring but Iāve heard itās an easy A
@nyuhopeful44 For most schools it is an easy A. During an average week, I spend less time on homework for AP Econ than I do for most of my honors classes. Some parts can be boring, but itās also interesting to learn how the world works and fun to draw graphs
@neptuna Hello and welcome to CCās official High School Class of 2018 Thread. Here you can interact with other users who have the same high level of interest about school as you. Here, we talk about almost everything associated with school and our daily lives as well. During this time of the year, as Iāve seen so far, weāve been talking about course selections for next year as well getting ready for junior year. Weāve also talked about school sports and clubs, current grades, internships, summer programs, scholarships, and so much more. Anything you can think of pertaining to school, specifically sophomore year centered, weāve probably talked about it. This thread, as Iāve seen throughout the past three months, can also be used to talk about personal issues as well. The students on here a very supportive bunch and have helped me figure out problems as well as help me through some of the most stressful times during this year. So, this thread can also be used as a way to de-stress and relax. If you have any questions about anything pertaining to this thread, just reply. Hopefully, youāll stay for the long haul all the way until graduation. Iāve been on this thread for 3 months now and Iāve got to say, it can be pretty addicting. Hope you have a nice time on this thread. Virtual Handshake
Lol! I feel like a tour guide.
@HelloThereHola My school doesnāt hand out PSAT results. They said that if you want to check them, theyāre online. Also, what does being āwell-roundedā mean? I feel like it applies to me somehow, I donāt know why.
@snowfairy137 That is exactly how I want my next year to be like I was planning to volunteer once and a while at my old middle school robotics team. But I had way to much work. Next year, Iām determined to focus more on Robotics. I mean Iām going to be in a Robotics class next year, so it shouldnāt be that hard. My dream job would be to work at Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or even VEX or any of the other robotics companies. Itās why I want to go to Virginia Tech so much. Their top major is mechanical engineering and they are nationally-recognized as well. Even if I donāt get in, Iāll still have George Mason University (GMU). They just created a mechanical engineering major a few years ago. Also, Iāve also known that I wanted to work in one of the STEM fields since I was 10. When I was in the 4th grade, I went on a field trip to GMU and it inspired me. I was so good at using computers, I was the most computer literate person in my class, that I wanted to become a computer engineer and minor in physician, as that would make my dad happy. Over the years, those plans have changed. I started doing Robotics once I entered my middle schoolās Robotics club in the 6th grade. It was the most memorable part of my 3 years of middle school. I loved the VEX competitions and the atmosphere, I loved everything about it. This, is why I love Robotics!
Also, Iāve been obsessed with colleges since last year.
@ak2018 Hahaha, thank you for the introduction! Youād make a great tour guide. I have a feeling Iāll like this thread. Worrying about my academic career is my favorite hobby, so why not share it with others? 
@neptuna Thanks! Also AP Economics at our school is a full year course that combines AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. Iām planning on taking it senior year. Iām also planning on taking AP Chemistry and AP Psychology next year. Would you mind posting your course selections on here even if you are undecided? Itās something we do a lot here.
@ak2018 I laughed when i read you thought I was a girl. Boys can think pikas are cute too you know! Search them up and you too will be tempted to make it your profile pic.
@neptuna Welcome! We hope you will stay lol.
@ak2018 Being well-rounded just means you are good/great at several things, but you donāt show a huge accomplishment in any one area. A lot of selective colleges like to see that huge spike in your application towards something specific. Your spike would be robotics, obviously.
On the other other hand, I have band and maybe writing. I am not super good at band though and canāt even make district honor band lol, but I am section leader and have had several solos. With writing, I am going to be published in an online magazine and I will have also won several writing competitions. Theyāre not related in any way, and that probably doesnāt help me. And your spike relates to what you want to do, and thatās even better.
@HelloThereHola Thanks!
@ak2018 I know a lot of schools do that with AP Econ. I wish the AP exam was combined also. It would save me some money.
Iām considering
Honors Precalc
AP English Language
AP Computer Science
AP Statistics
Dual Enrollment Biology
Honors U.S. Gov
German 2
The reason I want to take DE Bio is because Iām in online school and need more of an in-person, hands-on experience. Iāll probably take the AP exam on top of it (ugh, again, so much money on AP exams. Do they offer scholarships for that? Please.) Iām just worried if itās too unrealistic in terms of the amount of time spent on schoolwork each day. AP Comp Sci and AP Stats are pretty easy at my school, though, so Iām not sure.
@HelloThereHola Iāve totally heard about the ābig spikeā thing but however, that is not true (it can be but usually, no
). For example, I have 2 cousins attending Harvard and my uncle is going to medicine school at Stanford (puts a lot of pressure on me tbh). Are they phenomenally good at one thing? No. They are not. Universities totally go for the well rounded thing. The big spike is more or soā¦a bitā¦strange. However, they donāt want just NORMAL well rounded (if I make sense), they want you to be more than ājust goodā at everything.
Letās talk about my cousin (weāll call him John because I donāt want to reveal who he is haha). He made it to provincials for debate but did not debate at the national level. He had a 95% overall average and was part of many clubs including student government, swim team, basketball team but was not president nor the all star. Heās not excellent at everything but is very good. However, he had a stellar essay. He wrote about his passion outside of those clubs. Heās a passionate, hardworking and determined student and he showed that through his essay.
So basically, well rounded doesnāt necessarily make you a noncompetitive candidate.
Adding to what I said before, if you have your ābig spike,ā then congratulations but that does not make you different from everyone else. When it comes to university (especially Ivy League) applications, itās almost impossible to āstand outā with only your statistics. Most things lie on the essay so make sure to make it superb.
@averagebean I agree with a lot you said. However, having a spike could and does help a lot. Iām not saying all students who get accepted into top colleges have them, but if itās related to what youāre majoring in and it shows your passion in one major area, it only adds. You have however convinced me that being well rounded was not a bad thing. I mean I understood it wasnāt, but I was almost convinced you still had to have a major achievement in a certain area. I disagree that having a big spike doesnāt make you stick out. If itās unique and shows something that most others donāt even think about, it most certainly makes you different from all other applicants. It is true that the essay will make a huge difference, but all I mean with the spike thing is to efficiently show your passion and contribution to society.
welcome to the thread! Iām taking AP Econ next year. I hear itās really hard at my school, but Iām really excited since I think itāll be really interesting. How is it at your school? @neptuna
sorry for double post but I totally agree with you @HelloThereHola
@averagebean I disagree. Using Allen Chengās application as an example (the guy who created Prep Scholar and has written extensively on the subject of spikes). Participating in RSI (the most selective summer program in the coutnry) and being top 20 in the country in USNCO is definitely a spike since it showed that he is literally world-class at what he does. He posted his whole application online, and his essays arenāt anything amazing, but I donāt think Harvard could look past the RSI and USNCO scores, which is why he was admitted. Thatās not saying being well-rounded hurts you, because I honestly think it doesnāt, I just think both are very effective, and a well-created spike definitely would stand out.
@gormar099 Thank you! AP Econ is really easy at my school and uses the FLVS curriculum. The tests and quizzes are pretty straight forward, so the only way you canāt do well is if you donāt read the lessons. As easy as it is, a lot of people have said theyāve gotten 4s and 5s on the exam, so I wonder why your school makes it so hard.
I looked at Allen Chengās Harvard App and āHow to get into the Ivy Leagueā blogs and they were very interesting. Iād hopefully like to go into the sciences but currently have no idea what some good āspikesā to develop should be.
On another note, have some of you started SAT/ACT prep? Iām aiming high but donāt know which resources to do besides Khan Academyās prep. Anyone have good prep book recommendations?
@maximumsize for science try science olympiad, science club (or whatever your schools equivalent is, if it even exists, if not, maybe create it!), doing research, taking usabo/usnco, doing a summer science program, or really any other science-related ec.
For act/sat Iād start with a princeton/barrons book for it and a book with like 10 practice tests.
@neptuna Do you have any idea if FLVS Global is the same thing as FLVS cause my counselor said I can take AP Comp Sci online next year through FLVS Global is that the same thing as FLVS. Important question? I need a response quick if anyone has any idea on this matter. Also does anyone have an idea how hard the class is, and are tests proctored etc.
@HelloThereHola Lol! Thatās what those things are called. And again, sorry about mistaking you for a girl.
@BucketsUCSC Yes. They are basically the same. Except you have to pay for FLVS Global. FLVS is payed for by the Floridian government. Outside of Florida, it has to be self payed. I donāt have an idea about the test or hardness of the class.