How am I set up so far? Tips?

anandc
Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:07:53 +0000

Hey
So right now I’m a freshman at a high school in San Jose, ranked in the top 100 high schools in the nation, with a 85% Asian or Indian Population. The semester just ended and I got my progress report back, and I did poorly this semester:

Literature and Writing One : A
String Orchestra: A
P.E. : B
Algebra 2/Trigonometry: B
Japanese 2: B
Biology: B
Java Programming: A

As you can see I ended the year with a 3.4 GPA unweighted, (none of the classes I’m taking are AP or Honor, but I’m in the highest most advanced math class available, and everything but Japanese 2 was from 88.5%-89.4%)

Yet in first semester I ended with a 3.857 GPA, with all my grades being A’s except for P.E.

Now coming to extracurriculars:
I’m part of the Speech and Debate team
I’m part of our school’s orchestra, where we got Gold Medals at Forum Music Festivals, and Unanimous Superior at the annual CMEA, the California Music Educators Association.
I have been learning violin privately for 4 years now, starting in 6th grade.

My question being, should I count CalTech/MIT/other top notch school’s out just yet or if i show improvement throughout the rest of my high school career would I still be able to make it.

In Sophomore Year, I’m taking
World Literature
World History
Chemistry Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors
Newspaper (It counts as a class)
P.E. Weight Training
Computer Science AP

I know I did poorly this semester with a horrible GPA, but if i can get between 3.8-4.0 (UnWeighted) these coming years along with high SAT scores and SAT-2 Scores, especially in Math-2C and Biology in Sophomore year along with a 5 on the Computer Science AP exam should I still be able to make it?

Thank You!