If I Pull Myself Up Will I Have a Better Shot?

Applying to College
1

<p>Background:
Okay so freshman year I basically had straight A+'s, I was an all honors kid with a 4.0 UW and a 4.1W because my school weights strangely, I particpated in a hodge podge of EC’s, some of which I am still committed to. I really enjoy math, science, and english, but really just despise history. I’m hoping to pursue something in the sciences in college but I really have no idea what I specifically want to do. </p>

<p>This year I decided to challenge myself taking all honors and 2 AP’s and I actually had to get an exception to take the 2nd one and am the only kid in my grade to take 2. My GPA this year is B+/A-; a 3.7 UW (I know that’s not awful but it feels bad to me) and a 3.86W. </p>

<p>I did just okay on the PSAT with a 66CR a 67M and a 55W (ugh) and I’m really worried that I lost my critical math thinking ability and my score will go down next year. I am so hoping to qualify as a semi-finalist but I just am not even thinking it’s going to happen anymore.</p>

<p>I used to be a decent swimmer, but now I realize there is not a chance in the world of me becoming a recruited athlete, so I’m trying to decide if I should swim only seasonally and pick up more valuable EC’s, or keep swimming quite competitively, mainting EC’s and not hopping around.</p>

<p>I did very well in science olympiad this year winning 3rd and 9th in state events, but that is the only award I have earned this year, not even a class award. I’m hoping to qualify for the National Brain Bee this coming year. </p>

<p>I could really use some help with my EC’s. The problem is, I have such a wide range of interests, I don’t know how to focus what I want to do because I just like everything. </p>

<p>I’m attending CTY this summer but I know that doesn’t really help pad my application. I also have an internship with the lieutenant governor which I’m terribly excited about.</p>

<p>So basically, I feel like I’ll definitely be able to get a large scholarship to my State U (University of Delaware) but that’s about as high as I’ll be able to go. I so despererately want to go to Brown or NYU, but I just don’t feel like I have what it takes. If there is any advice I could get to really boost my admissions chances in junior and senior year, I would love it. I assume my GPA will go up to at least 3.8 or 3.85UW since this year I took two AP history classes which was a mistake, but next year I’ll be taking AP English, AP Stats, and APUSH which is a little more balanced.</p>

2

<p>JMHO, but I’d suggest focussing on your SATs. A 2200 SAT with a 3.8 UW GPA will put you in the hunt for the schools you want. At that point it’s simply a matter of putting together a killer app — essays especially. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I was in a somewhat similar situation with my varsity sport. I decided to play through the season with my previous effort, but I basically stopped after that. I love the sport, but I just didn’t have time. However, my sport was an early fall sport, so your situation might be different. I do not regret practicing the entire summer before to play on the team, though. </p>

<p>You seem to be pretty good at SO. I’d definitely keep that up; by the time you are updating your RD apps, you may have already gone through regionals. </p>

<p>You should still try very hard in school, up until first semester finals are done. Senior year grades count.</p>

<p>As far as picking up some other ECs, join something in your field of interest (so engineering-math club, building club. internal relations-model UN, etc.).</p>

4

<p>Bump…</p>

5

<p>If you haven’t taken the ACT, go ahead and take it. You might score higher, relatively speaking, than you did on the SAT.</p>

6

<p>Well I wouldn’t worry too much about the SATs. My school made me take the psat in 10th grade and i got like a 160. I took it this year and got a 210, so there really is a lot of improvement to be had.</p>

7

<p>It’s not like your GPA has been completely damaged to the point of no return…I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>