College, grr?

Question

im a sophomore in highschool, and i have so many questions about college, applying, what looks good on an application,courses, and etc.

1) Do you need to take AP classes in your junior year? (do ppl take AP in junior yr for higher gpa, to save money, or is there another reason?)
2) My gpa wasn't that great last yr. however, its much better and its definately gonna improve next yr by a lot (b/c im taking more honors classes, and im studying harder). do colleges like improvement?

Answer 1

Ok, the real deal when it comes to getting into college...

First of all, don't stress yourself worrying about it - choose schools that you would like to attend and where you will have a legitimate chance of being accepted. You can visit all the campuses you want, but until you actually get there, you really have no idea what it's going to be like. Undergraduate college years should be the most fun of your life, pick a school that seems like it'll be fun because you're only going to be in class 14-15 hours a week, and you can only study so much. A school known as a "party school" is highly recommended, you will have a great college experience.

As far as grades - they are basically going to throw out your freshman year entirely, and look only at your core classes from your soph. and junior years. Those are the only classes that matter - math, science, english & history/social studies. The AP and honors classes are not that necessary (unless you're trying to get into an ivy league or similar level school). I never took a single AP class and got into a Big 10 University (MSU) with no problem and a 3.4 high school GPA.

The other thing they're going to look at are your ACT scores, which you won't take until next year. Take a study course for the ACT, they'll teach you how to take the test and you'll be fine. None of the material is overly difficult if you know how to answer the questions.

I recommend applying to any schools you would like to go to within a month after your junior year has ended. Getting accepted earlier will make your senior year much more enjoyable, as you won't have to think about it.

Answer 2

Taking advanced courses is great, but learning to think is better.

The two things I see my students lacking the most, are maturity (taking responsibility for their actions) and critical thinking. Prove that you can do this by your actions, not just your course load.

Also understand that attending a smaller school for an undergraduate degree is just fine. They tend to be easier to get into, and more specialized in a particular field of education.

After you get your BS or BA, then look at a larger school for a graduate education. That will serve you better then a BS or BA from any larger school, even an ivy league school.

Ken

Answer 3

1. You can take AP courses in any year. I took AP History in my senior year, and AP Chemistry in my junior year.
They're more rigorous courses so you learn more, they often help with class rank (if you do well in them,) they are more attractive to colleges, and if you pass the exam you can get college credits which will save you money in the future.

2. They love improvement. Keep it up.