Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton?

Question

I am a Freshman in High School and it is really important to me to get in a very good college. I was wondering.. Do they care about your grades as long as you have a 4.0? Does an A+ in a regular class or an A/ A- in a sort of advanced class like Advanced Science (physical science and chemistry in one year)and Geometry. (No AP classes in Fresman year.)

Should I switch into advanced Science for next semester even if I'm not planning a Scientific career?

Does it make a difference what grade I have in a class as long as it's an A?

Thanks! I need advice from someone who has been to one of these colleges, or knows a lot about them.

Answer 1

Yale, Stanford, Harvard and Princeton want GREAT grades in the hardest classes. You have to take the most challenging courses offered to you. For example, if you're really interested in science, and you're applying for a science major, they will wonder why you took only regular science and not advanced science.

Of course, age restrictions and school rules won't let some students take AP classes, but you should do the hardest classes that you possibly can. They want to know what you're capable of achieving.

If a class is too challenging and it's affecting your other classes switch back to the regular version.

But try to challenge yourself, and yes, take the advanced science and geometry.

A lot of people that apply have a GPA that is way over 4.0, so don't try to settle for what you think is the maximum. Do the absolute best that you possibly can in your classes to even have a chance of getting in. And yes, they do care about grades, not just if you have a 4.0. They want to know how you did in individual classes, and they look very closely at classes that are related to your major.

Just a note, I used to think that the only good colleges are stanford, harvard, yale, etc but I found some other ivy league schools that are really good as well. Like cornell university is an ivy league and it has one of the best academic programs in the country. The admissions is not as cut-throat as harvard or yale, and the acceptance rate (for early admission) is nearly 30% compared to harvard and yale's 9%. You definitely should not rule out colleges just because they aren't in the 'harvard, yale' category.

Just do your best, and good luck!!

Answer 2

No, they typically don't look that closely. If you have a 4.0 unweighted, an A+ vs an A makes no difference. In fact, it's probably not even on your transcript. But keep in mind that those schools turn down plenty of straight-A students every year. If you want a good shot at getting in, you'll need to stand out in some way other than just doing great in academics. Remember, almost everyone apply there has great grades and plays a sport or instrument or something. Find something unique you can do - summer internships in your desired field, publish a book, do original research, get a recording contract, start a business, something different.

Answer 3

You need top grades (perfect or extremely near perfect) to get into elite schools like these. The idea of a 4.0 is based on the idea that it is perfect, because most schools don't give A+s. If yours does, then it changes the perfect score, and you would be expected to get A+s, not just As. In addition to the grades, most of these schools want to see you take the most rigorous program possible at your school. They understand if your school doesn't offer some options, but if they are offered and you don't take the more difficult classes, they wonder why not. These schools also want to see your class ranking, and if you aren't among the top two or three, they aren't going to be very interested. AP, honors, and similar classes figure into those calculations, so if you have avoided difficult classes in order to ensure As, you would lose out to others who took those classes.

Answer 4

US News ranks Harvard first, however there's no fabric change academically. None of those universities admits greater than 10% of constant candidates and plenty of candidates with best grades and scan ratings are denied admission. No one will have to observe to simply those 4 faculties. They could have a larger than even danger of being admitted to none of them. An wise applicant will observe additionally to a minimum of 2 defense faculties, considered one of which will have to be the applicant's state institution.

Answer 5

If there is a difference between A- and A+, of course they will care. If you anything above 90, an A, is 4.0, then it is pretty much irrelevant.
Yes, take the toughest course load that you can take.

Go to http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ for a real college forum where you can actually meet real high achieving people.