Going to be a junior!.. need feedback on classes, SAT, AP's,etc.?

Question

I'm going to be a junior next year and I'm taking three AP's (AP Calc, AP Biology, and AP English Language)

I am not extremely smart or extremely hardworking... so I am pretty scared of s******g up my junior year... :/ I got a weighted average of a 3.7 gpa as a sophomore and I'm taking Hon Precalculus over the summer. As for SAT prep, I'm taking the ELITE summer program. Has anyone's score drastically improved on the SAT by taking the elite program?..or any other sat prep program? I need some feedback on the AP's I will be taking as well as other tips for junior year. I want to get into ucsd or uc irvine or any other uc for that matter...

I feel really stressed!.. is it really hard to get into UC's especially ucsd or irvine?...can I start writing my admission essay even now?... can an average student even have a chance of getting into a uc these days?...I am willing to work hard!

if you got admitted to ucsd or other uc's please tell me what u think are the reasons you got selected.

Answer 1

I'm going to be a junior too, but don't take three AP classes if your not extremely hardworking. I'd take two if I were you and put more focus into two instead of three, by putting more focus into two of them you could get better grades in those two classes your gpa could go up=]. You could always take the third AP during your senior year. Also all years of high school are important but junior year is the most important one. You don't want to be so stressed by taking 3 AP's that you'll get B's or C's in them..I'd rather get two A's during junior year and then get the third A my senior year..but this is all my opinion you can do what you want. Also colleges look for people who are well rounded not people who come home afterschool and study all day and have a 4.0 gpa, theyd rather have someone who does activities afterschool and still maintains a gpa close to a 4.0. I currently have a 3.9 and do sports but next year I am only taking two AP's and if i get A's in them my gpa can go up to a 4.1ish and possibly to a 4.3 if i get straight A's junior year and senior year. And most state schools accept students who have average grades. Colleges also look for improvement if you didnt do so good freshman and sophmore year meaning you got a C or two, you could always show them what your made of and that you have the ability to improve by doing good in your junior and senior years...I hope this helped?Good Luck.

Answer 2

Your going to kill yourself with all those AP's.  

I'd only take the AP classes that will help your ACT/SAT score.   Of those you mentioned, AP English Language is the only one that accomplishes this.

If you wanted to add one more,  I would advise that you are naturally good in that subject.  AP courses take a lot of time out of the classroom so think about that!  Do you want to spend your entire junior year going to school and then going home to study?

On the other hand, you should know yourself and your limits.  In the end, It's your decision.  

Good Luck

P.S. as for the SAT situation I cant help you. Sorry.

Answer 3

I took AP Bio as a sophomore, and being my first and only AP class, I found it to be extremely hard and time consuming.. but then again, it varies from school to school. Because of procrastination, I often did all nighters just to finish homework, but needless to say, I had the highest grade in the class.. As for the AP Classes, I'm taking four next year.. AP Physics, AP English Lang, AP Calc AB, and AP US. So, i don't know if taking three is bad.. I've heard of worse! My GPA is 4.28 weighted, so I'm scared of messing that up, too. And, as for SAT, I don't know if tutors and stuff really help. I'm doing without only because I can't find one, but I do reccommend you buy a study guide yourself, too. And, I'm hoping to get into UC's/ Stanford, so let's hope they'll be easy on us.

Welcome to Junior year, the hardest year of high school.

Woot woot, Class of 2010! <3

Answer 4

Since you apparently want to get into UC schools, your best chance to get in is to be in your school's top 4%- you'd be an automatic admit. Also, wait to start your essay until the summer after junior year- you'll have changed and grown, and the old essay probably won't reflect you as well.

I just finished up junior year. My advice:

Classes: Taking only 3 APs will NOT kill you, espescially if you decide to take Calculus AB instead of BC. Except for the time commitment for the evening labs you'll have to attend for Biology, you'll find it manageable if you learn to use a planner and be organized. Learn how to take good notes, and review them. Again, keep organized. I took 3 APs and 4 honors classes, and since I'm writing to you now, you know that I didn't die. And I made all A's. See? It's doable. But for you, I suggest more studying.

AP tests: Buy an AP study book and start studying when schools starts. My biggest regret is waiting until one month before exams to review. Big mistake- my stress levels were astronomical.

SAT 1 and 2: Figure out which SAT subject tests your prospective colleges need and buy all the review books for every single exam- or borrow them for a library. A friend who got into Yale and CalTech recommends this. As for the SAT i, I took a class for the PSAT offered by my district and ended up with a high score on both exams, but the key was taking practice tests. Lots of them, until I got comfortable and developed stamina (after all, the SAT is over 3 hours long!) I recommend the Princeton Review book. Bonus tip: only drink a little water during the eam, and get up and moving during breaks. Don't eat much iff you know it makes you sleepy.

Extracurriculars/Community Activities: What are you good at? What do you love to do? Take your interests and join school or community groups that go with them- great schools look for involved students. Consider leadership roles. If you like art, debate, speaking, whatever- search for contests in your area , region, even across the nation. Experiment as well. I ended up getting to state- and winning- in a competition I wasn't even involved before this year. You never know what hidden talents you have until you try new things.

On a final note, the junior year is often the most important year in college admissions because it is the last full year of grades they can look at and the first year many of the more advanced classes become available. It's also the student's first year as an upperclassman, meaning they will be more able to be a leader. Make this year count.

Good luck!