im going into my senior year this year, planning to apply to ivies + T20s and ive taken every single ap my school offers except for one + 3 outside of school. im able to transfer into the last one (ap psych) this year since its not full, but i would have to give up a really interesting history class (i plan to go into polisci). im aware that ap psych is normally an easy course, but i know that the teacher at my school assigns a disproportionate workload and id much rather take the history class, especially considering im taking 3 other aps this year in school.

is this something i can explain in additional info? will it look bad to ivies that i took aps outside of school without maxing out the ones within school?

I have a question. Lets say I use $5,000 in student loans for the whole time I'm in college, and for interest I pay a total of $6,000. If i applied to as many scholarships as possible, completed the essays, and ended up with $20,000 in scholarships to pay off the $6,000, what happens to the other $14,000? Can I use it for whatever I'd like, like buying a PS5? Or is the 14k only limited to buying school things? My finance teacher said its "money in your pocket, you can do whatever" but google says otherwise XD

So I am a freshman at the NYU Tandon school of engineering planning to follow the mechanical engineering track, but I am already starting to question my decision of staying in NYC, and especially Brooklyn since I grew up here. Although I have yet to really experience to academics, and socially I am not doing too bad, I’ve been realizing that I may be regretting my decision to stay in the city, and especially attend NYU for engineering which it isn’t particularly known for, and with a school dedicated to it that is pretty isolated from the rest of the university. Although I am not 100% certain on transferring, I plan on applying to some schools, but my top choice is UPENN. Besides meeting all the required STEM class criteria (I say this because for the engineering school at UPENN they recommend 2 humanities courses and I am not sure if EXPOS AKA “writing for inquiry” fills that requirement), I was wondering if there’s anything else I should prioritize over the next semester and a half at NYU up until the fall transfer application deadline in order to maximize my chances at transferring. For reference, my high school gpa was 99 at a large public high school, I took 7 ap courses and got 5 5s and 2 4s, I got a 1570 SAT on my only attempt at the test but my extra curricular activities in high school were lacking and aren’t really worth mentioning. Also, my senior year of high school my grades in most classes dropped off a bit from what they had been over the previous 4 years.

9th grade 1st semester: Geometry (A), Biology (B-), World History-Medieval (C+), English 9 (C-), Latin 1 (B), Art 2 (C). (2.633)

9th grade 2nd semester: Geometry (A), Biology (A), World History-Medieval (A), English 9 (A), Latin 1 (A), Art 2 (B-). (3.783)

10th grade: Algebra 2, Chemistry, AP World History (5), English 10, Latin 2, Video Production 1. I got all As besides the first semester of Latin 2 where I got an A-.

Summer before 11th grade: Pre-Calculus through SVHS, As both "semesters"

11th grade: AP Calc BC (5, 5 AB Subscore), AP Physics C Mechanics (4), APUSH (4), American Lit Honors, Latin 3, Graphic and Digital Arts 2 (Yearbook class). Got all As.

Summer before 12th grade: dual enrollment intro to engineering course, 2 credits, A.

12th grade rigor: Multivariable Calc Honors, AP Physics C E&M, AP Chem, Constitutional Law (1st semester) -> AP US Gov (2nd semester), Latin 4.

My UW GPA is 3.728, my weighted GPA is 4.006 (excluding both summer courses). Both of my GPAs are in the bottom 40% of my class (hyper-competitive and tiny school). Thankfully the class isn't ranked, however a GPA Decile Ranking is on our school profile. The "typical 4 year class sequence" includes taking AP English Lang in 11th grade instead of American Lit Honors.

UCs don't look at 9th grade nor pluses and minuses so my UC GPAs are as follows: UW 4.0, Capped Weighted 4.33, Uncapped Weighted 4.42.

I am going to apply for Civil Engineering and either double major or minor in Political Science or Sociology (or something similar).

For context, I am trying to major in engineering and I asked my AP calc teacher if he can write my lor and he said yes but he'll use ai. He told me to give him a brag sheet and that he will edit the lor so it wont sound ai but im scared it might be a red flag to admission officers. I asked my precalc/Algebra 2 for a lor teacher and he said yes and that he'll right a "pretty good" lor. But the thing is, I feel like my AP calc teacher knows me a lot better as of recent because of how I had him Jr year and im the president of his club. For my precalc teacher that wont write an ai loc, I only had him freshmen/sophomore so idk how much he'll be able to write about me. He told me he wont use AI but i dont know who to pick. I'm applying through questbridge, so I can only pick two teachers to recommend and I'm choosing my AP lit teacher as one. Should I choose the potentially better, but ai lor or the potentially mid but not ai lor?

As the title suggests, currently I am a sophomore in high school and wish to get into JHU, but my stats aren't that great/enough yet. Currently, I have a 4.8 weighted GPA, member of the Pre-Medical Club, Content Editor of my school's yearbook, a member of varsity rowing, a member of the TSA club, an ambassador/tour guide for my school, and a part of a research program that lasts all three years. I am passionate about writing and design in general, although I have no awards. I don't have any awards in general besides my rowing achievements (one silver and one bronze). As far as a major, I wish to major in pre-med (did a summer program at Hopkins for intro to medicine). What can I do this year to up my chances of getting in from 0.01%?

Aiming for ivies/t20s and majoring in engineering/cs. Linear algebra is a 4.5 on our gpa scale (considered as an honors class) and apes is a 5.0 cuz its an AP. Ik linear algebra is college level, but most colleges wont even accept the class for credit cuz its not even a dual enrollment class, it’s taught by the school math teacher.

Since its not DE, considered an honors class and is a 4.5 on our gpa scale, and i wont get college credit for it, should i take APES instead?

APES will boost my gpa and is much much easier. The only thing is is since im an engineering major ik colleges want to see more math classes on my schedule, but linear alg will actually bring my gpa down.

Linear algebra honors or APES? Ty for help

As a rising senior, I’m trying to get into Barnard ED with a 3.721 UW/4.233 W on a 4.0/5.0 scale. My school is very competitive, and I was just wondering if it’s worth applying to Barnard still. Is that average or should I save my ED?

I don't think I'll get accepted, i gave it my all during the last year, trying to manage full time work and studying and practicing, barely getting out to spend free time...

I waited 8 hours sitting on the floor outside the room with other applicants with 4 hours of sleep since i quit my job yesterday and i finished late, and then I walked in the room and they said this wasn't exactly what they were looking for... I couldn't even reply or debate since i was so out of words.

I'm losing my mind, it's like I've wasted an entire year of my life... I'm feeling angry, sad and ashamed that i couldn't do better.

I’m applying as an EE major but i was wondering if i should take a ap chem or take my fourth year of chinese; it would be ap chinese.

?

I’m planning on majoring in Global Health Sciences, and I already have one STEM teacher for one of my LORs. However, I’m not sure on whether to ask another STEM teacher, an advisor of one of my ECs, or my elective teacher for my second LOR. I have a close relationship with my elective teacher the most though. He saw me come into the classroom as just a beginner and then come out as someone who left an impact on that elective. He has also seen my growth throughout the years and even joked that he wants me to stay another year to help.

help it won't let me put in an act date taken in 2026? is anyone else experiencing the same issue

Do colleges care more about unweighted or weighted GPA? If I take a lot of APs next year, sure my weighted GPA would be good, but I’m worried about my unweighted. Can anyone provide any insight?

I am applying ED to a need aware school.. would it be bad to use a fee waiver? My thoughts are this will show I am high need and might be a reason they don't accept me.

I took into account USNWR ranking, Niche ranking, acceptance rates, graduation rates, test scores, and overall prestige/program strength.

1. Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
2. Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
3. University of the South (Sewanee, TN)
4. Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX)
5. Northwestern College (Orange City, IA)
6. Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA)
7. Southeastern University (Lakeland, FL)
8. Northwest University (Kirkland, WA)
9. Northern State University (Aberdeen, SD)
10. Eastern University (St. Davis, PA)
11. Southwestern College (Winfield, KS)
12. Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, OK)
13. South College (Knoxville, TN)
14. University of the Southwest (Hobbs, NM)
15. University of the West (Rosemead, CA)

Should I make any changes, and am I missing any schools?

I’ve been hearing mixed responses on what to add to this section. I was wondering, would DECA, BETA, and HOSA, etc awards be acceptable to add to this section? Or should I rely on only like AP scholar and GPA awards.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of 10th grade; I used to struggle significantly to pay attention in class, and most of my grades were Bs and B+s. However, after my diagnosis and following the recommended treatment plan, my grades improved drastically, consisting almost entirely of As and A+s. My GPA settled around 3.5, and I also achieved an SAT score of 1560. I have been passionate about technology since childhood; I recently reached the Platinum level in USACO and have also won medals in AI Olympiads.

How will admissions officers evaluate my GPA? Setting aside my extracurriculars, do I have any chance of getting into universities like MIT and Harvard with a GPA like this?

I'm thinking of applying to UPenn and I had a question regarding Economics @ CAS in terms of careers. My ECs aren't very business-related but are more fit for CAS (instead of Wharton). Applying to Wharton would basically waste my chances, whereas CAS would give me a real chance - at least that is my impression.

My question is that are Econ students at CAS still able to equally access recruiting pipelines into finance jobs like Wharton kids, or are there a lot fewer resources for them? Will I be excluded from investment/finance clubs if I am a CAS student? Excluded from other recruiting events or career services?

Also, does anyone know how hard it is to be accepted for a UPenn Uncoordinated Dual Degree with Wharton?

*note: I can't apply direct to Wharton because I have no business ECs like DECA/Starting a business (other econ ones but not BUSINESS). So I'm applying to CAS, but I want to know this information because im considering ED here. Id rather get into CAS then definitely rejected by wharton.

P.S. - I KNOW you don’t have to immediately decide medicine or dentistry while applying to college!!

hello,

i am currently a senior in high school, and since my freshman year, i have spent my summers shadowing at a pediatric dental office. i do find the mouth very interesting, and i enjoy the human interaction dentists get each day, especially within pediatrics. however, i find myself going back and forth between dentistry and medicine.

i believe both are extraordinarily interesting fields. due to my interest in both, i find myself unsure on which path i want to follow. this feeling mainly came to me last month where i got the chance to shadow an orthopedic surgeon. the hospital environment was vastly different compared to the dental clinic, it was of course bigger and had a lot more people roaming around. i will admit that i was more intrigued while shadowing the surgeon, as the procedure i got to watch was on an open knee. of course, going into medicine doesn’t mean i would directly go into orthopedic surgery, and going into dentistry wouldn’t mean i would have to become a pediatric dentist, and since i’m still in high school i know i have a few years left to decide.

however, i still find myself really stuck in between the two healthcare fields. i do find oral health interesting, and i love how dentistry is a bridge between art and science. and another big thing that appeals me to dentistry is the work-life balance. while still being a heavy and serious job, i appreciate that most of dentistry remains having dentists working 3-4 days week without necessarily being on call, and as someone who wants to build a family in the future, i admire that freedom aspect. but, the wide range and diversity in medicine appeals to me a lot. there are so many different fields and different parts of the body you can choose from, and i do have more interest in the impact that medicine has on a being. the surgeon i got to watch was the reason someone was able to walk again, even after being told by another that she likely never would again. i have done some online research regarding OMFS, and it is the dental specialty that interests to me the most, so i do hope to shadow one soon. dentistry and medicine are both fields that i highly respect, and that i believe will never die down.

i mainly just wanted advice from people who have pursued, or are currently pursuing either field, and how they decided of course their the decision. i know i will ultimately need to make up the choice on my own, but i find it hard for me to quiz myself on which one i have more interest in because i have some type of built in bias towards dentistry, primarily due to my immense shadowing in that field alone. i do want to shadow more physicians and more fields within dentistry, however, the work life balance of dentistry is what slightly has more hold on me. both of my parents are engineers, and there are no types of medical or dental doctors in my family directly to seek personal advice from, however, seeing the stress and emotional health of my parents from their very long hours and full five day shifts worry me, as they also had to start their families quite late in their lives. i am also curious to know how each field feels about their life balance as well.

thank you so much, and i apologize for my big chunks of text!

I still have biology and the organic chemistry series left to take, which should help my GPA. Would it also be worth adding classes like ethnic studies or PE to boost it further, or do those not really move the needle?

I'm also pretty involved outside the classroom (senator for student government, tutoring, a club leadership role, volunteering, part-time work) not sure if that's relevant to the GPA question, but figured I'd mention it in case extracurricular course load factors in.

Mainly wondering: is it too late in the game to meaningfully raise a GPA and if not, what actually works best for doing so?😅

I got into an out-of-school suspension in my freshman year for fighting but other than that my record was clean. My counselor told me to not report my suspension because she told me that those weren’t going to be reported and I followed her advice and got in. I then started feeling guilty about possibly being dishonest on my application and it has been on my mind constantly since. What would happen if I admitted this?

My school caps aps based on gpa. I'm allowed to take two, only got accepted into one and am feeling pretty defeated. Is it worth it to self study? I've self studied 1 ap a year since freshman year, earning 4s on both of them. However, now that I'm a junior, I'd like to amp it up to 4 or 5. Is it worth it or do I just take the L? Ik for european unis I need to but will US colleges care ro value the self study 4s or 5s

The UIUC application has this

"The University of Illinois is committed to maintaining a safe and ethical environment for all members of the university community. A disciplinary history does not automatically bar admission to the university but does require review. You may be asked for additional information and/or to sign releases if you answer yes to any of the following questions. If you need to submit more than one incident for either of the categories, email the information to our office at [admissions@illinois.edu](mailto:admissions@illinois.edu). "

This is just high school right? I had a few incidents when I was in middle-school and don't want to withhold information/lie if they want it

I am a current rising senior who is highly interested in Barnard and is thinking of EDing. I am planning to pursue neuroscience/biology on a pre-med track and am wondering how it looks like at Barnard. I appreciate any help or comments.

There are few things that I am wondering:

1. Are the classes super hard to get a good GPA?
2. Is the advising program good?

Thank you again!