Do AP scores affect UC admissions?
Are you a senior? If so then you won’t be reporting on your application and they won’t be seeing them for admissions. But if you are a Jr they suggest:We recommend that students who complete Advanced Placement courses complete the related AP examination to demonstrate subject mastery.The examination requirementIf you think you are going to score so low, then perhaps you should, not take it, although I believe at least Berkeley wants to see you at least try and likely the others too.However I don’t think it will be a major factor. It could be considered if you are on the bubble. More importantly is that you challenged yourself by taking the AP’s and it will reflect in your UC gpa as well.Keep pushing, Jr year is a tough one but it is the important year to finish strong. You can relax a bit after this (but not so much you let grades slide and get rescinded.)
Does it look bad to colleges to retake Algebra 2?
Read Harvard's advice on course selection: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.ed... Realistically, taking or not taking Algebra 2 over again will probably have little effect on being admitted to the named universities. With the exception of Penn, they are more highly selective than Brown, where over 83% of applicants with a perfect 800 Sat Math were rejected and 76% of Valedictorian applicants were rejected. http://www.brown.edu/admission/undergrad... The Sat Math tests Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry. The Act Math tests all those subjects plus Trigonometry. A student's scores on the Sat Math section should indicate how well he is prepared in Algebra and whether there is a need to repeat it. Without Trigonometry, he is not likely to get a top Math score on the Act. Most of the students I know who have been admitted to the named universities and were not athletic recruits took second year College Calculus -Multi-variable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations- in high school. Ivy League Academic Index: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/acade... http://www.collegeconfidential.com/academic_index.htm The issue appears to be that you probably do not at the moment have competitive Sat or Act scores for the universities under consideration at least in Math or there would not have been an issue with the Pre Calc Pre test since those topics would not have been "rusty" from prepping for the Sat or Act last Spring or over the summer for this Fall's exams. May not even have competitive scores for more selective public universities. All the named universities except Stanford also require Sat Subject Exams. The named universities take few to almost no transfer students. If there is a strong desire to go to those universities that is probably only going to happen by taking a gap year and either prepping on your own or by doing a post grad year. http://privateschool.about.com/od/students/qt/pgyear.htm Good Luck!
3.2 GPA, 2370 SAT score, chances at any good colleges?
Tell your nephew I said congrats. I could not even pull a score that high and I got into Harvard, Columbia and Cornell. I made a 2340 (an impressive score, nothing compared to that of your nephew's). I was rejected from Yale though so you know the process works in so many mysterious ways. The SAT score is outstanding and his extra curriculars are great, his merits are admirable and as for his GPA, well from the looks of it I can tell you that he took a lot of tough courses in order to have that high of a GPA in the first place (weighted not unweighted). I will break it down for you. UVA - match because of his SAT score, since it is an out of state public with a 31k tag JUST for tuition, I say he should seriously consider removing it from the list. Harvard - reach for just about anybody, I doubt he will make it though because they turn away turns of perfect kids but like anyone else, he has a small chance. His story seems interesting and if possible, the smart move here would be to get the congressman to write him a letter of recommendation. The good thing is financial aid at Harvard is beyond admirable, if his family makes below 60k, he is going to get a full ride. Yale and Princeton = same as Harvard. Columbia = a little easier to get into but I would suggest that he not go here since it is in a bad part of NYC and the switch from small town to a big city all of a sudden might impact his academic progress. Northwestern = most likely a match, I used to live in Chicago and I knew a kid with a 3.1 GPA and a 1500 SAT score (math and verbal) who got in about 3 years ago. MIT = huge reach, take it off the list. If he really wants to go there tell him to apply to grad school. Georgetown = his SAT score is well above their top range and his ECs will turn a lot of heads. Boston College = match but a waste of money, 50k per year for your undergrad is not worth it. Johns Hopkins = he might make it. As for the list. If you had to narrow it down I would suggest picking Johns Hopkins and Harvard as his wildcard school. If he wants to apply to one more tell him to pick Brown University, he has a good chance there. As for colleges he may want to look at: Carnegie Melon and Cornell University are some good picks.
Is a 720 on the SAT Math Level 2 Subject Test?
What are you planning on majoring in? If it's in a math related field, admissions will probably put more weight on it. I'd say the priority goes from GPA, then SAT I, then SAT IIs. That's a pretty good score, I wouldn't worry about it; I sincerely doubt that this score would be the dealbreaker on your admission. Some colleges put more weight on it then others, for example I know UCLA looks for academic achievement especially. You'll have to do research or contact them.
On the New SAT, I got a score of 1490 (99th percentile) and an essay score of 6-5-6 (Reading/Analysis/Writing). Should I retake the SAT?
Let me start by saying that you are in a wonderful position. This is such a hard question to answer as it looks like you would already make a great candidate for all of the mentioned schools. For starters, I think you would have a great shot at getting into Berkeley. My guess is that you will get into Columbia as well, though that might be just a tad more competitive. Stanford, Yale, and Princeton can be a bit unpredictable, so it’s only for those schools that I might consider retaking the test, but only if you feel very confident that you could bump your score by a solid 40 points or so. The only thing that worries me is if you retook it and got a lower score.Although certain schools allow you to use Score Choice (send your highest score only), many schools require that you send ALL scores. Here is a list from 2015 of schools that require all scores, and many of the schools you mentioned are contained herein:In sum, my gut tells me you should keep what you have and play it safe UNLESS you feel like your 1490 was way below your other practice tests. If you were nailing all 1550s and above with high consistency and really feel like your last test was a total flop, then go for it. Otherwise, stick with your score and you should more than likely do just great during application season. Just don’t forget to get your apps in as early as possible. Best of luck, and I really hope you make it into your top choice!
I feel embarrassed about going to a Community College?
I have not yet graduated high school, as I am entering my senior year. I challenged myself last year with AP US History and English Honors. I did not do so well in AP US History and my grades suffered, which is terrible because junior year is the critical year. I had around three C's, two A's, and one B. My parents have completely lost hope in me that I can get to a decent college and even tell me that I don't need to bother with applying to colleges because it'll be a waste of money. When my mom came to talk to me, she had took it upon herself to call our local community college counselor and find out information like my future of going to a CC is set in stone. I said, "If I get into a good college..." and she stopped me and said, "You are not going to get into a good college. You're not ready to do hard work. You're unmotivated and lazy." Great for my confidence, right? Anyways, people sneer at CC's as if only the uneducated slackers attend. My family is full of successful students (NYU, Carnegie Mellon, UC Irvine, UC Merced). I feel like I'm going to embarrass myself during the holidays when I visit my extended family and they ask about college and I'll have to tell them that I'm attending a community college. Does anyone have any advice for me? Some support, which my parents lack a lot of, would be kindly appreciated.
How do you get accepted into a college?
County colleges have open enrollment; they accept all applicants. After two successful years you can transfer to a 4 year institution. Avoid 4 year universities with a large graduate school; you will get teaching assistants teaching the courses and many cannot speak understandable English. This happens at the best and most selective colleges and universities.