Expert: Susie Watts - 6/10/2008

Question
Currently I'm a sophomore. My average for last year was 96, and this year it's 90, and I'm extremely worried. Only the AP Class is weighted; my school doesn't weight honors classes.

My dream schools are Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Johns Hopkins.
If I make major improvements during Junior Year, do I stand a chance?

Would the fact that I'm in the science research program, science honor society, fencing team, and a published artist/poet help me at all? I'm planning to join science olympiad and the newspaper, and I signed up to take a college class next year. Would those ECs help me? I'm talented in art and piano, how can I make the best use of my abilities?

As for tests, I'm not really worried because I test well. I did extremely well on PSATS, and I got a 790 on the bio sat ii test i took last year.

Do I have a chance? What should I do?

Answer
It sounds to me as though you are doing everything about right.  I especially like your science activities, but also that you have other sides to you such as the artist and poet.  Try to make your grades as strong as possible the next two years and show schools that you are interested in them by visiting and having an interview.