Expert: Sue Kayton - 4/24/2009

Question
Hi Sue,
Im a HS soph. and school will be ending soon and im wondering what summer classes I should take if i should take it at all Do they look good on a college application? I want to get into the Pre-med field in college and i cant get a straight answer from anybody about taking summer classes. Should i take a class that has something to do with the major i want to get into?I have already taken biology and about to finish chemistry. Or should i take a class that is extracurricular or an elective type (Film appreaciation, Speech etc.)Im also thinking about taking a pre-cal class so i could be a year ahead in math. I actually have a 100% A+ in algebra 2 but my math teacher said not to because there is a lot of risk involved with failing and not getting understanding it fully and then not understand Calculus. If you cant answer this type of question can you direct to me to someone who can on this site! Ty

My other question is what grades do i have to get to get into the colleges i want? I live in California My colleges?
University of California Davis
University of San Francisco
Pepperdine University
Johns Hopkins University
I'm starting to pick up on community service. Im starting to volunteer at a blood bank in May and a local hospital in June. My GPA this year was a 3.73 i believe though im not just done yet. Some others things iv done is

Joined CSF at my school where we help tutor kids that need help in class work.
Joined Science Olympiad compete with others schools and stuff(Got bronze medal for Electrical Vehicle in regionals)
About to Join the National Society Of High School Scholars

So with the things that im doing and about to do will i be able to get into the colleges of my choice. What else can i improve in (grades, SAT scores, ACT, classes, community service?) What do colleges look for? Thank you so much!

Answer
Do something this summer that you find fun and interesting.  Don't worry about trying to impress colleges.  Do what YOU like.  If you are thinking of pre-med, perhaps volunteering at a local hospital, veterinary center, or other place where you will be able to see what health-care professionals do for a living.  That will help you decide on a possible career.  I suggest you get a copy of the book The Making of a Surgeon by Thomas Nolen.  It was published about 30 years ago, but the basics of medical residency haven't changed much.  It shows a very different side of medicine than the artificial one you see on TV shows like House.  

I do not recommend taking a math class during summer school.  They compress the class a lot and kids (even very bright ones) often have trouble keeping up.  Most students applying to the colleges on your list will be taking Calculus as seniors.  If you stay on your current schedule, will you be able to do that?  If not, consider taking a math class in summer school, but keep in mind that it is VERY difficult, even for bright students, to grasp a whole year of material in just a few months.  Most kids who take a high school math class in the summer are repeating it since they flunked it during the year.  If you live near a community college, you may want to take the math class there instead.  The teacher will be able to spend more time teaching, and less time on discipline problems at a community college.

I'm in California also, in Silicon Valley.  If you need further information, we can set up a Skype phone call or real phone call to answer more of your questions in detail.  But most of your concerns will be addressed on my web page.

http://www.suekayton.com/college.htm