I want to get into a good college. A college that people who want to make six figure go to. For example, NYU. I am worried that since my classes don’t have much academic rigor, which is a very important determining factor in college admissions, and that I’ve never been in any extracurriculars, that may hurt my chances of getting into a selective college.
I am in 10th grade. I told my guidance counselor it would mean a lot to me if I was in an AP class in 11th grade. But she refused because she has reason to believe I would fail that class if I was in it because of my grades and the fact that I am not in any challenging academic courses, for example Geometry/Trig 2 in 10th grade. Impressing college admission counselors and taking more electives are only two of the prominent reasons why this can make a difference in my education.
Here are my grades. I checked them today:
English: B- (earlier it was a solid C)
Concert Band: A
Jazz Lab: A
Geometry: C (earlier it was a solid D)
Social Skills: A
In the second half of the year, I will take Wellness in place of Jazz Lab for 2nd block, and practical Biology in place of Geometry for 3rd block.
Two of those classes are special ed, English and social skills. I am in special ed mostly because I did not apply myself back in elementary school. I do have autism, but my low grades back in elementary school have nothing to do with me being autistic. The teachers had low expectations for me back in elementary school. I thought I could get out of jail free, but I was wrong. The low expectations carried over to high school.
On top of that, while the regular students only have to take English for 18 weeks, I have to take it the whole year, because back in 9th grade English, I was very resistant to directions and didn’t do the work. I would have loved to take a couple 9 week courses this year, for example, Business Administration and Desktop Publishing. I could have earned more credits in my sophomore year had I was put in English for half the year like everybody else.
The reason why I get less than phenomenal grades in English and Geometry is because until recently, I never spent any time outside the school building to study for any of the tests or quizzes. I thought I could remember all the important stuff without sacrificing my time listening to “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra at home. That was true in elementary school, but not in high school. Before the Summer of 2011, when the teacher said my homework was to study, I considered that equivalent to no homework whatsoever. That was true in elementary school, but not high school. Additionally, when I got a test or quiz, I just smiled pretty and hoped for the best. Hard workers NEVER have an attitude like that.
A job I’d love to get is an innovative one at Facebook’s new engineering office in NYC. I’ve been very interested in it ever since it opened about two weeks ago. I am very creative, and I have loved practically anything innovation-related since elementary school.
Up until this year as a sophomore, when I got a D or even an F on a quiz or test, I’m like “If I failed the quiz, I failed the quiz.” The straight A students almost never get grades like that on their quizzes, but when they do, they get heartbroken. I never cared about my grades until now. Back in July 2011, my Uncle Drew was able to get himself a custom built 8,000 sq ft (5,000 if the basement is not included) house in Avon, NJ. It has a bar, 100″ home theatre, basketball court, elevator, library, a private dock, balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floors, a built in sound system on all floors, a fireplace in both the family room and master bedroom, a wall safe, and let me tell you, my family was euphoric when they first laid eyes on this house!
Immediately when I evaluated the cost of the house in my mind using mathematics and comparisons of other houses in the area, I immediately thought “Get a house like this considering the work I’m giving my teachers? What do I think? I’m on drugs!?” Uncle Drew claims I am just as capable as him to build a house no less than his as long as I work like he did. I WILL NOT settle for less than what I am capable of.
What do you think about everything I just said? Please be as detailed as possible. The main detail I’m looking for is because I don’t participate in any challenging courses and I am not in any extracurriculars, will that hurt my chances of getting into a good college? One very important detail besides the most important one is: Does my schedule look shabby for a good college like NYU? Most students in my HS take four electives each year, but I was only allowed to take two. I want my life to be very prosperous. I know I don’t have to go to a nationally recognized college like that, but I don’t want to weaken my goals.
I know everybody has to work harder to satisfy themselves. Everyone should think of your report card as reflecting what your future will be like. A person who gets only D’s or close to that on his/her report card will probably be unemployed for most of his/her life, living off social assistance, or worse. A person who gets average marks like C’s on his/her report card will most likely have an average job and income, and not be able to afford most luxuries like a fancy car, or boat. But a person who works hard in school and gets all A’s, and B’s will probably also work hard at his/her job as an adult, and will have a better than average success level and income, and probably an earlier retirement. I believe I am capable of straight As.
The teachers have low expectations for me and don’t expect me to do much work since I didn’t in the past, but now I have an unyielding commitment to do any work I’m assigned without exception. Uncle Drew had that commitment, so what’s preventing me from having it as well?
