What should I do: nice grades in a small and average high school or ok grades in a top high school?
823451
OK Cool...  it has been a long time since I did HS, athletics, SATs, college, GMATs, grad school (twice) and all bu tlet me give it a shot.\n\nFirst, excellent job so far.  Obviously you want to get the best grades at the best school possible.  But it sounds like if everyone else has excelled at your school...why move unless your future school is at least as competive.  Of course, you might want to stay with your family!  My family was going to move just before my junior year and my HS football coach offered to have me live with his family.  I went to a school with 2500 other students in San Diego.\n\nYour SATs must be based on the new 2400 scoring system placing you in the 88th percentile so you have room for improvement...most of us did or do so that's not a slam.\n\nYour extra-cirricular activities seem fine and if you want to add something I suggest something out in the community...outside school interests do catch college attention.  I worked with mentally disabled kids teaching them to better their reading abilities.  Also, your part time job, even if just 10 hours a week is a nice reflection on your diversity or multi-tasking (I truly dislike that term...sorry).\n\nPersonally, unless you are seeking an atheletic scholarship, I wouldn't go hyper active on the sports at the expense of your grades.  Your 2 sports reflect teamwork (football & track) plus your ability to strive independently in a team environment (track...it is an individual effort in many events).\n\nI had a great time at a large school and all 3 of my universities were large...the smallest bing the Uof Oklahoma.  \n\nAs for your falling grades, these next 4 semesters are important, so make sure your "drop" is an abberration.\n\nCool...it is your (and your parents) decision, but you sound on the right path.  Also..where you would live when your parents leave might be a significant factor.\n\nBy the way, my parents didn't move so I didn't have to make the decision you face. \n\nGood luck to you.  And hey...it is always tough to leave your your team members but think about your future...as you obviously are doing.
730270
I think that someone like you would be the better student, and looked at better than the first.  When colleges look at grades and courses, they want to know that you know what you can handle.  They want good GPAs.  Great grades that keep you in the top of your class will get you into college.  What will help even more is if you went a step above just classes and participated in activities.  A person who just had great grades will not look as good to a college as someone who does well and has involved themselves in other activities, especially volunteering.  If you have that as well, then you are a shoe in.
506109
I have a story for you... Im in 11th grade now and I have a 4.19 GPA for this year. I looked at my 9th and 10th grade put together and I had a 1.6 or something like that. I was always smart just never applied myself. I applied to URI with a bunch of excellent recommendations and I wrote them an awesome essay. My chances are looking good and I plan to go for Physics. So point of the story...If youre still in school, finish strong and show some responsibility and it will pay off.
220061
Studying and getting good grades in high school certainly help. Excellent SAT and ACT test scores, also. Check the web sites of colleges you are interested in and see what their test score requirements are. It also helps to be a 'well rounded' student. That means get involved in various activities in and out of school - sports, band, clubs, volunteer work - the more, the better.
642566
What is really important is learning.  Good grades are just a symbol that you learned well.  I mean yes they matter in getting into college, but mostly they matter to you because it means you really learned things.  Teachers use grades to motivate you to learn.  The whole educational system does.
173148
Sounds a bit excessive to me.  A b+ is really good.  If this is your lowest grade you are doing excellent.  Your parents must be strict with you, but I stillthink this is excessive.
670152
All of your grades in high school are important, but they are going to look at your overall GPA as well. Also, you need to find out if the college you will be attending accepts ACT or SAT scores. As a general rule, most colleges in the South lean toward the ACT, while schools in the North lean toward the SAT. Your grades alone, paticularly just your sophomore year, are not the most important thing. Also, fit in a couple of extracurricular activities, as well as volunteering. Don't try to do too much, it will make you look overcommitted and that you don't spend enough time in each area. Limit yourself to 3 or 4 activities, and try to really excel in one of them.
1032199
Not too likely unless you are considered unusually spectacular.  2 year colleges are considered as high school extensions to the majority at prestigious universities.  Better chances at a quality public university (e.g., University of Washington).
291930
What you have chosen sounds good. In the overall scheme of things it doesn't matter a great deal what else you choose since you are only in 11th grade. Just make sure you continue with sciences and continue to do very well in them. Universities look at how well you do in your courses, not so much at which courses you do, as long as you have the required ones. And you have the required ones if you have the math, the sciences, and English. The only ones I would recommend are a psychology course and/or a statistics course if they are available to you in high school.  And I really don't think that fast track matters either - take your time and get a good foundation.\n\nGood luck with your future plans.
1134860
Go anyways. So what if your not that good. Its a learning experience and it builds character. In order to survive in this world anymore your self-esteem has to be so high that nothing phases you. Who cares what other people think.
740719
You're supposed to get good grades.  For them, that would be normal, and bad grades are not.
1149142
The schools in my neighborhood are good. The elementry school is a California Distinguished School and has good test scores.  The Jr. High is ok. The high school is a top notch school. They have won science and academic awards. I am planning to send my child to them.  I am a teacher in a neighboring district.
770984
While it would be ideal to have high grades throughout high school, the next best thing would be to start "lower" and then show continued, (dramatic, if necessary) improvement from then on. Everyone knows that sometimes it's hard for people to make the adjustment from middle school to high school, and that it shows up in the grades.  Overall, though, you need to take the hardest courses you can manage, study/work hard, show a real interest in your work vis-a-vis your professors...and join some clubs and do some volunteer work!  It doesn't have to be 5 clubs...but a couple that you commit to for the duration and eventually show some leadership in.\n\nBe sure to ask your teachers for help if you need it!\n\nGOOD LUCK!!!!
603277
Grades are very important at this time of your life. Good grades means more opportunities and scholarships. Gives you a good headstart in life too. Study hard.
830276
Universities don't look at the school as much as what classes you take in that school.  If you're doing well in AP and Honors classes, then you should be fine.  In some cases, such as prep schools, they look at classes you take and activities you are involved in based on the reputation of the school.  So if you're going to a school with a well-known educational system, and you're taking honors classes, they should realize that.  Its not as important to be in the top 10% as it is to take advanced classes and do well in them while involving yourself in other activities.
792260
Both.  In most cases the weighted one (which implies that you took more challenging courses), would be more important.  Actually, most colleges really don't put a lot of stock into GPA at all, because it varies so much from one high school to another.  Class rank (how you compared with others at your school) is normally more important, as are test scores.
586149
Good Grades eat and workout right a who knows maybe your dreams will come true.\n\nHaving a goal it a good thing.