Admission to top school a possibility? (undergrad)

[imawaveandaparticle]

Hi! I'm currently a junior in high school, and going to a top school for physics has been my dream forever. I go to an extremely difficult prep school in New England, so I don't have perfect grades (no one in my school does), but colleges usually know my school's rigor. Anyways, I got a composite 35 on the ACT the first time I took it, and I am taking advanced chemistry (not AP, my school does not have AP courses. Can only take advanced courses after taking honors of the same subject), honors biology, english, computer programming, psychology, honors pre-calculus. Sophomore year I had straight As, but this year I have a B+ in english and a B in biology. Next year I plan on taking advanced physics, B/C calculus, nuclear physics, modern physics, english, and history. With this (base level, I know) information, do you all think I have a shot at getting into a top undergraduate physics program? Thanks!

 

[berkeman]

The thread below was specific to an international student, but it still may have some useful information for your situation:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-to-get-into-harvard-mit-or-princeton-from-india.935717/

 

[jasonRF]

I would speak with your guidance counselor - or whoever does your college advising at your school. Especially if they have been at the school for awhile, they will know what it usually takes for students from your school to get into various colleges. They probably even have access to statistics regarding these things. If you go to a very difficult prep school the colleges likely view your transcript differently than they view a student from the mediocre kind of high school I attended, so someone familiar with your specific situation (your school college advising staff!) can probably better advise you better than we can.

Jason