How can I get a job as a White House tour officer?

Would NYU be a great university for me if I worked harder and got more As? What should I do to get more As?

• Here are my grades so far. I'm a sophomore at one of Pennsylvania's best regarded high schools: Special ed English: B Term 3 comments: Thomas participates in class when called upon. He struggles with staying focused during instructional time. Practical Biology: A Term 3 comments: Thomas is a pleasure to have in class. Thomas does well on assessments and does careful and high quality work. Wellness/Fitness: B Geometry: C+ (ended 1/20) Final comments: Shows evidence of effort. Accomodations were provided. Quality of work has improved. Jazz Lab: A- (ended 1/20) Concert Band: A Special ed Social Skills: B+ Term 3 comments: Thomas participates in class when called upon. Thomas has trouble with seeing other student's perspectives when there are round table discussions. However, he also adds to the round table discussions. My special ed teacher expects to putting me in the following courses in junior year: - Special ed English for the first half of the year, 10th grade English for the second (I have not completed 10th grade English yet, so taking 11th grade English is not an option next year) - Algebra II - PE - Concert Band - Math Lab - Conceptual Chemistry - Special ed Social Skills - Digital Imaging I spend half the day in special ed. My special ed teacher says my focus is a problem in all my core classes. I often zone out and think about other things during the lesson. Also, until recently, I did not spend any time outside the school building studying. When the teachers said my homework was to study, I considered that equivalent to no homework whatsoever. I was able to get As and Bs without studying in elementary school, when we did single step problems on math quizzes and answering questions from simple passages in reading quizzes, but now, the problems I get in high school math for the most parts are multistep, and we answer questions and write about what goes on in real novels. My GPA is around 3.2. I have never been in any extracurriculars. My family without mom says NYU is a very good match for me. NYU's average GPA is what the sophomores in precalc get. My Aunt Paula says the reason I get less than exemplary grades are because I don't show my teachers what I'm capable of. I told guidance it would mean a lot to me if I was in an AP class in junior year, but I'm not in compliance with the prereqs. For some reason I was scheduled in the least rigorous math/science courses available to me for sophomore year that's held in a regular classroom. The least of them all is in a resource room, which I am in for English and Social Skills, and during tests and quizzes in Geometry and Practical Biology. However, Ms. Schrier said if I get nothing less than an A in her Algebra II class next year and do my best all the way through, instead of Applied Math, I will be in Algebra II/Trig I in senior year. I never cared about my grades until something hard work-induced happened. My Uncle Drew was able to afford a $3M, 8,000 sq. ft. custom built house in Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ. He is in the top 1% of earners in the USA, and he has been licensed to practice heart surgery since 1999. It has a bar, three fireplaces, five bedrooms, a private dock, basketball court, balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floor, wall safe, library, ceiling sound system, elevator, fitness room, 100" home theatre, even a 1980's arcade machine and vintage Pepsi vending machine! Needless to say, my family was euphoric upon experiencing the magazine quality aesthetics and abundant amenities. He claims I am just as capable as he is to build a home no less elegant than his if I never settle for less than my best on any work I get. My mom says the only reason why he is saying that is because he knew that if he said "no" when I asked him if I'm just as capable as he is, I could have problems. Is Uncle Drew correct, or is mom correct? My mom also says if I do not significantly more As on my transcript, the best career she recommends for me is a tour guide. One job I imagine I'd be very happy at is one at Facebook's new engineering office in NYC. My Aunt Paula, Uncle Drew, etc. agree with me that I am capable of getting that job and the house. My mom on the other hand, does not. She thinks I'm overconfident and believes I could live with her the rest of my life if I don't crack more books open at home. I believe my uncle is 100% correct, if I seriously push yourself to my full potential I can be just as capable as him. There is no limit to what I can do or be, but that decision has to be mine. If I want to be successful in life, I can be, but it will require many hours of work and determination. I do not want to weaken the potential prosperity of my life. I will do everything I can to make sure I don't have to settle for a college less enlivening for a job resume.

• Answer:

  Great job! I think you have tons of potential and can succeed to go to the right college for you. Getting More A's isn't all that matters, now a days people think that's all they have to do. Colleges are getting more and more interested in extracurricular activities outside of academics. Volunteering, joining clubs or sports, and participating in job fairs or other events impress a college administrator. Standardized test scores, skills, and recommendations from teachers also encourage colleges to choose you! Example: You have lets say a 3.6 VS Bobby's 3.8 BUT: You play soccer can blow minds the with a musical instrument, AND have a ton of awesome community service projects; meanwhile, Bob sat around home and did nothing else. Colleges will most likely pick you. Your SAT and ACT scores in your senior year are also going to be a huge factor. So you still have some time to go! I was in your position too, worried about going to college because i did terrible in Honors English and Honors Algebra/Geometry. :'( But I pulled through and learned that the sky wouldn't fall because of that. Just keep swiming and taking school/life seriously. NYU would be glad to have you. If you need more information on NYU you can go here: http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?match=true&collegeId=3186&searchType=college&type=qfs&word=NYU Hope I helped!!!~