A high-schooler, a dream...now what?

Applying to College
1

<p>That feeling...
A feeling that you can do more, that push to stand out. I can bask in the momentary pride of accomplishing one task, but then my thoughts will go to the next one I should do.</p>

<pre><code> After reading through countless threads of "how to get into harvard", "what college essays to write", I realized that what I wanted to read would take too long to find. Everything that I was reading was directed towards those who have already taken SAT/ACT, and are getting ready for the application process. Having just finished my freshman year in high-school, I am thinking of that, sure. I have a good understanding of what I SHOULD do, such as many ECs that will show my strengths, trying to get a state or national award, the impeccable 4.0 GPA, the sports, leadership...

However, somehow I feel that though I'm doing these things, they just aren't SPECIAL enough. The won't make me stand out, they aren't that spark that will get me into the school I've set as my goal.

Harvard.

My father was raised in a very rural part of China, where he had to walk miles to get to school everyday, and then back. I won't go into the details, I don't want this to turn into a pity story :P But in a nutshell, he left home at 16 to go to a high school, graduated top of his class, and was the first in his family to finish high school and attend one of the best colleges in China at that time. He went through so much to bring himself to America, and raise a family there. My father's journey seemed so much harder than me getting into Harvard, and it is his dream for me to go there too or a good ivy, though he won't admit it.

Cheesy it may seem, but I left out details, and overall, this has a very strong impact on me, and it's a goal that I need to achieve.

I'd like to know what some of you guys did in high schools to get into those elite colleges. Possibly some tips for classes, clubs, teachers, and such. I'm a pretty outgoing person, not the bookworm Asian, though I do take advanced courses, 4.0, yadda yadda.
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<p>Thanks in advance!!! :)</p>

2

<p>Basically because you're asian, you're going to have to be the best. Period. So take the hardest classes, pull the highest grades, take leadership positions in clubs, play sports, basically do ANYTHING you can do stand out. It's already hard enough as it is to get into Harvard. Being asian is just going to make it harder for you. So good luck, you're going to need it.</p>

3

<p>...wonderful :/
What I'm also wondering is, would being more "study-hog"-like be better, opposed to being more social? With my personality, I don't think it's possible to be a "nerd", and the people I've talked to that go to Ivies were all in that "popular" group at school, however cliche it may seem. But at my school, those "popular kids" don't care about grades.</p>

4

<p>Also: Harvard is a good reach, apply to Harvard just because it's Harvard, whatever, but also make sure you apply to schools that you research thoroughly and seem like they're a good fit for you. Because Harvard might be Harvard, but that doesn't mean you won't be miserable there if it's wrong for you. If it doesn't seem right for undergrad, there's always grad school (if you're planning on going).</p>

5

<p>Well, I'll just say that you have a better chance at Harvard from Michigan than from MA, CT, NY, or NJ!</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
My father was raised in a very rural part of China, where he had to walk miles to get to school everyday, and then back. I won't go into the details, I don't want this to turn into a pity story :P But in a nutshell, he left home at 16 to go to a high school, graduated top of his class, and was the first in his family to finish high school and attend one of the best colleges in China at that time. He went through so much to bring himself to America, and raise a family there. My father's journey seemed so much harder than me getting into Harvard, and it is his dream for me to go there too or a good ivy, though he won't admit it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>most of our stories were something like that.Your barely grade 9, stop worrying. Don't just go to harvard because it's harvard... just be yourself and do what you like to do. You only have one chance at highschool... live it. Don't do something because YOU THINK harvard wants you to do. It doesn't work that way (okay maybe it does... but just.. don't). I'm sure you can succeed and have fun. Harvard isn't the ultimate goal you know... getting into harvard doesn't really mean anything unless you make use of it.</p>

<p>Anyway, do something special. something not many people do, that way you can EXCEL easily. Be sure to like it though...</p>

7

<p>good luck with it man, i hope you the best</p>

8

<p>your father's cases ain't rare in China.
My grandfather walked 30 miles to his house to bring food to his mother during the 50s(commie..) only to find his mother had starved to death, then he walked another 30 miles back to catch the dinner, cuz if he didn't, he would miss the dinner, and be starved to death. </p>

<p>I know a kid when i was in china whom carried 40 KG of coal back and forth in the narrow mountain road, making probably 1 RMD per hour, or 1/8 of a dollar. He would never go to Harvard, no matter how hard he tries. But he will be just as happy, or even happier. We used to sit on his uncle's restaurant and eat stuff, he would always ask me where I studied and how I do in the school with an air of jealousy and admiration. </p>

<p>I also know a case where this poor farmer kid went to Qinghua(the harvard in china) university, and ended up making bing tong hu lu, or candy in the street. </p>

<p>In the end, it all boils down to what you do, not Harvard, not Yale. As long as you keep doing your best and try hard, I believe you will get a fair amount of rewards.</p>

9

<p>Do what you want with your ECs; be good at them and have dedication. Make a difference in your school and community. Get excellent grades and particpate actively in class. Study for those standardized tests and ace them.</p>

<p>Do that, and you can go anywhere.</p>

10

<p>Your father's story sounds almost exactly like that of mine. And I agree, that journey seems so much harder than ours. Good luck with everything!</p>

11

<p>I am a rising junior who has obviously not been through the process yet, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. However, keep in mind that I have read not only countless threads on CC but also many application advice books including A is for Admission by Michele Hernandez and The College Hook by Pam Proctor, most (if not all) of which were written by former admissions staff members.</p>

<p>The information that you have found is geared toward people who have already taken the SAT because it is a large factor in admissions decisions, no matter what people on this forum may tell you. Of course, it's not the deciding factor, but 2300+ scorers have much better acceptance rates than <2300 scorers.</p>

<p>What you do outside of school matters, but it doesn't matter as much as some people on CC would have you believe. Don't worry about the clubs in which other people who were accepted have been involved. Do what you really enjoy, and your passion will come through in your application. I can't stress this enough. You can BS an essay about Model UN or editing your school newspaper (or whatever it is typical Harvard applicants do), but it could never be as good as an essay from the heart, about knitting or learning foreign languages or breakdancing.</p>

<p>Awards are important, but less so if you are class rank #1 or 2 and get a 2300+ on the SAT. Colleges apparently have a scoring system that they use to separately rank applicants in academics and extracurriculars. If your academics are average (by average, I mean average for Harvard, which is a great deal above average to most of the nation), then you need great extracurriculars (national/international stuff). If you have spectacular academic stats, then just do some activities you like a lot, enter some competitions if you want, but definitely don't worry if you don't make the US team for an Olympiad.</p>

<p>Don't come off as arrogant. You don't sound like a haughty person to me, but just keep it in mind. Have plenty of people read your essays because even if you don't mean to seem arrogant, you might appear so unintentionally.</p>

<p>Do not be a "study-hog." You will just regret it later. It's high school--having fun with your friends is important and vital to preserving your psychological health.</p>

<p>Always take the most difficult classes available. The quality of each high school from which Harvard receives (and accepts) applicants varies, but they always want to see that you've taken the most rigorous curriculum available and excelled.</p>

<p>If you go to a good high school where at least most of the top 10 students go to schools like Harvard and you're in the top 10, then you probably have a better shot than even the valedictorian of a school who never sends students to Harvard. However, don't be disappointed if you potentially are the aforementioned valedictorian. You will still have great chances provided that you get good SAT scores.</p>

<p>That all being said, you are too young to worry about college applications. It's great that you want to make your father happy and that you are learning about the process, but when I was a rising sophomore, I'm pretty sure that my cognitive abilities weren't even fully developed yet (they still probably aren't). Relax, and always remember, if it's meant to be, it'll happen.</p>

<p>By the way, like others have said, consider some schools other than Harvard. If you are determined to make your father proud, consider the other 75% of HYPS because they're eminent schools, too. Check out which school's vibe meshes with you the best, and don't forget to apply to safeties/matches. CC has enough horror stories of perfect applicants getting rejected everywhere.</p>

<p>Wow, that's a long post. Sorry about that, but I hope it's of at least a little use.</p>

12

<p>wow, that really helped a lot. And thanks so much! Yeah, I'll be sure to take your advice :)</p>