I. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Okay! Reflection time!
I feel as though this part of the forum is vastly underused. At the end of the day, we are all here looking for advice, and this subform is the perfect place for concrete, usable stories from which we can learn. I scoured this forum for hours throughout high school, looking for the perfect post - a detailed, thorough, relatable story of a successful admit - but never quite found what I was looking for. Today, I hope to make that post, and calm the nerves of anxious underclassmen and seniors alike who take comfort in these accounts - I know I did.
In the wise words of the Sound of Music, let us start at the beginning, a very good place to start (I’m a sucker for musicals, sorry 
).
II. THE (VERY) BEGINNING
I grew up in a very driven and successful family. All my cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and siblings had gone to incredible colleges, and while I wasn’t raised in an inappropriately competitive atmosphere, it was certainly intense. I was expected, by others and by myself, to perform. I was never forced into doing homework, I did it alone. I wasn’t ever confronted about my grades, because my parents knew I was harder on myself than they were on me. Most importantly, I wasn’t being forced into pursuing a top-notch college education, I wanted it for myself.
III. FRESHMAN YEAR (BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE)
Freshman year was crazy. I go to a private high school, and everyone had college on their minds. We were not allowed to select our courses freshman year, so I had to pursue my interests outside of the classroom. I was lucky enough to know myself and know my interests so early on, and so I got to work engaging in activities that interested me. I wasn’t building a resumé, I was having fun, and in doing so I was demonstrating my passions.
IV. EXTRACURRICULARS (HOW AND WHY, NOT WHAT)
My freshman year, I was elected to student government, joined the Model UN and debate teams, and began writing for the school newspaper. My activities were modest, but they were in their early phases. What is key is that all of these activities interested me. Sports were never my thing, so if they aren’t yours, don’t sweat it. I dabbled in volunteering, but I was never motivated enough to commit seriously to it, so don’t worry if you have 10 volunteer hours less than your friend, I can assure you that won’t matter. Focus on what you love, be authentic, and the rest will come naturally, like it did for me.
I developed my extracurriculars over the course of high school. I became president of both student government and Model UN, became an officer in newspaper, and placed nationally in debate. But I didn’t just participate, I didn’t just sit around with my title, I actually made a change. I transformed the clubs I was a part of. Don’t just become a leader so that you can say you did, actually give something to your school community. Colleges want to see this and are exceptionally good at recognizing it. That being said, don’t feel the need to go crazy with some out of the box extracurricular like founding a charity or building a wind farm. Those are great if you are interested in them, but don’t go crazy trying to find something just for college.
V. ACADEMICS
Of course I kept my course load up throughout high school, that is a no brainer. I did get a couple of B+’s (at a difficult school) so if you get them, don’t worry too much. Colleges want students who can do the work in their classrooms, so just show them that you are intellectually capable (which doesn’t necessarily mean academically perfect).
VI. TEST SCORES (THE STUPIDEST PART OF THE PROCESS)
When it comes to standardized testing, I got incredibly lucky. Without any courses or tutors, I scored a 35 on my first ACT test, and received a score of 800, 790, and 760 on Biology, US History, and Chemistry, respectively (I also received 5s on three APs for what its worth). I can’t really speak to this part of your application, but I want to stress that, while scores are only a part of your application, please get your scores above the 25th percentile of the school you are applying to, it will mean that they have no hang ups when reviewing the other amazing parts of your application.
VII. ESSAYS (YOUR VOICE IN THE PROCESS)
Last came the essays. The summer after my junior year, I sat down and thought for a long, long time. Give yourself time to think about what you want to write about. I started the essay in mid-August, and was sure to center it on my interest in politics. The key here is this: anyone who reads your essay should come away knowing more about you, thinking your interesting, and liking you. So don’t write about an event if it doesn’t say something about you, and don’t describe a person if it does shed any light on you. You are trying to portray yourself as a compelling applicant, and your essay should be where you tell the admission committee why they should want you on their campus.
VIII. THE HAPPY ENDING
On December 16th, 2014, at 5:04 PM EST, after some brief technical errors, I logged on to my Yale Eli Account and was greeted by a singing bulldog. Thankfully I recorded my reaction, because i pretty much blacked out due to shock and now I have a record of all the crazy screaming and crying that ensued. I wish all of you the best, and feel free to message me at any time with any questions.
Good luck and Boola Boola.
-Whattodo122
