Advice for a Sophomore wanting to go to an Ivy League University

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>Sorry for the length
So basically I would love it if some of you guys would give me some opinions about what would be the best course of action for me as I go into the second semester of my sophomore year. I just want to make sure that I am on the right track and continue to get some ideas about what would improve my application in the way of extracurriculars (when I do finally fill it out in a few years!). I go to a small private religious school with about 90 people per class, sent someone to rice a few years ago</p>

<p>Academic</p>

<p>98 unweighted average
Rank 1 right now
taking most demanding courses available at school</p>

<p>212 sophomore PSAT</p>

<p>(I'm not worried so much about academic stuff right now because i have it under control, so lets move on)</p>

<p>Subjective</p>

<p>Awards</p>

<p>Every teacher gave me an award except for one last year
Placed 2nd at a state academic meet in geometry and biology, and 1st in a Spanish reading contest (our school won the grand prize)
Excellent rating on a class 1 solo for a vocal contest
Academic letter as freshman (only one in school)
Circle of leaders award</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Chess club
Young Republicans club
Sophomore class pres.
Choir (Not in the class, but there is a morning option)
FCA
Invisible Children Club
Planning on starting a spanish club this year
Some volunteering</p>

<p>Music
Singing (private lessons since 7th grade)
-Will audition for the all state choir next year
-will compete in vocal contest again
-Singing in the church praise band
-Singing for school functions including a dinner for over 400 people and an auction
-Preformed an original arrangement of the national anthem with another person at a football game
-Preformed the national anthem at a professional hockey game</p>

<p>Classical Guitar
-Played since 6th grade
-Studied under a professor at a local university
-Attended various master classes with visiting artists
-Will do a contest soon
-Guitar in the church band
Self teaching piano</p>

<p>Church
-Member of the youth group at my church
-Church camps
-asked to lead worship acoustically for the high school youth group (100+ people) for a month
-Helped to organize a large praise concert at my school
-Lead worship at a small group meeting for my church</p>

<p>Foreign Languages</p>

<p>-Reading novels in Spanish (Spanish is my second language)
-Going to take the national spanish exam this year (I was the one who had the idea for my school to offer the exam)
-Started learning arabic on my own this past summer </p>

<p>Hobbies
-Writing an original cookbook
-Gourmet cooking classes</p>

<p>Athletics
-Varsity soccer since freshman year</p>

<p>Summer
- Mission trip to Nicaragua, Port arthur, and Ruidoso
- International relations program at georgetown
-All state choir camp</p>

2

<p>Advice: don’t be a sophomore already “wanting to go to an Ivy League University.” That’s not a great attitude to have.</p>

3

<p>^ What born said. While there is nothing wrong with your aspiration of wanting to go to the Ivy League, don’t be so focused on it, especially as a sophomore. You look like you’re in great shape already. Just focus on enjoying high school and be active in your clubs and live life. And do yourself a favor, try not to visit these forums so frequently until the beginning of your senior year.</p>

4

<p>Escape CC until senior year. Don’t create yourself for the Ivies; it’s counterproductive and self-destructive. </p>

<p>Just do your thing. If you keep motivated, keep busy, you’ll be in fine shape.</p>

5

<p>You think you want to go to Ivy League.
We all did.</p>

<p>But they cost so much… their programs ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST.
Too many people have this dream, I applied early to Brown with a 36 and an 800 on two SAT subject tests (math II and biology m), and a 236 (omitted one on math), DEFERRED.</p>

6

<p>You don’t seem like you want to go to any of the Ivies for the right reason, but maybe you just haven’t researched enough yet. You’d be perfectly happy with a great LAC or other top 20 university, but the same advice still applies. </p>

<p>You’re in good running as of now, so don’t slack off for your junior year. Take your standardized tests, increase your uniqueness in EC’s, and look over the current supplements for schools you’re applying to two years from now. Get familiar with each school’s personality.</p>

<p>Though most will respond bitterly to your thread, I know that any great school, especially an Ivy, will not make your test scores the only factor for a decision. Having a 36 won’t get you in, but being unique and standing out enough (with decent test scores) will rightfully get you more considered than a plain jane with perfect test scores.</p>

7

<p>I know that I would be happy at a good school with a good program in what I am interested in, but I want to give myself the chance to realistically think about an Ivy League school if it happens to be the right choice for me. If I don’t end up getting in, then it wasn’t right for me, and I’ll end up at another fabulous university and have an excellent time. However, all that being said, I want to give myself the chance to go to a school with enormous opportunities, talented people, cultural diversity I have never experienced, and other things like that. I am aware they can be found outside of the Ivy League, but if I start preparing now for the school that is the most difficult, the others can fall into place. I am not doing any of the things on that list solely for the purpose of college admissions. I do it because I love to learn and I love the feeling that comes with accomplishment. If that’s not enough, so be it, but I see nothing wrong with trying my best.</p>