advice for sophomore

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a sophomore in high school, and I'm starting to think about college. I was wondering whether anyone on here could give me some advice on what to do to help me get into a good school. Sorry the information isn't all complete.</p>

<p>A little background info: I went to a private school for freshman year. We moved this summer and I started sophomore year at a new private school that is more rigorous (and I believe a bit more prestigious). My mom works at Haverford (not as a professor) and I have a parent and grandparent who both went to Middlebury (as well as a few other relatives who have gone there). </p>

<p>GPA: I don't have it but I generally am an A-/B+ student.
PSAT (soph year, studied for about 45 minutes): 70/69 writing/verbal, 52 math
ECs: I started ballet/dance in 9th grade, participated in student run dance troupe at new school. That's pretty much it -- I'm not great with ECs. Going to do community service during the summer, as well as continuing ballet, adding more classes, going en pointe, etc. </p>

<p>I've won a French award (honorable mention) in 9th.</p>

<p>Strengths include writing, French, art, history. </p>

<p>I'm willing to study very hard for the SATs. I'm probably gonna buy an SAT prep book soon and start working on it as soon as I can. </p>

<p>I'm not looking to go to an Ivy, because I know I won't get in, but Haverford would be great. What are my chances (at this point, from what I have so far) and what do you recommend I do to increase my chances of getting into a good school? Also, from what I have so far, where would I be able to go?</p>

<p>Thanks, I would really appreciate any advice you have to give.</p>

2

<p>

Your mom should find out what programs are available for the children of staff. Some colleges give a tuition break to dependents of their employees if you attend their school or others that are part of a consortium where they have shared tuition agreements. You may also get preference in admission.</p>

<p>“Good school” is a misleading term, sounding like its some kind of universal truth; what you care about is a school that’s good for YOU. Some people like cities, some hate them. Some people like the seminar and small class approach, some prefer larger classes led by those at the top of their field. You see where I’m going. A good school is not defined just by a top rating by US News, it is a school that meets what you want. </p>

<p>Spend some time in a low-key effort to think about what matters to you in college; visit some local examples other than Haverford to find out what different types are like, talk to some college kids who are older siblings of your friends, etc. Also reading thru a book about college admissions that has a chapter on fit is a good idea; I can suggest a book called “Admission Matters”.</p>

<p>As for advice, studying hard for the SATs isn’t as important as studying hard for your classes; colleges tend to look down on applicants who have stellar SAT scores but who’s grades seem low in comparison, figuring they’re not willing to work. One funny thing is that although you spend so much of your life in school, they never bother to teach effective study habits. One book that covers this is called “What Smart Students Know”, written by the cofounder of the Princeton Review prep service to be for schoolwork what their service is for SAT prep. </p>

<p>As for ECs, joining this and that isn’t going to impress colleges that care about ECs (and most don’t, BTW). They want to see leadership and achievement in one or two areas rather than a grab-bag of minimal participation. 2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [How</a> Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]How”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) I don’t agree with everything in them, but take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some ideas.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for your reply. I read over the articles and found them very helpful – I figure if I can study hard (for both classes and SATs) and find an EC that stands out I could probably manage something.</p>

4

<p>You need to sit down with your parents and anyone else who will be helping you pay for college, and find out just exactly how much money will be available. Is it 55k per year? Is it 10k per year? How much money do they expect you to make during your vacations and/or during the school year to pay for your education? How do they feel about you taking college loans? How do they feel about them taking parent loans?</p>

<p>Once you know about the money, you will have a better sense of your options. And yes, it is not too soon to start figuring this out. Every single April there are many threads at CC with titles along the line of “I can’t afford the college I want to go to”. Please, don’t set yourself up to become the author of one like that two years from now.</p>

5

<p>For a bit more on ECs there is a thread with comments by NSM, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs. This can give you more ideas of what the most selective colleges look for (keep in mind, though, that <em>most</em> colleges give little or no attention to ECs). The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;