advice needed please help!

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>ok, so here's the deal. i really want to go to a great school, like berkeley. here's the problem. i'm not a very social/outgoing person and i don't really see myself being president or treasurer or w/e of any clubs at my school. i mean, i'm in clubs, but i don't really have a huge passion for any of them. i know that this leadership deal is a major thing, but i'm hoping that my tons of comm. service hours will kind of make up for it...maybe?? also, i'm planning on doing a 2 week program next summer abroad helping the needy b/c well, my main interest is volunteering :)</p>

<p>oh also, i'm a sophomore in high school. my dad's a Berkeley alum (he really wants me to start a club at my school, so maybe, just maybe...). my gpa freshman year was 3.86. like i said b4, prob. hundreds of comm. service hours by the end of my high school career :P at hospital, shelters, etc. (i don't know if that 2 week program would count as hours). right now i'm working towards the NHS, Latin HS, an the Congressional Bronze Medal. I'm taking the Psats 4 the 1st time as practice in a couple of weeks, but on my 1st psat practice test (in 1 of those study books) i got a 2120 (which i think is pretty good considering my age and i had no prior preparation :)). i'm shooting 4 a 2200ish on the Sats though. all honors classes so far...working to improve my gpa...in ap us history...want to take as many ap classes in the future as possible...oh and my teachers usually like me, so recs should be good. now that i've bored u with the details of my life, any advice please?! and be nice guys...this is my dream, remember...:D</p>

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<p>I think you’re stressing out too much about this. Berkeley doesn’t just want all you are trying to do. When they say well-rounded student, they don’t mean that they want a student who is a community/school leader, is in all honor societies, does lots of community service hours, has top test scores, and has top GPA… </p>

<p>They do want you to have hard classes, good test scores(high AP scores really help), and gpa, but in terms of extracurriculars, being a leader isn’t all that necessary. Just find a passion in one of your volunteering activities and try to make a difference. When you write your essay you can explain about the major difference you made as a volunteer and what difference it made in you. And if possible just to play it safe, just be a secretary/treasurer of student council or some other clubs. </p>

<p>One other thing…don’t do tooo many E.C.s It will look like your not spending enough time in each to really benefit. Try to consolidate into several focus E.C.s and stick with them for your entire high school time. If you can get those honors stuff go for it. They look great!</p>

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<p>thanks so much :)</p>

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<p>no prob. u got any other questions just ask, but dont stress.</p>

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<p>No worry, the only E.C I had in HS was tutoring, for 200-400 hours total. I had zero leadership, didn’t really join those pretentious clubs in HS. I got in just fine. Keep the stats high and write a good essay you’ll have a good shot.</p>

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<p>sounds great. btw, i’m also gonna get a varsity letter this year for assistant manager-ing the winter track ;)</p>