<p>I am currently a sophomore in high school. I go to public school (all my life), and have faced many obsticles in my life in the way of drama, hardship, etc. , but have persevered and am now in a good place in my life. These are my credentials for my freshman year:</p>
<p>EC: Model UN, Ran for class office, volunteered for obama.</p>
<p>and here are my current grades (at a new school, under a new grading scale)</p>
<p>Pre-AP Geometry: A (97%)
AP Euro: A (98%)
Pre-AP English: A (95%)
Pre-AP Chemistry: A (95%)
Chorus: A (94%-chorus teachers' old/cranky)
Gym: A (97%)
Latin II: A (100%)</p>
<p>EC: need help with this!!!!! did sca at beginning of the year, but quit b/c I got really sick and missed the big homecoming setup and made everyone mad apparently.</p>
<p>I have worked really hard in my life to overcome a lot of hardship in the form of family problems and need some advice on how to get into an ivy league school. I know I would do well, but I need help on exactly WHAT I need do. My passions are reading, choir, and politics (i'm currently writing an essay for the jfk profiles in courage essay comp.). PLEASE HELP!!!</p>
<p>Hi, JP; I am no admissions expert, but if you are truly considering attending an Ivy, I would
consider the following factors:</p>
<p>*Standardized Tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT) – take SAT II tests (ex. Latin or World History) as soon as you finish a corresponding course instead of waiting in the fall of your senior year when you have to reacquaint yourself with all of the material. Also, take the PSAT seriously; you can win great scholarships and recieve attention from colleges as a National Merit Finalist. Optimal SAT scores? From what I hear, 2200+ is excellent, although test scores certainly don’t determine the entire admissions decision.</p>
<p>*Class selection-- Ivy League applicants have taken the most challenging courses in their high schools and have excelled in them. Your grades are very decent; why not also challenge yourself and impress adcoms simultaneously by taking a few enrichment courses? One of my friends plans on becoming a history professor and takes an Asian history class a couple nights a week at a community college.</p>
<p>*Writing --Sharpen your writing abilities and review essay prompts from the Common Application and possible schools of interest in advance. Pin down the reasons you admire a particular college and how you would utilitze opportunities there or contribute to the campus community. Also, your story of perseverance amid adversity could be translated into quite a moving piece. </p>
<p>*Extracurriculars- Colleges like to see focused, developed extracurriculars with eventual positions of leadership and/or responsibility. You already have some great ECs based on your interests. I suggest investigating the National History Day contests and the Junior Statesmen of America summer school programs (hosted on Ivy campuses) as unique opportunities that will stand out on your college application. You could also shadow or serve as an intern under a local politician or work with a volunteer organization for a deeper perspective on societal issues.</p>
<p>Let me just start off by saying that you seem to be another one of those students that get caught up in the whole “Ivy League” brand. Understand that the Ivy League was formed as an athletic conference 150 years ago. Yes, they are terrific schools but they are all different and they all vary in personality, rigor, etc. There are a number of AMAZING colleges that aren’t “Ivies” but will give you a terrific education nonetheless with likely less of a cost. I’m not discouraging you from looking at those schools, merely just telling you to open up a bit, and look at schools that are terrific for what you want to study, as well as location and personality. Sorry about that rant, but I think it’s important that we as overachieving students (lol) understand that there are tons of oppurtunites out there and that whether of not getting in to 8 colleges/universities will decide our fate(s).</p>
<p>Now, about your original question (what you can do). Your grades are terrific, but the rigor of your courseload isn’t up to par with your goals. What exactly does “Pre-AP” mean by the way, because there isn’t a course such as AP Geometry if I recall same with AP Algebra. Are those CP (college-prep classes). If they are, then you should look into skipping Algebra II over the summer and taking Precalculus HNS in JR year. It seems that your interested in History, Economics, Law, International Relations, etc. so bulk up in your English classes (meaning take the most challenging ones offered). Of course, it’s important that you get top grades in these classes as well (easier said than done, I’m going through it too!). Simply take the hardest courses offered by your school and excel in them! Your EC’s are important, especially since your looking at the level of the Ivies. Show that you have a genuine interest and passion in something and work hard to acheive your goals in them. Don’t just run for student office, win it! If you do this, you give yourself a shot at top schools and at that point, you can only wait. Btw, it’s a tad early but you should look into these schools (based on your interest in politics-related fields). </p>
<ul>
<li>George Washington University</li>
<li>Gerogetown</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Howard </li>
<li>American U. </li>
</ul>
<p>tHanks! i really appreciate your help. And George washington/georgetown would make sense as i live in that general area! but I’m still going to TRY for the very top. I guess thats all anyone can do with these schools.</p>
<p>And lots of people have family “hardships”, so unless yours is extreme, I would advise not excusing your grades/ECs/whatever on your environment.</p>
<p>There is also a lack of community service on your part.</p>
<p>^You don’t really need community service… if you have done other things that are amazing. But yes, “life is not about an ivy”! Seriously, you will most likely find yourself equally happy at many other schools in the country.</p>
<p>You’re only a sophomore, so you still have time to make the most out of those high school years. Besides all the other advices that others have offered, find something that you truly love and pursue it in depth for the next two years.</p>
<p>There are lots of opportunities out there if you take the time to look around. Check out Questbridge if you’re low-income, TASP if you’re interested in a great summer program. Both of these are quite selective and competitive, but I’m sure there’re tons of other opportunities out there.</p>
<p>Here’s the advice I didn’t take in high school that I should’ve. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Ditch the sad story- or any story for that matter. (who didn’t have a messed up childhood?) </p></li>
<li><p>Make sure you find out what the standardized tests you should take, what the range is and aim for the sky. Don’t limit yourself in anyway, but be logical- don’t expect to take 5 AP classes and learn 5 languages and do 200 hours of community service within 6 months. </p></li>
<li><p>Take the initiative- you might have to become more extroverted to seek out opportunities that you enjoy. Do well in all of your classes (to be competitive- As are really mandatory from now on) </p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you’re up to the challenge, good luck. Don’t get discouraged- you will fall down a few times. The secret is to get back up!</p>
<p>Yeah and I have to add in there that life isn’t about the image of the college you go to. It might take you some time to figure it out. No one really cares. It takes time though to be aware of your egocentricity.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice! I really dont base my academic existence on getting into an ivy, btw. i just think that if i shoot for the top, i could have a better selection of schools even if harvard rejects me. I know its really hard to get into, and a lot of people who deserve to end up being rejected. And about the hardship thing: I can defiantly tell you that it was something major and not the ordinary hardship/messed-up childhod. I would go into details, but that would just be embarrassing for me and open up old wounds. so ill leave that alone. But seriously, thank you so much for the advice, and if anyone has anything else to add, that would be great!</p>
<p>“pre-ap is like honors”
I’m sorry but that’s not very specific. If it was “like honors”, then why didn’t they just make it honors? The reason I’m asking is because there aren’t such courses as “AP Geometry” and “AP Algebra”, and saying “Pre-AP” implies that those classes exist, lol. I think the rigor of your courseload is one of the most important (if not THE most important factor in admissions at those schools), because GPA is starting to lose its credibility with the extreme grade-boosting these days. So take advantage of every oppurtunity that you are given at your high school and then seek more oppurtunities… and get A’s!! lol If you do that, and then show that you have passions and you know how to put your talents to use, you’ll be fine. After all, top schools are really just looking for smart, balanced students that will contribute to their Class and give their school a continuously good name. Good luck again :)</p>
<p>I also agree that having a hardship really means nothing and that having a story, especially a sad one, isn’t the best way to go with admissions.</p>
<p>I’m a current senior right now, and honestly I wish I could go and redo some of my applications. I also had a hardship, but honestly, a hardship means nothing. Your ability to make the most out of what you have and to take an initiative on your education and your future is more impressive. </p>
<p>College Admission Offices are bombed every year with sob stories. Dead parents, incarcerated parents, lack of money, homelessness etc. I know this sounds insensitive, but none of those things matter in college admissions. Except for some extreme cases, what you do because of these circumstances is more important than whatever happened to you.</p>
<p>^Interesting… what kind of scholarships?? Scholarships are useful, obviously, but I’m not sure how that would necessarily help the OP “get into an Ivy” (though it may help pay for it!). Usually when someone doesn’t feel like committing himself to community service and is volunteering only for resume padding purposes, he just ends up accumulating a whole bunch of random volunteer hours here and there on projects that he doesn’t even care about, which ends up consuming a lot of time but hardly accomplishing anything.</p>
<p>But if you are very dedicated to the community service, it can of course be very rewarding. I don’t know, just my two cents.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don’t know any scholarships from doing community service- but I’ve been dedicated to two volunteer organizations my whole high school career. I don’t know, it shows you’re a student who cares about the community, and uses their opportunities to help others. </p>
<p>Not to mention that community service is something I think EVERYONE should be active about, no matter what. It’s your responsibility as a citizen to give your time to other’s less fortunate if you can. That’s what I believe in, anyway.</p>
Seriously, you will most likely find yourself equally happy at many other schools in the country.</p>