Advise a worried junior - mainly about ECs

Applying to College
1

<p>OK, I'm a little worried here. Are my stats, ECs, etc . .. good enough for an ivy or ivy level university? I am asking because I changed a lot of things between sophomore and junior year, and I'm not sure if I'm on the right track anymore. Sorry, this is kinda long!</p>

<p>School: Small, public</p>

<p>Classes: Most rigorous available, challenging curriculum. I don't want to give more details. Also - Orchestra and science research</p>

<p>Testing: I haven't taken the SAT yet. So far:
SAT II Biology: 740
SAT II Chemistry: 720 (Planning to retake it soon)
Sophomore PSAT: 204 (Much better, more prepared now, based on practice tests)
AP Euro: 5</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: I'm most worried about this. Please tell me if you think I need to add anything, step up my game, etc . ..
Literary Magazine (9 - 11, Editor in Chief 10, 11)
School Newspaper (9 - 11, Editor 10, 11)
Debate Team (10 - 11, possible leadership position 11)
Model UN (9 - 11, local awards 10)
Private Swim Team (9 - 10)
Volunteering at Nursing Home (9 - 10, not sure 11)
Creative Writing Club (10 - 11)
Local Orchestra (11)
Possible: NHS, Science Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society (12)</p>

<p>Summer scientific research in a laboratory (9, 10) I'm entering local and national competitions this year. Next summer, I'm not sure if I want to/will be able to do the science research. I was thinking of looking for a business internship or something else.</p>

<p>Do I need more volunteering? I might need some for NHS, so I have to see. Does it look bad if I stopped the swim team and volunteering?</p>

<p>If this looks like a 'laundry list' of clubs, these are actually all ones I'm very interested in, especially the ones I joined a little later. And if you think I'm worrying too much or focusing on the wrong things, I have a lot of familial pressure.</p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation: I'll probably ask at the end of this year. I have one offer from a teacher who retired last year, and a 1 - 2 good choices from this year. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you’re on competitive teams like MUN and debate, you should have awards to back it up.</p>

3

<p>The problem is, Model UN and Debate just started last year, so we don’t go to many competitions yet, but will go to more this year.</p>

4

<p>My school only attends one conference a year (with about 10-12 other schools attending) at a local U, and they hand out an “outstanding delegate” award to one student per committee (so like 1 out of 20). If my assumption that winning this award isn’t very impressive, then what would be? Are there national competitions?</p>

5

<p>Are you helping to make your teams more active? Being on a team and sitting around waiting for it to bulk up is unimpressive.</p>

6

<p>@glassesarechic - I am, but don’t have an official “position” yet. I probably will in debate this year, though. My school starts late, so our 2nd week starts tomorrow.</p>

<p>@scrivener - My school does the same thing too, and I won the award last year. I know that there are bigger contests at the ivies, and at other larger U.</p>

7

<p>No.
Nothing looks exceptional. There are tons of kids with your particular blend of ECs. Everyone does research. Everyone does MUN.</p>

<p>There’s nothing that points to something very specific about your personality…that you are absolutely crazy about writing, or you love debate beyond anything else…and I know this is the conventional advice, but this is also the good advice: you need to be different. You need to be “well-lopsided”, I think the term is. Don’t think of your ECs as a checklist (sports, volunteering, debate, research).</p>

<p>I am not discounting your passion for these, I am merely saying that there is no one particular passion that sticks out. I understand the familial pressure. I have that. My friends have that. If it’s your parents that are making you go through the motions of being the usual well-rounded student, there is information out there to suggest that narrowing your focus may be the better choice.</p>