Am I doing too much?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/720727-chance-me-please-bit-long-but-still-thanks-2.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/720727-chance-me-please-bit-long-but-still-thanks-2.html&lt;/a> << Chance me if you have time! I'll chance you back, leave a link :]</p>

<p>I'm going to be a junior (class of `11) and I am, unlike many others, excited for my junior year. After a disastrous sophomore year (3.75 UGPA - 2 Bs on both AP Euro and Honors Chem, 5 As in everything else), my mom says that I will suffer under my "huge" forces extra-curricular activities. She thinks I'm mental that I'm doing so "many" activities (in fact, she is ranting to my auntie about this), but I enjoy and have a passion for these. </p>

<p>My high school is pretty competitive, ranked 1st in the district out of four other high schools, low 20something in the state (but then again, we ARE in California with the educational system in the crapper). Basically, the freshmen class of 2012 and below come in taking Pre-calculus freshmen year. </p>

<p>Since I want to go to a private school (USC or Northwestern), I think that personality is very important to the USC/Northwestern people. Keep in mind that I'm also an Asian female and my GPA is far below average of that of the other Asians at my school - and I'm sure, the nation.</p>

<p>To give you a gist of what my mom is supposedly getting at, here's my schedule for next year:</p>

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<p>...and I also want to add District Interact Council member to this, as I am considering running for Area Representative. I love Interact and have a HUGE passion for it! :)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, my mom is going beserk over my overflow of ECs. Am I doing too much? Should I follow my mom's advice and get my maximum total of a 4.66 GPA next year and drop all my ECs (with the exception of 3 - newspaper, teen council, and jail volunteering)? My mom says that I'm not going to go to any college worthy in her eyes (that is, UC Davis and up) with my GPA and grades. She says that grades are the single most important thing next to SATs in college apps, and ECs are little tidbits that the admission officers will smile slightly and grin at, look at your app for a second longer, but not take too seriously. In her book, GRADES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING...Even if it means sacrificing who I am. </p>

<p>Interact as well as my other ECs are things I have huge passions for and have aided in what I want to be in the future. I don't want that to go to waste. How can I sway my mom? Help!</p>

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<p>…and I thought MY parents were anal. Seriously, grades are an extremely important part of your app. but sacrificing “your future potential” is a bit extreme. PErsonally, I think you are already fine for UCD and with some effort next year prob for even Northwestern. Remember, a 3.75 is nothing to sneeze at. Maintain a balance between your ECs and grades. Good luck :)</p>

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<p>First of all, grades are more important that standardized testing in most college application processes. Many colleges are shying away from SAT/ACT scores as the most important factor because it doesn’t take into the student as a person into consideration, i.e. your extracurrics and interests. Second, no offense, but I think that your mom may be way too extreme. Extracurriculars are extremely important. All students that apply to top-notch schools have an adequate academic record; however, it’s the personal stuff that can differentiate you from the others. Your extracurriculars are awesome - you go out into the community; you don’t just stay within the school. Plus, you’re very active in the school both athletically and club-wise (leadership positions are great too!). Don’t give up on your dreams and on what you want! Your GPA is fine and your SAT score is really impressive. You’re a shoo-in to your desired schools, I’m sure. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Wow, tell that to my mom, you guys! :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>Thanks, anyone else?</p>

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<p>They say if you want something done, you give it to a busy person, because they don’t waste time. Don’t sacrifice what you love and be miserable just for grades; it probably won’t help anyway.</p>

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<p>^I agree. Also, your sophomore year was NOT disastrous. Even if there were a cut-off for GPA in admissions to top schools, I’m sure you’d clear it by a lot; and besides, colleges will recognize the level of activity you’re taking on in what they KNOW to be one of the craziest years of your life. Tackle what you want to; your mom shouldn’t have a say in it unless she’s paying for it or driving you from one place to the next.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, she IS driving me…but I can get to my school club meetings by foot (it’s during lunch), ride my bike to the teen council meetings, and use my senior friends to get to other such meetings. </p>

<p>T_T GAHH</p>

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<p>You’re doing fine. If you feel overburdened, then drop an activity. Otherwise, I like the focus of your ECs.</p>

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<p>Not only do I strongly disagree with your mom, but I feel that a 3.75 with solid SATs and great ECs has an excellent chance at Northwestern.</p>

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<p>I don’t feel overburdened at all! But with my imminent 81% in Honors Chem, I just may get a C+ this semester (finals aren’t taken yet) and therefore bring my mom down to believe I am incapable of handling such pressure…agh. :|</p>

11

<p>Can you chance me please? Thanks :)</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724212-chance-rising-junior-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724212-chance-rising-junior-please.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I think you are fine don’t sweat it.</p>

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<p>:D Thank you. Anyone else? Up for more advice on how to appease my mom.</p>

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<p>Those stats look quite great. I wish my school had more APs (we only have 3 :frowning: )</p>

<p>do you think you could chance me? :slight_smile: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724375-please-chance-me-brown-jhu-stanford-columbia.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/724375-please-chance-me-brown-jhu-stanford-columbia.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>THREE APs? I though my school messed for having only 6-7… :/</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for chancing/giving me advice :smiley: I appreciate it! Remember to leave your link!</p>

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<p>I really think your broad-based activities in writing and social issues (jail time, etc.) are unique and “anti-robot” focused. Keep up the good work. Do ace the appropriate SAT sections (writing, of course) and SAT Subject tests.</p>

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<p>Grades are probably most important but ECs are very important as well. If you can keep up good grades with all those ECs then good for you! If your grades suffer immensely then maybe consider dropping some.</p>

<p>You are really passionate about everything you do which is why I think you should keep them! Most people just do ECs for college apps, but you care about them, which is nice to see! Colleges like to see more than just grades; they look at the person as a whole. You said the ECs are important to you so def. keep them. They could make a great admissions essay. And in your app, you can explain that the reason for not perfect grades is all the activities, but they were important to you!! =)</p>

<p>I’m not sure how to leave a link, lol (new to the site), but I’ll just put the URL…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/726087-suggest-some-colleges-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/726087-suggest-some-colleges-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>@berkeley1, you did a beastly job of leaving a link. >:] welcome to collegeconf! haha
I am totally passionate, but I’m just afraid of coming off as an Asian drone…</p>

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<p>haha thanks! i know what you mean, ive been hearing from teachers that getting into UCs will be hard since were the “asian majority” or whatever. they shouldnt even look at ethnicity i think =/ </p>

<p>but yeah back to the topic, i think that you are so passionate which is just amazing :)</p>

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<p>Not be racist or more favorable to my own race of people…but had there not been this necessity to meet the black/latino/native american/white quota, Asians would be dominating almost all colleges, espesh UCs and HYPMS!</p>