Am I looking OK/Looking for college suggestions?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Decided to post after much lurking, lol.
Hi there! I'm currently a freshman, but I suppose it's never to earlier to start the college thing, eh? Counselors at my school are all about planning. >_></p>

<p>Okay, so my top choices are MIT, Columbia, Harvard, NYU, Stanford, and possibly RISD.
First choice is MIT. I want to major in something in the math/science/business area. I have a relative that teachs at Harvard, does that count for anything? :3</p>

<p>White, Female, Private religious school, MA
GPA: 4.15 W, 3.9 UW
Don't know rank, but I believe I'd be in the top 5%? Maybe in a 150ish student class. Don't really know beyond there.
Will be in six honors classes next year, will take seven major classes. (Our school doesn't offer AP till Junior Year)</p>

<p>I took the SAT: 2240 780 Math, 730 CR, 730 Writing
I studied really hard for this, but I think I can raise it as I have around 2 more years?</p>

<p>I participate in a ton of clubs at my school. I'm currently the only freshman in most of them, so most likely I'll have some type of leadership position by the time I'm an upperclassmen. (Let's hope so. [:)
- Science Club
- Model UN
- Math Team
- Robotics Club
- Computer Team
- Amnesty International
- Art Club
- Latin Club
- Tutor
- Camp Volunteer
- Choir
- Piano</p>

<p>Awards in excellency award to two students per grade, math/science/english. Chosen as regional writing contest winner thing. </p>

<p>Ok, so I love math/science and art and writing. Those are pretty much my three/four passion things. So next year I hope to enter the scholastic art contest, maybe win something? I win a lot of art contests that I enter in, and have been told I'm pretty good, so... could that be a hook at all, or is art not a big deal?</p>

<p>Also, I want to enter the regional science fair next year and hopefully move onto the state fair. And I was thinking about starting a debate team because I love to debate, lol.
I also plan to join the newspaper and litmag at my school next year, which I wasn't able to this year as I was kinda spaced for time.</p>

<p>So, will not having sports hurt me? I was going to do sports this year, but had complications. But I feel like I'm pretty ok with just not doing sports, since I'm kinda of clumsy. I'm just nervous about what colleges will think, as my school is usually a school that has people who are recruited. </p>

<p>Also, I want to take courses outside school at a local college, but my school doesn't offer credit for them. I want to apply for RSI in my junior year though, and most of them have completed linear algebra or something outrageous by that time (or so I've heard). Would it be worth it to take the courses not for credit though? I kinda want to, as it'd help me in Math Team too.</p>

<p>So yep, am I on the right track? Are there any colleges I might consider? Much thanks in advance. :D</p>

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<p>Being a freshman, I hope you realize that your entire resume is speculative. In answer to your question about sports, I don’t think it should be a problem. Yes it’s a good idea to get a sport but it’s probably not an issue if you only have three years. I had a friend who was accepted to MIT and she only did sports for two years.</p>

<p>Your ECs look good, assuming that those academic clubs are honors societies. As I can remember, most if not all honor societies are restricted to upperclassmen. Be sure to find leadership roles too. The bigger the role and club (and the longer you’re in it), the better.</p>

<p>And finally, in regards to Art contests being a hook, yes. Winning even the art competitions is a big plus. Listing yourself as a prizewinning painter or illustrator not only sounds good but shows you have more talents than only navigating the academia.</p>

<p>I don’t know about the extra coursework, but in my opinion extra coursework can only help you --assuming you don’t tank because of the extra strain. Hopefully whatever you take will prepare you better for any High School courses you’re worried about.</p>

<p>I hope that helps.</p>

3

<p>You look pretty good but I have some suggestions/comments:

  1. Sports do not matter to a college unless you are a recruited athlete. Colleges look to see that you are spending your time in a productive way. Sports are a great way to do this, but they are not the only way.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Don’t do as many clubs. Being “well rounded” is not really what colleges are looking for. Focus your passions.</p></li>
<li><p>Try getting a job. This will take the place of doing sports. It will make you look responsible and you also get money.</p></li>
</ol>

4

<p>Thanks for the advice, really helped!
Getting a job sounds like a good idea. I was thinking about trying to find an unpaid internship somewhere in my sophomore year, as real jobs are extremely hard to come about where I live. :confused:
As in regards to doing too many clubs, I thought they did focus on my passions? Most of them are technology related. Does that mean I should drop ones such as Model UN, Amnesty, and Latin?</p>

5

<p>dont drop clubs just for the sake of dropping them
just try to put in a lot of time into the ones you are passionate about
If you like being in those others, stay in them
as long as you dont feel like you are spreading yourself too thin and not leaving adequate time for you to pursue your passionate ECs</p>