<p>I'm an upcoming sophomore, but I've been thinking about my future lately. My dream is to go to Stanford University or UC Berkeley. I understand it is pretty early to ask a question like this, but I really what to stand out to the schools. Do you think I'm on the right track, and what else can I do to increase my chances? Do my clubs and E.C's for sophomore year look strong? How many E.C's should I do and what are the best? I was also thinking about talking pre-calc during the summer after sophomore year, so that I can take Calc during junior year. Would that be a good idea? As for the future, I'm planning to study a lot to try to get a high SAT score. I'm also planning to take a lot of AP's and honors in the future.</p>
<p>Here are my stats so far...</p>
<p>Freshman: (GPA 4.0)
English 9 - A
Biology Honors - A
Geometry Honors - A
P.E - A
Spanish 1 - A
Health/geography - A</p>
<p>Also this is what I'm taking this year as a sophomore:
World History, AP
Chemistry Honors
Algebra 2 honors
English 10 honors
Spanish II
P.E</p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<p>Freshman: (not much)
Key Club
Cancer Society Club
Varsity Tennis(#1)</p>
<p>Sophomore(planning to do)
Mock trial
key club
Robotics Team
Forensics Team
Tennis</p>
<p>Volunteering:
Started volunteering at the Children Hospital
Going to start volunteering at Red Cross
Key club Volunteering</p>
<p>Thanks for you time, I'd really appreciate it.</p>
<p>You should try to get some leadership positions in your clubs. You should try Captain of the tennis team if you can. I think it would be a great idea to take pre calc during the summer so you calc junior year. That would give a good head start. Definitely try to go for AP classes.</p>
<p>Hello I’m also going to be a sophomore in… oh my gosh, two weeks!
So looking at your stats, you’ve got sports, volunteering, good gpa, clubs…
Like NYxJon93 said, I suggest getting a leadership position, and take the most rigorous classes available (like you said you would). </p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind though, is don’t just try to get the “number,” go for the depth (a popular saying, ahaha.) For example, enter competitions and flaunt your abilities. Awards, etc. give the colleges a taste of your skills. </p>
<p>About taking Pre-Cal during summer, be careful! I don’t know how challenging your school’s Calculus class is going to be. Some of the people I know also took summer classes in order to get placed in advanced math, but they ended up getting a little shaken up by the sudden change. So choose wisely. (Although I recommend it, if you are up to the challenge)</p>
<p>I hope it helped… I was so excited by seeing a fellow sophomore on CC asking a question like this Good luck and have a great new year of school.</p>
<p>Dude, it’s wonderful that you are thinking about this so early! I agree with everyone else: try to gain some leadership in your ECs and keep your grades up, make sure you take the SAT at least twice and probably the ACT at least once in addition to a few subject tests. Stanford is a reach for just about everybody, and the UCs are also notoriously choosy, but if you keep on the path you’re going and take as many APs/IBs/dual credit classes as you can, you will be very competitive come senior year – and you never know, your interests in colleges may change by then, too, so keep your options open instead of limiting yourself now. : )</p>
<p>Are you instate for UCB? If so, keep your course rigor up and do well on your SATs. I would recommend cutting a few clubs, honestly, since Mock Trial, Debate, and a sport are likely to suck up quite a bit of your time. For instate schools, your raw stats–GPA, SAT–are going to have the biggest impact on your admission.</p>
<p>For Stanford, I’d still recommend cutting a few clubs, but for a different reason. You need impressive accomplishment to make it into a school like Stanford, and mere club membership doesn’t provide for that. Devote your time to one activity, like debate or Mock Trial, and focus on becoming state or nationally ranked. Or do something totally outside of school–I recommend reading Cal Newport’s new book for inspiration.</p>
I’m also going to be a sophomore in… oh my gosh, two weeks!