Am I on the right track?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So I’m going to be a sophomore but I figure it’s a good time as any to start thinking about college. I don’t even know if this is the right sector to be posting in, and if it’s not, please tell me the appropriate place so that I can move it.
Anyway, I don’t think my “application” (if you can call it that, I have 2 more years lol) is that strong. My dream school would be either Cornell or Columbia, and so far, I don’t think what I have is going to cut it. Here’s what I have so far:

-4.0 GPA UW // 3 AP Classes so far ^^ (Microecon, macroecon, govt & politics, all 5s)
-SAT: 2050 (i know it’s low, but I expect this to go up a lot, I still have a lot of work to do and an entire 1.5 yrs ahead of me to work on that)
-ACT: 28 (same deal)
-My courses next year:
-AP World History, AP Euro, AP Calc AB, AP Bio, Honors Chem, AP Language, Chamber Orchestra, Spanish III. Whew >< NOT looking forward to it! Unfortunately, the school I’m going to requires you to take all those AP classes, so I’m kinda stuck in that regard

EC’s (weak I know pls do not laugh)
-2nd degree black belt in taekwondo
-1 year of playing in my local youth symphony

Clubs:
-Co-founder & president of NOVA Club
-(pending) Founder & president of Red Cross club
-National Honor Society chapter at my school (running for President, wish me luck!!!)
-Speech and Debate Club (member)
-Leadership Club (member)

-Awards and stuff:
-Team Captain of Science Bowl Team (regionals, 2nd place)
-Team Captain of Quiz Bowl Team (made it to nationals lmao)
-Science Olympiad (got some awards at the regional level)

Not sure if these go under EC’s or awards (some of the magazine stuff is in print, some are just online):
-Published in Teen Ink (3x) (editor’s choice award)
-Published in Canvas literary magazine
-Published in Cicada Literary Magazine
-Published in Rookie Magazine
-Published in Creative Kids Magazine
-Writer for E-Women’s News Teen Voices
-National Day of the Girl Action Team Member
-Clover Collective Ambassador/member (Clover’s this newsletter for teen girls)
-Started an online literary magazine for my school!
-In the process of starting a literary magazine (that’s in print, and for all people, not just those in my school)
-Gonna tutor kids in writing this year.
-Starting a non-profit.

What I’m working on:
-Getting published in Huffington Post’s teen section
-Getting published in Rookie Magazine
-Starting a business w/ some people ^^
-Submitting stuff to the Concord Review
-Submitting stuff to the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards (idk, don’t wanna jinx anything but I think my writing skills are pretty on-par with the award-winning stuff!! ^_^)
-Submitting stuff to Young Arts
-I put in a request to become a First Reader at Polyphony HS, and they have yet to get back to me (?)
-Submitting stuff to Polyphony HS
-I’m gonna try to enter MIT’s INSPIRE competition next year!

Idk, I just want some opinions on this if it’s possible, I’m not trying to brag or anything. If I keep going like this, am I on track to get at least an OK shot at my dream schools? >_< Thanks guys!!! <3 I really appreciate everything. Again, if this is the wrong section for this kind of stuff, please let me know so I can take this post down and repost it in the appropriate section!!! Thanks!

2

bump :slight_smile:

3

Keep moving forward in a positive direction. But IMO it is too early for you to start thinking about specific colleges. When the time comes cast a wide net and apply to reach, match, and safety schools that are affordable and you would be happy to attend. The Ivy and Ivy equivalent schools, with acceptance rates generally under 10-15% are reaches for pretty much anyone, yourself included.

4

Thanks for the advice, happy!
and whoops, didn’t know that it wasn’t ok to bump…well now i do haha xD

5

Wow, I’m also an incoming sophomore and now I am laughing at my own academic path. Haha! But seriously, I definitely think that you are on the right track to success for college. Your courses are really rigorous, your GPA is high, your extracurriculars are wonderful! Best of luck for your future and if you keep up the awesome work, you’ll be a great candidate for Ivy Leagues!

6

Some of my thoughts about your post:
I’m impressed that you have already taken the SAT, but given the fact that the SAT is changing, you’re probably going to have to retake it in the new format.

I know you said that you are required to take all those AP classes, but PLEASE take care of yourself and your mental health. That is a strenuous course load.

And, to reiterate what others have said: Do not start stressing about college already. You have 3 more years of high school. Enjoy them! Find out what you are passionate about, and pursue it (I can see that coming through in your writing and business pursuits). Become a person who knows themselves, and you will find the college that is right for you.

7

If you keep taking rigorous courses and devote time to a few ecs, you will have many options.