<p>Being a freshman right now (although it's one week before school's out), it's a bit too early to think about the specifics of college admissions, but I still want to know if I'm on the right track. Does my current profile look right for most top-level universities?</p>
<p>ACT - 31, taken in the 7th grade
SAT - About 1960, taken in the 8th grade'
PSAT - 213, taken this year (one point away from NMSQT in my state)</p>
<p>This year's courses with 1st semester grades and predicted 2nd semester grades:</p>
<p>World Geography - A+/A+
Spanish II - A+/A+
Biology - A+/A
Algebra II - A or A-/A
English II - A/A+</p>
<p>All courses are honors.</p>
<p>(My school's transcript only shows the letter ranking, but the GPA differs between an A and an A+)</p>
<p>Next year's courses:</p>
<p>AP Euro
AP English Language
Chemistry Honors
Precalc Honors
Spanish III Honors
Speech
Creative Writing</p>
<p>EC's for this year:</p>
<p>Swim Team
Literary Magazine
Youth Legislature
Orchestra (Cello)
Math Team
Mu Alpha Theta</p>
<p>I'll also try to do Model UN and Debate next year.</p>
<p>So, how does this look? What do you guys think I should improve on?</p>
<p>You are doing fine. Rather than squeezing in two new ECs for next year, you might want to concentrate on building depth in your 2 or 3 favorite activities, reaching for leadership positions or state level recognition.</p>
<p>I really love Debate and I wanted to do it this year, and Model UN would take up only one weekend of my time and it would help me for Youth Legislature too.</p>
<p>But then, the Common Application only has six spots for EC’s, right?</p>
<p>It is more about showing some depth of accomplishment in your top ECs- so if you love Debate and Model UN, go with those (they can take up alot of time if pursued with intensity). Maybe you can consider dropping a few ECs in which you have less interest or talent?</p>
<p>The colleges want to see your real passions, not every EC you ever joined.</p>
<p>Other than debate and swimming, I these activities aren’t really that time consuming, or at least I’m uncertain how to spend more time on them. I could try to get a better chair in orchestra (I’m not sure anything besides being 1st or 2nd chair matters though) or try to join a better orchestra.</p>
<p>I don’t really have that much talent for swimming at all, but I think it’s important I should do a sport.</p>