Am I on the right track?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I've been lurking around this forum for a while so I thought I would finally join. </p>

<p>I'm going into grade 10 this fall and I just wanted to know if I'm the right track to stand a chance at being admitted to a school like Yale. I understand that this process is completely unpredictable but I would still appreciate some advice from all of you :) I know some people find it weird to be thinking about university when you have two years until you apply but hey, I'm a weird kid. :P </p>

<p>Ok, about me: </p>

<p>I'm a white female Canadian at a small private school. Many people from my school end up at American universities. This year people were accepted to schools like Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Georgetown, UPenn, and Columbia. </p>

<p>Academics:
- straight As all year
- I averaged 95% on my final exams this year.
- I have received honours with distinction the past two years
- As far as APs go, I know I will be doing AP French and I plan to take more but I choose those later.
- I start Biology 11 this year (my school offers it early) </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- I play saxophone in a concert band and jazz band
- I have started rowing (crew) this summer and I plan on continuing. By grade 12, I should be quite good and I would like to row in university as well.
- I have always wanted to play cello so I have started this summer
- I'm in the sailing club at my school
- I really want to join Model UN once I'm old enough
- I am running for class president this fall
- I will run for a position on the student council in grade 12
- I volunteer with various organizations (ex. tutoring kids at risk, spending time at a nursing home)
- I will be doing a volunteer trip to Africa next summer
- I will start working part time this year at a grocery store </p>

<p>Awards:
Canada doesn't seem to have these big awards I see people from the states talking about on the forum. But I am working to complete the gold Duke of Edinburgh award. (an award given to those who accumulate x number of volunteer hours along with x hours of physical activity, a skill (ex. saxophone), and an outdoor ed. trip)</p>

<p>Oh, and I consider myself a pretty good writer so I hope my essays will be good. I got 98% on my English exam and 96% overall this year. </p>

<p>So where are areas I can improve? Do you have any recommendations? I know with a lot of my ECs I say 'I will' but I have only recently figured out what I enjoy and for other things I was just too young to start earlier.</p>

2

<p>Well obviously you should take the ACT and/or SAT as well as the SAT subject tests. Also, it sounds like you’ve got good plans for your E.C.s but you should start something now instead of planning for the future. I don’t know why you couldn’t join Model UN or join student council now. Also, what would you like to major in? You don’t have to know now, but if you do know, then you should probably get involved in a club that appeals to those interests.</p>

3

<p>I think I would like to go into political sciences. Do you think I should join one of those local youth political parties? That’s all I can think of off the top of my head that correlates with my interests. At my school, I can’t join model UN or student council because student council consists of grade 12s only and model UN is for grades 11 and 12. :frowning: I will be taking the SAT in grade 11 but when do you take subject tests? Also, when is a appropriate time to start studying for SATs? I know someone who started studying in grade 9 with a tutor but that seems a tad extreme.</p>

4

<p>SAT subject tests can be taken Junior or senior year. Some even taken them sophomore year if they’re ready. My recommendation for the SATs is take it twice if you can afford it. The first time, don’t study, just take it. Then the second time, buy one of those big prep books and study it every day for about 2 months before the next test. And if you’re interested in political science, a youth political party wouldn’t be bad. Also, see if you can get involved shadowing politicians or something. There are some really cool internship programs you can probably get into. Shop around.</p>

<p>Cheers</p>

5

<p>It’s too soon for you to be worrying about Yale and standardized tests. For now, the best advice is to take the most challenging curriculum you can comfortably manage and get the best grades you can. Beyond the classroom, pursue the activities that interest you, not the ones you think colleges like. Over the next year or so, you’ll discover which activities you want to commit to long-term.</p>

6

<p>My advice would be to find something to do that you really like that’s not for college- your ECs are good but I’ve definitely seen them before. For example, I’ve always had an interest in cosmetology so I started following make-up blogs and tutorials and now I’m in a program called Look Good, Feel Better which is part of the American Cancer Society and it gives female cancer patients who have experienced significant hair loss and hits to self-esteem makeovers. It’s an awesome program and I think it really speaks to my interests and who I am. I’ve learned so much from the program and from the cancer patients that I wouldn’t have necessarily gotten from a normal “hospital volunteering job” at a front desk. Also, it sets me apart at least a little because the last time I went to a training, my friend and I were the only ones under the age of 25.</p>