<p>Hey,</p>
<p>So I am just an average kid, like 3.33 GPA 176 PSAT. I'm an incoming juinior</p>
<p>Anyways what can I do that will be different and extrodinary that will shine on my application that can help me get into some good colleges. Something different than anyone else that makes me unique and that shows I'm special.</p>
<p>For example my sister spent 3 weeks in a latin american country and experieinced the culture and life in latin america and i think that really helped her make a good college cus she was an average student well a good student like me, but average compared to CCers.</p>
<p>Anyways, what are other things similar to spenindg 3 weeks in a foreign country that will make my app shine? What have other people done / any ideas that really look good on college app and that are great life experienfes.</p>
<p>One thing I did was spend a week in the dominican republics building a house for poor people, and got 40 hours of community service, but what else can I do?</p>
<p>i dont really want to do what myy sister did, that really isn't my tpye of thing to do.</p>
<p>Maybe get like a weird job or somehthing? anyone have any cool ideas?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>You already have the grades and scores to get into most colleges in the country. The only colleges that you probably have no chance at being accepted to are places like HPYS Amherst, Williams, and similar schools. There are hundreds of excellent colleges that would be happy to accept you.</p>
<p>well, thanks. well im in california, and if i apply to UCs i could probably get into only like UCSC UCR and UCM. I would like to get into SB, D, or I most likely or go to a private school.</p>
<p>But I will only take 1 AP my jr year and 1 honors, i took 4 honors last year, and my difficulty of class schedule is just okay, i have a just ok gpa, a decent sat, 1 varsity sport jr year probably, and thats about it. i was just wondering if theres anything i can do over the summer or anything like my sister did that can give me a good boost to up my chances at colleges and give me a good life experieince.</p>
<p>are there any other threads related to this topic?</p>
<p>I mean, are you trying to get into very competitive elite colleges like the Ivy League and those of comparable selectivity, or are you just trying to go to college in general? You are actually above-average, as far as your anticipated SAT scores and GPA goes, and would be admitted to most colleges across the country -- all but the very highly selective ones, I would think. And you might even be accepted there depending on your total package (and it's not a "miracle," numbers are not everything in college admissions).</p>
<p>Remember, the people that frequent CC are very likely in the top 5% of students in the nation. Also remember that Harvard and similar schools could fill their entering class several times over with valedictorians, 4.0s, and 2400s, but they don't. Why? Because they recognize that there are people and experiences behind these numbers. Yes, you do have to have competitive stats, but contrary to popular belief a 4.0+ and a 2300+ is not required to get into even these most selective schools. And at less selective colleges, you have a much better than average shot.</p>
<p>wow thanks, can you give me a few examples of colleges i could get into in like CA then?</p>
<p>bottom of page bump</p>
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Also remember that Harvard and similar schools could fill their entering class several times over with valedictorians, 4.0s, and 2400s, but they don't.
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<p>Not so as to students with scores of 2400; they are too rare. </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/557720-294-members-class-2008-aced-sat.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/557720-294-members-class-2008-aced-sat.html</a> </p>
<p>I agree that grade averages of 4.0 are very commonplace, and they are meaningful only if the good grades were gained in challenging courses with high standards.</p>
<p>arright, thanks. can i get some more input.</p>
<p>arright, thanks. can i get some more input.</p>
<p>If you're looking for a shining application consider getting some more life experience. You had mentioned that travel provided your sister with interesting ideas/stories. Maybe travel would be good for you. Volunteering in an unusual capacity or taking on a social injustice or developing your own program would all provide some good life experience. My wife took a year off after high school before college and she formed a lot of her identity then, maybe you should consider that.</p>
<p>My advice is not to do something simply for the fact that you want to make your application better. If your application is otherwise fairly normal and then you suddenly have one random trip that you took/volunteering position/paid job that occurred just before you applied for college without showing any prior interest then it's going to just look like you're trying to hard.</p>
<p>You can't realistically expect people to give you advice on something like this because we don't know who you are, only you know that. Do you play any sports? Are you religious? Into music? What do you want to study? Any lifelong ambitions? Explore what makes you YOU, because THAT'S what colleges are looking for.</p>