<p>I am currently a sophomore in high school and have already started searching for colleges around the country. It has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl to live in NYC, seeing as literally everything about New York is extremely appealing to me. At first I was thinking of NYU, but after my sister went off to a small liberal arts college in Ohio, I found myself wanting a smaller school with more of a campus and traditional college feel. I started doing research and once I read up on Barnard I immediately fell in love. There isn’t a thing about this school I wouldn’t change. I have already decided to apply early action, but I understand that this is one of the most competitive schools in the nation. This makes me extremely nervous because I would literally do anything to go to this school. I currently have a 4.0 gpa and plan on keeping that throughout high school (while taking the most challenging classes I can), along with three years of a varsity sport (cross country) and over 60 hours of community service. If anyone has any advice on things I could get involved in to help me stand out, that would be much appreciated. Of course I realize that I still need to get through the next 2 and a half years of high school, and the chances of me keeping my 4.0 with the classes I plan on taking is definitely not 100%, I know that I will certainly try my hardest to do the very best I can in school. So if any one has any advice to keep me going through these next couple of years, that would also be amazing! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Sounds like you have a plan: put yourself in the best position possible to have many options open to you when the time comes to apply. Study hard, find what you love to do, get involved, and ENJOY HIGH SCHOOL!</p>