CC Anxiety?!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! I'm a sophomore in HS, so feel free to roll your eyes at me, but lately I have been feeling very inadequate even though i have good grades. My friends all seem to have 96 averages, great extracurriculars, and awesome social lives effortlessly. They are all highly intelligent and hardworking, but it seems like they either know exactly where they're heading or could be ready for anything life throws at them. It doesn't help I go on this site and everyone seems to have perfect grades and ECs; granted there is a lot of grade inflation but sometimes I can't tell the difference.</p>

<p>I have a 94.14 percent average (that I'm afraid will go down to maybe a 92 or 93), and I am a vocal music major. This is my first year of Model UN and Drama Club, but I am co-president of Drama club already. I take acting classes on the weekends. I have played the piano for 8 years and going. I want to take around 10 APs by the end of my high school career (I'm taking 1 now, 4 next year, and I might self study 1 or 2). I hope to take additional music/singling lessons outside of school when I can afford it and volunteer somewhere. I got a 177 on my PSAT.</p>

<p>Those are pretty much my stats. I understand that I am doing really well, but it feels like it's not enough. I feel like it's never going to be enough, and I won't get into any colleges I want to attend (UCLA, USC, Northwestern, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon). And then even if I do get into those schools I feel like I won't be able to afford them (my parents make around $50,000-60,000). It doesn't help that I want to be an actress/musician, which is even more competition. </p>

<p>I guess what I am asking is what should my target schools be if I maintain my grades and ECs so I remain around the 92-96 percentile (matches, reaches, safeties)? What are my chances at the schools I mentioned? I know you can't get a lot from a sophomore with no ACT or SAT scores, so if you could tell me what I should strive for that would be great, too.</p>

<p>And how can I rid myself of CC Anxiety? I try to stop reading CC so much, but even when I'm offline it still plagues me because all I can think about is leaving home to go to a spectacular university...:(</p>

2

<p>You have a very good average and seem to have a quite a few EC’s. I can understand where you’re coming from entirely though. I felt so behind compared to everyone in my grade. I only have about 6 hours of community service and I’ve tried a lot of EC’s but haven’t stuck with many of them. My average is lower than yours too (87/93). The point is… I got into my dream college, Emerson. If you want to be a vocal music major then you’ll probably have to audition too. Just make sure you keep up with your EC’s so your colleges will see your passion for your intended major. Keep those grades up where they are. You still have junior and senior year to maintain the path you’re on or even improve so try to relax. If you use your time in high school just stressing about college you’re not going to be happy when you look back on these years. Try to relax and have some fun.</p>

3

<p>From a current senior who was thinking the same things two years ago:</p>

<p>Deep breath. Iiiiiiin… and oooout.</p>

<p>Reality check. Firstly, you’re a sophomore! How can you already know where you want to go to school? It’s fantastic that you’re thinking this far ahead, but trust me, you’ll get a much better idea of where you want to go once you’re older and can really imagine yourself at a school. And your friends may seem like they have it easy, but it never is. I thought the same thing about my friends, but in reality, they were getting 5 hours of sleep a night and stressing just as much as I was.</p>

<p>Sounds like you have a great plan ahead of you. 10 future APs, A average… You obviously love music and theatre… so keep going out and getting involved! Come application time, you’ll have some great material for essays. </p>

<p>Colleges love commitment and humanity. They want real human beings. So, keep up what you’re doing, have some fun, and don’t sweat it. </p>

<p>Practical advice, though: Don’t waste your summers. Get involved in things you want to do the next two summers, they’re super important.</p>

<p>Ending my rant now.</p>

4

<p>Stony Brook? </p>

<p>Stony Brook would convert a 92 average to 3.7, while I personally consider that as a 4.0.</p>