<p>Could I somehow establish a certain lifestyle that could take me to the school of my dreams? I mean, I might have grades that make me at the middle of my class, but do any of you think there is a way for me to figure out how to increase my scores, average (GPA), the # of EC's, etc. I believe if I follow the path told from the school's website I could be accepted as soon as I graduate from my VERY competitive Catholic Jesuit private HS (college prepatory)!</p>
<p>I know what you’re thinking now and how you are thinking. I feel like I was just a freshman yesterday. And when I was a freshman, I didn’t take the wise advice of seniors going to ivies. I wish I did. Their advice was basically do what you like and challenge yourself. So lose that mindset, or it’ll turn out quite badly for you.</p>
<p>Hahah, is your high school more competitive than mine?? ;D</p>
<p>But anyways, I recommend that you choose some extracurricular activity that you are not only passionate about but is also outside your comfort bubble. Something that many people don’t care about doing that could bring a big impact.</p>
<p>Use it to write your personal statements too. That’s all I have to offer in terms of advice.</p>
<p>Elfslayer, my advice is to just keep on slaying elves…ok that was half a joke. But seriously, I wish I had known this when I was a freshman. Don’t worry about “what colleges want to see” or “leadership positions” or “unique extracurricular activities” or “awards.” Just do what you are interested in and put your ****ing heart into it because quite frankly, if you’re a competent human being, you will earn awards and leadership positions, and your extracurriculars WILL be what colleges want to see. Obviously you should maintain your academics at a high level, as high a level as you can without killing yourself I would say, even in classes you don’t enjoy. But otherwise, I truly believe being yourself is the best way…perhaps not the best way to get into Harvard…but the best way to end up where you belong. </p>
<p>If you don’t want to be happy and just want to be a cynical, soulless lawyer with a harvard degree, just study your ass off for the physics, chemistry, or biology olympiad and make the international team. </p>
<p>Personally, I think the first option is easier and warrants greater rewards, but we’ll see about that in three weeks.</p>