<p>a post-christmas bump</p>
<p>I am done with all of of my college applications. I now await news from the schools. Here is one thing I wish I had done when I was your age. Start a blog, keep it fresh, edgy, well written. - - build up a following. Do it now, so by the time you apply to college you have thousands of followers. This will be a real advantage for you to point to in your college applications. - - This is not a “school” activity, rather it’s a life activity that shows genuine initiative. Think less about “joining” and more about “creating”.</p>
<p>@butterbecan that is such an awesome idea! Thank you so much!
I actually have a blog but do not update it regularly. I shall aim to change this.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Just take advantage of all the opportunities, and try and narrow down your school choices based on fit!
Make sure that you DONT JUST PICK SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGH RANKINGS. I can’t emphasize that enough! Your list looks just like the Newsweek rankings and that is what my list of schools looked like soph/junior year too!
But really, just keep doing your best in school and as you research more college options take note of the little things that stick out and don’t try to pick purely based on how a quantitative equation grades them:)
I was so surprised when I got into my dream school-I don’t have perfect SAT scores of AP grades, but I just did what I loved, and they see that and appreciate it!</p>
<p>wow thanks @mandy67! i’m realizing now my passions and the means by which i plan to pursue them, which i feel is a huge positive.</p>
<p>omg how do you have such a high gpa? the valedictorians in my school get in the 4.5’s even if they get 4.0 unweighted</p>
<p>An A in an honors, ap, or ib class at my school is a 5.0. last year i had 5 honors (all A’s, of course) and A’s in my other two classes so i had a 4.71. This year i have 5 honors and 1 AP (all A’s still) so i have 4.86. So cumulatively at this point i have a 4.76. </p>
<p>Overall, the highest gpa possible is a 4.92, which can only be achieved if you have all honors frosh and soph years (except for religion is a non-honors and is mandatory), and then full IB junior and senior years. I was an idiot and didnt take an honors elective last year, so the highest I can get now is a 4.88. So I’ll probably be salutatorian at the end of all this because there were a few kids who did have an honors elective last year…</p>
<p>oh okay my school has 4.5 for honors and 5 for ap’s. we dont have ib’s. the other kids who took honors electives might not necessarily get a’s in everything, so don’t worry too much about that</p>
<p>yeah you’re right… as cruel as it sounds, I’m hoping they don’t. Actually, to my knowledge, 2 out of the 3 do have at least one B right now so thats good for me… I’m so grade crazy it’s pathetic…</p>
<p>Anyway, how do you think I look for the schools I listed? Or how do you think I can improve?</p>
<p>Bad news for you!</p>
<p>Most of those schools are reach schools since you do not have hooks or major awards.
You will have good chances at UCB and UCLA if you get “high SAT or ACT”.</p>
<p>@20more I have seen plenty of stats and people from my school who have gotten into top schools without hooks or major awards. I feel like the exhibition of passion is more of a determining factor than hooks or awards. </p>
<p>But about hooks… I am a filipino/caucasian bisexual Catholic libertarian. That’s a hook right? probably not. but hey, i tried.</p>
<p>And as to major awards, what do these entail? I’m not into math or science so I’m not getting anything Intel or USAMO… What sorts of major awards could I receive?</p>
<p>If you could provide a more open-minded view as to how I could improve my chances, I would appreciate it.</p>
<p>Do what you like with passion. Get great scores! Then, pray!</p>
<p>its okay im obsessed with grades too…thats why im on this site. try to take some sat II’s in the ap subjects you’re doing since you would automatically be prepared for them. you could try to do ec’s, volunteering or leadership related to things you are interested in pursuing. for example, if you like writing, try to get a book published. boy scouts would look good for volunteering/leadership</p>
<p>Seems fine. </p>
<p>Become close to a teacher or two so you have good recommendations that are personal.
Start preparing possible essay topics now if you plan on that many schools.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>^Agree especially with the teacher part. Like others said, I’d pursue one or a few particular passions. They can be part of EC, community service, or academics, but they’ll be super important when it comes to writing essays. Stay on top of tests and grades. Your ECs look great and diverse. If you raise SAT scores and keep up the grade trend, I’d say you have a fair chance at any of the schools. Try narrowing down interests and stuff though.</p>
<p>@ganman2 thanks!</p>
<p>about the teachers, I’m really close with my classics teacher. i’ll have him for 7 classes over four years, and the top student in both Latin and Greek for my grade, so i’ll definitely be having him write one of my letters of rec. he loves me. got a good idea for my other letter too so i’m not too worried about that…</p>
<p>regarding pursuing a few passions, i think i’ve sort of narrowed them down… i’d say my passions are languages/linguistics, international relations/politics/public affairs, and business (philosophy sorta too)… i’m working towards ECs in those areas in addition to the strong ones i have otherwise that don’t fit into one of those categories (e.g. boy scouts or piano). hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>I would say its a little to early since you’re a sophomore but if you keep on the way you are I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t get into the schools you listed!</p>
<p>So I’ve been thinking… UPenn is definitely my top school now I think. How would I fare if I applied there ED for Huntsman? Wharton? CAS?</p>
<p>I’d love any input and how I could work towards getting in. Thanks!</p>
<p>Bumpppppppppp</p>
<p>I’d love some discussion on my previous question… K thnx :D</p>