<p>I am currently a junior in high school and have a 4.0 GPA unweighted and am taking the SAT next month but I don't feel like I'm ready. Also planning on taking the ACT and the Biology and Math subjects SATs. I don't have many extracurriculars but I have been in art and band class since freshmen year and plan to stick with it for the remainder of hs. I did spring track freshmen and soph year but may quit this year because I get too many stress injuries. I did tennis since soph year and made varsity this year. I have submitted artwork to the school's art/literary journal since freshmen year (does this count). I am in math, science, and spanish honors society and the multicultural club. That's about it and I'm really into art and have been told my art is truly exceptional, so I believe my portfolio is what will really make or break my application. The representative for SAIC (one of the top art colleges in the US) I spoke with at National Portfolio Day told me I can definitely get accepted to SAIC and should apply for a scholarship too because she said she knows I'm qualified to get one. However, I want to apply to colleges with good programs in art AND sciences like biology because I want to end up going to graduate school for medical illustration, which involves the two subjects. Besides CMU, which I am very interested in, I am also thinking of applying to Syracuse, Temple, Tufts, RISD and Brown for the dual program, some state colleges like SUNY Purchase and New Paltz, and lastly Columbia, Cornell, and Yale (as a reach...). I need advice that will increase my chances of being accepted? What other extracurriculars should I do? Community service? And leadership positions (because as of now, I don't have any)? I was thinking of joining the art/literary journal staff, and becoming a multicultural club officer. Not sure what else. Help is much appreciated hehe</p>
I think that sticking to the extracurriculars you have now and really putting all of your time and energy into them is going to look way better than just adding random extracurriculars (unless you are very passionate about them, of course). You should look into U of M’s Stamps/LSA program, which means you can double major in biology and art stuff.
I recently applied to SAIC and got an awesome merit scholarship (22,000 a year). If they say you should subit a portfolio, then 100% do it, Early Action deadline.
Is an AP art class available at your school? If so, look into it for strengthening your portfolio even more. I’ve found with both admissions and scholarships, that having a really strong portfolio is the key to getting your foot in the door to dual degree programs. You are 100% right that a portfolio makes or breaks an application. Spend this next year building it as much as you can.
Over the summer, look into some art intensives, particularly at schools that you are interested in. I know SAIC has one.
Also, not liberal arts school, but College for Creative Studies has a medical illustration program, and if money is sort of tight for you, they give out fantastic scholarships for good academics. Like, ridiculous. Half my art class got merit for their grades alone. And three got full rides.
So, there it is. Enjoy the next year and make the most of it. Happy holidays!
That’s awesome that you got a 22,000 scholarship to SAIC! Are you thinking of going there? And when I went to National Portfolio Day in nyc, the lady I spoke with from SAIC said my portfolio was approved so I think that meant that all I needed to was apply. They even sent me a letter about the application process, but I had to email them saying I’m only a junior hehe… Also, I am taking AP Studio Art: Drawing this year and I think I’ve got a good idea for my concentration, so I hope the next pieces I create will strengthen my portfolio! 
Thank you for your input!
SAIC is definitely a school that you should consider, and it is really generous in giving scholarships! For applying to a regular college, I have low-average grades (4.03/5.0 weighted 3.9/4.0 unweighted) and a 2010 SAT score, but these scores, surprisingly, are fairly high for art schools, thus giving you a higher advantage.
I also applied to SAIC early action and got $24000 for three years, and then $28000 for my senior year! Then today, I got a letter in the mail (snailmail) that they’re offering me $2500 to go study to ITALY!
The only AP I took was AP drawing and I didnt have a lot of extracurriculars, which kind of surprised me that they would give me so much! I really think your extracurriculars are amazing, and now, you should focus on really squeezing out the strongest portfolio you have!