<p>Hi, I am a rising Junior who is totally discombobulated by the future ahead. </p>
<p>My dream school is Yale, and I would do everything in my power to achieve such a goal, but nowadays I'm getting second thoughts.</p>
<p>I am taking three APs this year, and of course, the SAT's, but I just feel totally depressed by the amount of pressuring my parents are surmounting on me. School doesn't feel like a learning environment anymore--it feels like a prison of expectations. I'm just wondering if there are any tips about how I can relax my nerves and achieve my best possible effort. I am an A student who currently has a cumulative grade of 96 and want to continue this run. Any tips for Junior year? How can I make it into Yale?</p>
<p>Unfortunately Jr year is a pressure cooker for students aiming at the very top colleges. It’s too bad your parents on on your case, ask them to back off, tell them it is counterproductive. There is no formula to get into Yale. Now that you know that will be your reach school take stock of your entire list. Take this year to learn about other colleges where you will be happy with the unique offerings they have, and that you will be more likely attending. Identify a safety or two first. Then look for some match schools. Many people like the Fiske Guide to Colleges for self education. They are good because they point out the academic strengths and give a sense of the atmosphere/culture, as well as mention common overlaps to take a look at.</p>
<p>Maybe your nerves will relax when you see how many great schools there are out there where you will get fantastic education and many opportunities.</p>
<p>The best thing you can do is find a subject you enjoy, and pursue it. Don’t convince yourself that Yale University is your “dream school” just yet. What would you major in? Would you like the rural/suburban/urban environment? Would you be able to pay for the school? Are you going to have to take out loans? Does the school offer your major? If so, how do they rank? These are all questions you should answer for yourself when you take a glance at ANY university. </p>
<p>I just started my Senior year, and my reach school has to be Rice University in Houston, Texas. I have fallen in love with both math and science, and I’ve finalized my ideal college to Rice due to their outstanding undergraduate research studies, and their emphasis on Texas residents applying. Through my massive amount of research, I’m doing everything possible to apply with my highest chances. </p>
<p>I believe that’s what you need: an incentive to move forward. Don’t make your ambition a “dream school,” rather, make it a dream career, because that simplifies things. Find out what you love. Whether its economics, phycology, sports med, or a fellow intellectual of science and math, follow YOUR ambition. </p>
<p>This past year, my friend was accepted ED by MIT. He wanted to be an engineer, but discovered his love for math and science at around September of last year. He found that MIT is the world’s leader in engineering programs. He expressed this in his essays, and his EC’s, and got in. It wasn’t just because he was this outstanding being with a 2400 on his SAT and 5’s on all his AP’s, but because he had a passion for what he loved to do. </p>
<p>For your Junior year, discover who you are. That’s what high school is all about. Take this opportunity to venture through your school, and find a subject you LOVE to talk about. Read ahead in your text books, read some articles online, or just discuss with your teachers why they decided to teach the subjects the teach. You’ll be surprised in the end.</p>
<p>You should use this year to think about your future beyond college. What do you want to do? Don’t make going to Yale your ultimate goal but just one of the path leading to your future. When I was in high school, I also had the dream of going into the college I want. When I did get accepted, my brain went empty. I did not know if I still have a goal in life or not. One of my friend actually withdrawn from college before the end of the first semester. I guess he just had the same feeling and did not overcome that.</p>
<p>This is going to sound really blunt. I’m sorry. I don’t intend it to be rude or dismissive. Because you don’t deserve that; you sound both smart and thoughtful, which are not neceessarily the same thing.</p>
<p>The sad fact is, unless you can lead Yale football to victory over Harvard for the first time since 2006, there’s just about nothing you can do to ensure that you get into Yale. The numbers are simply stacked against you. The best you can do is to make sure you’re a competitive applicant. And then to develop a good and diverse list of colleges and universities to apply to–a list that includes one or two safeties that you actually would be willing to attend, and that you family can afford, some matches, and if you wish, some reaches, including Yale.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest that you read this ([Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)), and every time it says MIT, mentally replace it with Yale. I think if you take that advice to heart, you may or may not get to New Haven, but you will wind up with a fabulous, enriching and possibly life-altering undergraduate experience somewhere.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the support. I take 3 APs and a Varsity sport–the reason why I feel so strongly attached to Yale is because my father went there and I visited the campus at least 7 times during my lifetime. I even attended a formal dinner held at the school for one my dad’s retiring teachers. So Yale has been a large part of my life…</p>
<p>I deleted all social accounts (except for this one) and am trying to avoid silly distractions…I really want the best for my future. I have set up study goals and aims to help, and I hope my morale can push me through.</p>