<p>Everyone who knows me congratulates me on my academic success, but deep down I feel like such a failure. Not only because I might not look good on college apps, but really because so many people seem to know what they want, and I just stick to school because I haven't found my passion at all.</p>
<p>I'm feeling pretty scared because my only "talent" is academics.
Class rank: 1 or 2/500
GPA: 4.6 (1 B freshmen year, others all As)
SAT: 2250 on practices
PSAT: 220
AP: 5 on World History & Art History as sophomore, this year taking Calc AB, US History, Chem, Stats, Lang, self study Psych, 5s expected for all
Course load: The hardest available. 3 honors freshmen year, 2 honors+2 APs sophomore, 5 APs junior, will take 5 APs senior year.</p>
<p>My ECs:
Sports: NONE
Music: NONE
Science: NONE
Student Leadership/ASB: NONE
Clubs: president of Future Business Leaders of America
Others: 300+ volunteer hours, but earned all over the place (no hospital/nursing home/etc). Exec team member at a local student-organized newspaper (will prbly be Editor in Chief senior year).
Summers: freshmen - nothing, sophomore - local business camp, junior year-unknown(volunteer abroad probably)</p>
<p>I want to major in business, minor in psychology, and go to law or business school. And I want to do all these things in Top 10 universities, particularly Stanford, Columbia, Penn, UChicago, and the big H.</p>
<p>Any idea how I’ll look in the eyes of admissions? I know I’m weak in ECs, so please give advice on anything I could possibly do from now till app time that could make me look less like a lame antisocial nerd?</p>
<p>I think you are lacking in ECs, but if you do something extraordinary between now and the time of application, you would have a shot because you look good everywhere else. If you can maybe fluff up your involvement with the newspaper and future business leaders of america, perhaps you would have a shot. But keep in mind you are going up against people with perfect scores, national awards, deep involvement both in and out of school, and great essays. It is EXTREMELY competitive, and it seems like once you reach a certain threshold, the schools put a lot of emphasis on the ECs and may admit a student with a 2000 score with an amazing story/ECs, instead of a 2400 with no involvement. So you should try to work on ECs if you can.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the replies. I know that ECs are my weakness, and it’s quite unlikely that I’ll get super awards in these categories in under a year. I just wanted some hope, I suppose, because surely not EVERYONE who gets into a top school has the most amazing story/EC ever.</p>
<p>Sorry I won’t be of help regarding Georgetown, since I don’t know much about it at all and would not want to give you bad advice.</p>
<p>The issue is if you want to get in on academics you need off the charts academics. Being number 1 is great if you attend a highly competitive high school. The kind with average SATs of about 2100. And a 2250 is not an off the charts score at any of the schools you list. It’s average for an unhooked candidate. Then they’d expect academic honors, Olympiad medals, USAMO…</p>
<p>I am aiming to score above 2300 on the actual SAT, though I know it will probably not make such a big difference. </p>
<p>an additional question: I’m self-studying Psych though I’m taking 5 APs this year already, so will it even make a difference since it’s acknowledged to be an easy AP and I already have 7? (AP scholar requires 8, but that’s prbly a lame award).</p>
<p>I think you’re focusing on the wrong thing. After you cross a certain line (which I think you did with your high rank), you experience the law of diminishing returns. People obsess about trying to get perfect 2400s/36s when their original scores are just fine. Keep up with the straight A’s, which should not be too hard for you.</p>
<p>What you do need to find is your passion. I think you think it is business. If that’s the case, try interning at a firm. Look to start your own business, start an investment club/portfolio, get work experience, etc. Honestly, you need to take the initiative. In a world of rapidly changing technology and businesses, it shouldn’t be hard to find a place where you can excel. Trust me, since I did it myself. </p>
<p>You don’t need a plethora of ECs as I’m learning. Only a few focused ones. What else gets your blood going? There must be something you enjoy a lot. Even in terms of academics, there are quizbowl/olympiads. I suggest a few in-school clubs and finding something out of school to get involved in. Any local nonprofits? Start your own? You have time, trust me. Just get started now. My suggestion is that you find something you enjoy so it doesn’t seem like work and becomes authentic. I’m appalled at the fact that so many people join NHS at my school just for college, and I think it’s evident in their applications.</p>
<p>Calm yourself down. Once you find a passion, even if you don’t become super involved in it, your essays will flow from that. Lots of my supplements were about my love for film and analyzing it, passion for philosophy, etc. I did talk about my business/my dedication to my culture (in a unique way) in some of them, but not all and they weren’t necessarily the focus. Essays play a large role in your application since they help distinguish you from the pack and make you more than just a bunch of stats. Adcoms love reading essays, so make yours worthwhile and memorable. Hell, my CommonApp was something relatively insignificant in my life that I used to show my creativity, my problem-solving skills, the enjoyment I gain from puzzles, my dedication, etc. You’ll be surprised how much material you have to work with to make your application outstanding.</p>