<p>After this summer, I will be entering my freshman year of high school. I'm taking all advanced classes and have straight As. I took the Duke TIP 7th Grade talent search and got a score of 1950 without any preparation whatsoever. I do a few extracurricular activities but I haven't really been serious about them (as in, I haven't won any recognition). Is it too late to start? What should I join? I don't really have any exemplary talent that I can think of.........</p>
<p>Right now I'm doing.....</p>
<ul>
<li>Dance</li>
<li>Piano</li>
<li>National Junior Honor Society</li>
<li>Science Olympiad (This is really taxing and I decided not to try out for the team next year)</li>
</ul>
<p>I want to do Art (I'm pretty good at drawing) but will it improve my chances of getting into a good school?</p>
<p>It is in no way too late. In fact colleges only look at ECs that you do in high school. Once you start 9th grade try out various activities that you think you will enjoy!</p>
<p>Any suggestions for extracirriculars that do not require you to start at a young age? For a lot of activities it is almost impossible to be one of the best unless you started early…</p>
<p>Also… My high school doesn’t offer many clubs.</p>
<p>Definitely, same as what the person above me said; forget about colleges and remember that you can never get these four years back. It’s not worth spending four years to buy another four years down the line (what a ridiculous concept!), and plus as a freshman you really don’t have anything to worry about yet! In terms of extra curriculars, try out a bunch of things that sound vaguely cool, continue with things that you find interesting and entertaining now, and if you are lucky enough to find something you are really passionate about, pursue it with a vengeance.</p>
<p>Remember that you can’t ‘cheat’ extra curriculars; universities are fine tuned into the type of extra curriculars kids to in order to ‘fake’ their resumes and ‘cheat’ their way into college; instead of doing that, try to just follow your heart. If you want to do Art, do great art and improve your skills, if you show you are dedicated it will help you get into uni (and if not then hey, you still got those impressive art skills for your satisfaction! Win-win.)</p>
<p>Oh and one last piece of advice; just as a life thing, rather than a uni thing, whenever you find yourself ‘doing something’ for your resume, just put it into perspective; 10 years down the line would you rather look back at your high school years saying ‘Damn, I spent all four years stressing out about uni instead of having fun and pursuing passions, and at the end I didn’t even get what I wanted’ or saying ‘Wow high school years were some of the best times of my life because I let myself pursue what I wanted to pursue instead of what I thought someone else wanted me to pursue’? Sometimes you gotta choose the things that matter! :)</p>
<p>Seriously? 1950 with no prep? I’m also going to be a freshman this fall, but I had to work my ass off to get a 1940. Not fair :(</p>
<p>Anyway, just focus on what you’re good at. You seem like you’re good at science and the arts, so focus more on those ECs (volunteer at hospitals, play in the school orchestra if they need piano players, etc.)</p>
<p>Wow, I wish I had been as prepared as this before entering high school! Try to stay well-rounded. Showcase as many abilities that you are actually passionate about. Join clubs, start them (positions of Leadership are a +), but make sure they are active. Join a sport, join band, do theatre, enter art competitions if your school/community has any. Just make sure you actually like what you are doing and only take on as much as you feel comfortable with. If you are worried about college now, you are in an amazing place. Best of luck.</p>
<p>As for ECs that do not involve starting before high school, basically anything (though sports and instruments can be hard to get involved with at a competitive level at this point). With like two exceptions I started all of my ECs in high school and am now extremely involved. Things that I started doing in high school include (these are just my in-school ECs);
<p>All the posts above give great advice, but here’s just a few more things to consider before you embark on your high school journey!</p>
<p>As a freshman you should really branch out and try new things - perhaps a new sport like track or cross country (depending on how your school handles tryouts, I know lots of sports teams at my school do not cut anyone but rather have teams set up in a way that all who want to participate are able to do so). Not only is this a great way to make friends, but the longer you are involved in an activity the better! Also, this opens up more chances for you to step up and take on a leadership role in your junior or senior years of high school.</p>
<p>But, don’t go and join every single club your school / community has to offer. Many of the highly selective schools would rather you have a few ECs that you spend a large amount of time on and that you are very passionate about than putting down 20 different clubs that you are not as involved in. Too many of my friends have made this mistake, but college admissions officers can usually see through the fluff!!!</p>
<p>Now, since you mentioned that your school does not offer lots of clubs, consider starting your own! Think about something that you are truly passionate about - you mentioned that you love art, does your school have an NAHS chapter? Maybe you could start one!</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that colleges really only pay attention to / care about what you do in high school. If you do extend some of the activities that you did in junior high, I’m sure you could write down that you completed ‘x’ number of years, but the stuff you do in high school is definitely the most important.</p>
<p>Anyways, best of luck to you and have fun! :)</p>
<p>First off, it’s definitely not too late AT ALL! You have 4 whole more years to find and do things that you love! Take a few ECs you really have fun with and that you are moderately good at and go far with it! It’s ok if it’s just one or two things but make sure you put a lot of time into it and show your passion for what you choose to do. </p>
<p>If your school doesn’t offer any clubs…that’s actually awesome because you yourself can start one then! Maybe a dance club? Or a club based on anything you enjoy really.</p>
<p>You can do it! Good luck! Enjoy high school, don’t stress out too much! :)</p>
<p>Try out ECs that seem interesting and if you really like them, continue with them for all four years. You might want to try to get some leadership positions or enter some competitions. Just see what you’re passionate about and go all out. Your volunteering can be based on what you enjoy doing too (playing piano for others), or you could get a job or an internship.</p>
<p>You might want to try to found some clubs that you like (I know a guy who founded a Minecraft club), start some personal projects (for example, organize a camp for everyone) … something that you like. It doesn’t necessarily have to be continuous. Though it’s always good to have two or three continuous ECs.</p>
<p>Make your own club in your school. You can be the founder which will be cool! It’s great thinking about it now. I did a lot of EC during my high school career lol however I never though about college until junior year. (BIG MISTAKE) you can think about EC now but remember to focus on grades as well. OH AND start studying for SAT, I mean if you want, SAT will be in your junior year but start focusing about everything</p>
<p>But back to EC’s
try making a club you are really interested in and find a sponser so you can do so.
try running for SGA. it is so much fun and it shows passion of leadership
help with events (homecoming, dances etc)
Volunteer work like going to an animal shelter.
experiment with many clubs and continue with the ones you love the most.
try joining a sport and if you haven’t had any experience be a manager with them and practice with them and try out the next year.</p>
<p>Everyone said basically all I was going to say. Find an area that interests you and focus the ECs that you do (clubs, volunteering) in that area (but also try new things! If that makes sense).
If you’re interested in the sciences, then try looking for research opportunities in 10th and 11th grade! Do those summer programs at colleges (ie Summer @ Brown program).
Try getting and maintaining a certain job or try interning at a business over the summer. If you think you might wind up applying to Ivies and “lower” Ivies (even though you won’t need to worry about that for a few years), then you need a hook, aka something that sets you apart from others. Think about that hook!!
If you want a chance at getting a sports scholarship, then (obviously) focus on a sport!</p>
<p>Well I am an asian student in junior year. Can anyone please
review my Resume and tell me if it is any good?</p>
<p>Gpa- 4.0
SAT- not taken yet.
ECs</p>
<p>Doing edx MOOCs online. one on architecture and another on behavioral economics</p>
<p>debating (secretary)
first runner up in two interskul debates
CHess club</p>
<p>Journalism club
MUN club - one MUN conference attended</p>
<p>Literary achievements
editor of school magazine and newsletter
launched a literary blog
launched a round square magazine</p>
<p>Others-
chemistry award - distinction
electronic keyboard - initial, 1st and 2nd grades trinity college of london
Done several plays. Directed a few.</p>
<p>Community service-
Volunteering and 100+ hour social work</p>
<p>And there are a lot of acitivities i plan to do in these two years.
Am i strong applicant?</p>
<p>Isn’t it sad how we must fight to fit inside the box? I admit that that is how it is yet I am also trying to squeeze into that small box.</p>
<p>I think you should do the art as well, if you can pile that on. I,myself have hardly been involved with extracurricular do to personal issues but I have shown a consistency with art, martial arts, and caring for animals. I think you need to show you are passionate or at least really enjoy what you are doing and also display leadership skills since that is what colleges are looking for. </p>
<p>I am not sure if it will improve your odds, but even if it doesn’t, I don’t see why you shouldn’t take art. If you like it, take it!</p>
Enjoy high school, don’t stress out too much! :)</p>