<p>I have no time to reply on the new posts right now, but I have read them and they are very interesting and helpful. But one quick question, what is a "BWRK"?</p>
<p>I'm a Mexican freshman, but I think I have a better chance at Harvard than 90% of my race for some reason...</p>
<p>btw, are you guys telling me that a weighted GPA of 4.5 is bad for Ivy League Colleges? </p>
<p>What is the highest GPA you can get, I assume its 5 from what I have learned, but I have been seeing people reporting 6.3 and such...</p>
<p>Well, given your stats; you won't get a 5. I'm sorry, but if you can't handle Algebra, or Science, then the Ivy league is not for you...Between me and you, I would stand a better chance, as I myself are a freshman also...and I'll be applying there too, I think.</p>
<p>If you were to get all A's your jr & sr years i don't think you would have much of a problem assuming your test scores & EC's in line.</p>
<p>by not having much of a problem i mean you would have a decent chance.</p>
<p>mexican dude, we're not a race. it's an ethnic group. you can be white, black, or asian and be mexican american. in fact, the indigenous indians of mexico are "asian" from thsouands of years ago. :p</p>
<p>ok, I just did calculations and I predict that my final grade AVERAGE will be an 82.71 for my whole freshmen year. </p>
<p>Stambliark41, I KNOW I will get all A's in my sophmore, junior and senior years without a doubt. And I plan to start studying for the SAT's this summer so hopefully with 2 full years practice I would be able to ace that too. </p>
<p>So given that, if I do get straight A's all throught the rest of my high school career, do great on the SAT, and have good EC's, you guys are still telling me I have no absolute chance at Ivy league because I got a B in my freshmen year?</p>
<p>also, if thats not good enough, then what COULD better my chances, what can I do from now on up until senior year that would better my chances... independant study? Take more classes?</p>
<p>Plus, arent I ranked up against other minorities also applying? Which is why I, as a minority, have an advantage?</p>
<p>EDIT: Mind you, I am interested in Ivy league in general, which means any Ivy League school, especially if its in New York or close to connecticut, so not necessarily the TOP like HYP... </p>
<p>If not Ivy, I was thinking NYU (out of state) aswell, and considering Uconn (but rather not), or even Yeshiva.</p>
<p>Stop worrying about grades and getting into colleges and focus on your passions-- genuinely. Passion + Initiative (while keeping those grades up and being well-rounded) = Greatness. Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. :]</p>
<p>Also, minority status doesn't mean much unless it comes down to you and a similar applicant-- obviously, ivy leagues aren't going to accept a sub-par minority student over a brilliant non-minority student.</p>
<p>I'm confused about your choice of major-- what made you so interested in International Relations if you haven't taken any courses in politics or participated in any related extracurriculars?</p>
<p>ofcourse, my passion is history, international relations, diplomacy. That is my passion. And I know in order to really accomplish my goals of becoming a top ambassador or diplomat I have to get into an excellent school that offers good international relations programs (please suggest if you know any schools that even specialize or have the best programs, I am unsure myself).</p>
<p>Now with knowing my goal, what can I do to improve my chances? savoirfaire as you have seen my other thread about Model UN, I am interested in MAYBE starting it in my school, and I know that would help me tremendously no?</p>
<p>Just keep your options open. When I was a freshman last year, I was so sure about pursuing a career in biotechnology. I was planning to enroll in my school's accelerated science curriculum, and my dad was already looking for summer internships for various researchers. Well, that all changed when I was introduced to a new environment, took new classes, met new people, and participated in new activities. So don't be dead-set on an IR major until you've experienced it fully.</p>
<p>Here are some activities that I would recommend:
- National Forensics League (speech and debate)
- Model United Nations
- Amnesty International
- Political campaign internships
- Volunteer work: <a href="http://www.volunteermatch.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.volunteermatch.org</a>
- Spanish Club/Honor Society</p>
<p>You'll definitely want to stick with Spanish throughout high school, perhaps even learn another language at a local university. I would also recommend skipping Spanish 2 through summer school, which will have you ready for AP Spanish by senior year.</p>
<p>Take advantage of the resources around you. Search for international organizations through the Google Local search(<a href="http://www.google.com/lochp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=%5B/url%5D">http://www.google.com/lochp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=</a>) and contact them, asking if they have any volunteer opportunities available to high school students. Ask teachers or guidance counselors for information about various opportunities. Go to <a href="http://www.takingitglobal.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.takingitglobal.org</a> (it's an international forum/site-- I LOVE IT). There are a lot of opportunities and advice for international action, available to high school and college students. Be creative; take initiative when you find a specific issue or conflict that you'd like to resolve.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm confused about your choice of major-- what made you so interested in International Relations if you haven't taken any courses in politics or participated in any related extracurriculars?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well I can say that my interest in history started when I was in 6th grade and I played the strategy game, Civilization. From then on I was interested in history of the world. I have only become very intersted in politics this year after the summer, and I have realized that my main interest is International Relations. I have not joined any EC's in freshmen year because I missed the first couple of days and I was unaware of any around really, so I missed out on the joining period for them.</p>
<p>mexican dude seems a bit too arrogant and braggy. If you think being mexican will guarantee your acceptance, the you are wrong my friend. I know alot of African -Americans who got rejected at Ivies and they seem to have better stats that you. (fyi, i am applying to harvard too)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just keep your options open. When I was a freshman last year, I was so sure about pursuing a career in biotechnology. I was planning to enroll in my school's accelerated science curriculum, and my dad was already looking for summer internships for various researchers. Well, that all changed when I was introduced to a new environment, took new classes, met new people, and participated in new activities. So don't be dead-set on an IR major until you've experienced it fully.</p>
<p>Here are some activities that I would recommend:
- National Forensics League (speech and debate)
- Model United Nations
- Amnesty International
- Political campaign internships
- Volunteer work: <a href="http://www.volunteermatch.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.volunteermatch.org</a>
- Spanish Club/Honor Society</p>
<p>You'll definitely want to stick with Spanish throughout high school, perhaps even learn another language at a local university. I would also recommend skipping Spanish 2 through summer school, which will have you ready for AP Spanish by senior year.</p>
<p>Take advantage of the resources around you. Search for international organizations through the Google Local search(<a href="http://www.google.com/lochp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=%5B/url%5D">http://www.google.com/lochp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=</a>) and contact them, asking if they have any volunteer opportunities available to high school students. Ask teachers or guidance counselors for information about various opportunities. Go to <a href="http://www.takingitglobal.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.takingitglobal.org</a> (it's an international forum/site-- I LOVE IT). There are a lot of opportunities and advice for international action, available to high school and college students. Be creative; take initiative when you find a specific issue or conflict that you'd like to resolve.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Great! Best advice I got from the whole thread yet. :D</p>
<p>Those activities sound very interesting, I dont think any of them are offered in our highschool, but as you say maybe I can join them internationally, or through community college (if they have them)</p>
<p>About Spanish 2 in summer, interesting, but I doubt I can because of the price of the classes plus I am going away for half of the summer starting from the day school is out. But if there are classes in August, which I highly doubt, then maybe. What about Spanish 3 for the year after Sophmore in Summer School, is that an option?</p>
<p>Another language... hmm, the languages offered in our Highschool is French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. I assume french would be a good pick if the EU has been started, since France is insisting that the official language is French. Also Chinese is VERY important with the coming age, I am definately interested in being an Ambassador to the Middle East or China. So I assume learning chinese somewhere would help, right? </p>
<p>I will check out those sites you just listed. Thanks. Any other suggestions that can help me? I think I will make a plan and write it down in a notebook. :D</p>
<p>also, did I mention I plan on getting a bachelors in Philosophy right? And then go more indepth with a Masters in IR.</p>
<p>sorry for the triple post, but as you said savoirfaire, you have changed your interest during the highschool years. I also have a backup interest, which I plan to participate in classes and activies of both kinds if anyone has ideas which is business. I would major in Marketing and minor in Business Administration, or get a bachelors in Business Admin and Masters in Marketing. :) I loved business and enterpreneurship since I was 8 years old, I plan on starting a real business this summer.</p>
<p>hey A-San, wanna be business partners? I already have a non-profit organisation of my own that has been incorporated by the state of Florida. If interested, PM me. I am dead serious!</p>
<p>@primitivefuture, </p>
<p>I live in the North East... if your still interested then email/pm me with a description of what it is about.</p>
<p>hey A-San, check my PM.</p>