Future chances, and what I can do to improve them.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am finishing sophomore year, and wondering about my college opportunities. I would like to go to a top school, and am fairly certain my grades and coarse load will be good enough. What I am worried about is my extracurriculars. </p>

<p>The colleges I am most interested in are Stanford, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Caltech and similar colleges, depending on what I major in. I don't know about my major. I was interested in computer science/electrical engineering, but am now leaning towards a science and pursuing medicine.</p>

<p>The AP course I have taken or am definitely taking are:
AP World History
AP English Language
AP Physics B
AP Calculus BC
AP US History
The ones I will probably take are
AP idontknowwhichEconomics
AP Biology
AP English Literature
AP European History
AP Physics C</p>

<p>The last ones are not written in stone, and my school offers a lot.</p>

<p>I have also taken 4 years of French, and will complete the Science Magnet Program. Most of my non AP classes are honors.</p>

<p>My GPA is and probably will be 4.0 (without anything added to APs or honors, with 90%+ being an A). My class rank probably is and probably will be in the top 1%. I don't think I will be Valedictorian but there is some chance of it.</p>

<p>I hope to get between 2300 and 2400 on the SAT. I got above 220 on the practice PSAT. </p>

<p>All of these look good to me in general and for my school, and at least on par at the colleges I am looking at. </p>

<p>The problem is I have no extracurriculars, no community service, no music, and no athletics.</p>

<p>Is there any way I can get into the schools I mentioned, if I try to do stuff over my Junior year? National Science Honors Society and the equivalent math thing look like something I could do, but for the science thing I would need to join a science contest club and do community service. Can you get into things like Beta Club in your Junior year? Any other suggestions on what to do? I like sciency things and would be willing to do community service things. </p>

<p>How closely do these things have to be associated with my school? </p>

<p>If I do all this, is there a good chance of me being able to get into these schools? Stanford is my top choice, and assuming I go with a Science+premed Duke is second. If I go with engineering it is one of the Engineering schools I listed.</p>

2

<p>I agree with your statement "all of these look good to me in general..."</p>

<p>I think the importance of 'extracurricular' activities is exaggerated on C.C. I think what matters is whether you can convince the adcoms that you have a 'passion' or at least a strong interest in something. That passion could be for something 'intra-curricular' like science. Do you have research opportunities? Can you do a summer project somewhere? Maybe volunteer in some sciencey things. I don't think these activities have to be associated with your school at all.</p>

<p>And above all- relax! You are on the right track. Don't get burnt out.</p>

3

<p>What are my chances of getting into Harvard/Princeton vs. Stanford vs. Duke vs. UC ? Are any of them more likely to accept a student with high grades but minimal ECs? </p>

<p>Also, I have a parent who who went to Duke and live in the Southeast.</p>

4

<p>Your stats look nice so far.. but make sure that when you scout for ECs, you're really going for it with your heart. Don't sign up for something because you think it'll look good on paper. Trust me, long and passionate commitment to a small range of interests (paired with out of school involvement pertaining to those interests..) looks much better than a sudden spike in the number of your involvements once you realize that you don't have any!</p>

<p>So what are you interested in? Try to pick two or three clubs in school and an activity out of school that go well with that interest. For instance, you named science. Try out for your scibowl, scioly, WYSE, JETS, etc.. and see if you can do a science competition or summer science research out of school. You gotta really find a few specific areas and accentuate your commitment and involvement to those focuses. </p>

<p>Good luck and remember to have fun! Colleges don't want one-dimensional people.. they look for personality and passion. :)</p>

5

<p>I guess what I am worried about is I can't really have a "long and passionate" commitment to anything at this point, since I haven't done anything the first two years. Will colleges look askance at that, or can it be made up by doing a lot afterwards? Is that even possible? </p>

<p>Looking at some of these posts, people have multiple years in several clubs and athletics and/or music and are getting told their ECs are not enough. That's quite bothersome.</p>

6

<p>Academically, you're solid. However, in order to be competitive for the top colleges you're looking at, you need ECs that represent your passions (in your case science). I would definitely try and pick two or three clubs like pshan mentioned. Your senior year, try and grab some leadership positions. </p>

<p>However, ECs aren't everything. Make sure your essays and recommendations are excellent as well.</p>