<p>Hi there. I'm currently a 9th grader and I'm thinking of applying to Harvard when the time comes around. I know it seems a bit early to be thinking about it, but I'm already a bit concerned/thoughtful about college. Basically, right now, I don't know how I appear to the people who look at my application, so I would like some advice... Here's some information about me:</p>
<p>-My average is roughly a 94 or 95
-I'm on my school's chess team
-I'm part of my school's science olympiad
-I'm part of my school's Student Services club (we basically go around the school and do community service)
-I volunteer at a library every Saturday for 3 hours
-I swim (unfortunately, there's no swimming team at my school (yet))
-Starting in a few weeks, I'm going to be leading my school's robotics team/club
-I take science classes at the Museum of Natural History twice a week (I've done two full 6-week sessions so far, taking a break for this session but I may do more)
-In the 8th grade, I took a 12th grade physics class and got a 94 in it
-I'm applying to a science honors program at Columbia (I hope I'll get in!)
-This summer, I may be going to a specialized honors camp (math camp? not sure exactly what they classify it as) for 3 weeks on a college campus</p>
<p>Well, that's about it... If I remember anything else, I'll be sure to add it. Anyway, I know the advice that people generally give is to do what you love and do it excellently, but I really don't know what I love to do. I'm fascinated in science, math, technology, computer programming, etc. but I don't do any of it as a hobby, really. I just really want to make stuff or find some incredibly interest in one of those fields. It's really tough. I keep telling myself I want to do things in those fields and enjoy them, but I just don't know why I don't. Every weekend, I tell myself I'm going to do something fun, whether it be building a robot, studying advanced mathematics, or finding some interesting scientific problem and researching it, but I never do. I usually end up watching youtube videos or something. It's just not what I want to do.</p>
<p>Please help me (and, of course, give me advice on my overall "resume" so far)! Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>If you think programming is cool but aren’t quite sure how to start, I would strongly suggest the Head First series (Head First Java, HTML, C#, etc.). They are quite easy to understand and great for beginners. Not to mention funny. If you get to the point where you are advanced in any of these languages, try entering a competition like USACO or TopCoder.
To get involved in science perhaps you could email professors about working in their labs this summer. You can make some great connections as well as develop a science fair project.
Also, read lots of books about different scientific topics. I would highly suggest “The Three Pound Enigma” by Shannon Moffett if you are remotely interested in biology (neuroscience specifically). I read it in 6th grade and it definitely influenced me to conduct neuroscience research.
Also read Scientific American on a regular basis - some of the articles are quite fascinating.
I’m not sure when the AMC tests are administered for 2010 - the date may have already past. But look it up online or ask your science teacher.</p>
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<li>I wish there were a Head First Python book oh well. I’ll take a look at some of the other books.</li>
<li>How can I meet/find lab professors?</li>
<li>Thanks, I’ll definitely try to read more scientifically/mathematically oriented news/books.</li>
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<p>Ace those standardized tests when you get to that point.
And make sure you get some Leadership positions (START that swim team, run for officership in those clubs).</p>
<p>^^^ Absolutely. Since you’re so good at physics/math (taking 12th grade physics in 8th grade-- AP Physics??) then take part in some competitions. AMC, Physics olympiads if there are any (I don’t know anything about it), DEFINITELY try to do some research…its really rewarding and a great experience. Since you like coding, maybe try that and do something with it. Also, if you want to of course, try to do some volunteer work with all this. I have a friend who was really into coding/physics/math who created a website where you could request math/science tutors. His tutors would be volunteers from the school. He donated all the money to a fund for something computer related at some school in Africa. Maybe do something similar…I thought it was really, really cool.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys. I’ll definitely look into some of those competitions, and I just bought myself some programming books today. I’m also gonna try to find some research opportunities and get involved with a lab professor. @compmom: Thanks, I’ve heard from others as well that just relaxing and having fun sometimes is a good thing to do :).</p>
<p>ummmm… u might want to take every ap test, all sat2s, cure cancer, find a cure for aids, stop kim jong ill, overthrow iran, and end world hunger :P</p>
<p>You sound like you enjoy alot of math/science stuff. I have to warn you not to dabble, though. If you want to get far in USA<em>O, e.g. make camp or the I</em>O team, you’ll have to commit to that subject. I know people who have done two, and have been very successful. However, for the most part they started with math in middle school, but then couldn’t get any further after making USAMO or MOP. </p>
<p>Oh, as an aside, you probably shouldn’t choose math. After a while, it gets mad hard to improve. Trust me, this is why I switched to bio after last year.</p>
<p>@MeSsIaH.: Thanks… By the way, how hard is USAMO? (I heard that you need to understand pre-calc to do well in it). Also, at what point does math get hard? (It’s always been easy for me, and when I study pre-calc/calc concepts, I’m usually able to understand them). I’ve also considered trying to study advanced algebra/trig before next year and then skip to pre-calc next year… Is this something I should look into? I tried it last summer and I’ve been studying some math on my own recently, so I already have a good idea about what advanced algebra/trig is like (if I ever decide to seriously study it).</p>
<p>And another thing: A 4.0 is anything over a 90, right?</p>
<p>Anybody wanna help me out here? I’m trying the MIT OpenCourseWare videos (Single Variable Calc) on YouTube, and I actually get quite a bit of it… Only problem is that I’m not that familiar with everything in between geometry and calc. So, should I study advanced alg/trig (and perhaps later pre-calc) instead? It’s too bad, because calculus looks like a lot of fun :(.</p>
If you get to the point where you are advanced in any of these languages, try entering a competition like USACO or TopCoder.
oh well. I’ll take a look at some of the other books.</li>