Graduate school

College Life
1

<p>Hello [: I know it might be a bit early [I'm a senior in highschool] but I'm really interested in going to a top tier graduate school. I want to know how I should prepare throughout college or if there is anything I can do as of now to help myself out. I will go out of highschool with 5 APs. Should I use these credits? [AP Govt, AP Lang, AP Lit, AP Bio, and AP Micro] Will it look better on my resume if I take more and more advanced classes? What clubs should I get involved with that would look good in college? How can I get ready for the GRE? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>You’re a little early in the process, and I’m not sure what you’re interested in – but I’ll help you out.</p>

<p>1) You can use the AP credits, but it won’t necessarily help you on the Graduate School Front. The only thing they can do is a) allow you to maybe graduate a semester early (but many grad schools don’t accept spring applicants) or b) allow you to take more upper-level classes in your major which will show up on your transcript. Yes, same with College applications, more advanced classes do look better on your transcript – particularly if you get A’s in them.</p>

<p>2) I’d say the main thing grad schools are looking for is a well rounded applicant who is dedicated to something outside the classroom, and has some leadership positions. Volunteer, get really involved on campus. It’s not (necessarily) hard to get a good GPA when all you’re doing is sitting in the library all day. Obviously if law school is what you’re gunning for – Moot Court, Student Government, and Model UN would be good choices. Also get summer internships that involve research in your chosen field, it will go a long way.</p>

<p>3) I have two pieces of advice for you here and they’re simple. a) Take math even if it isn’t required for your major. b) READ – I can’t stress that second part enough. If you continue to read for pleasure, it will expand your vocabulary and make the months leading up to the GRE much easier.</p>

<p>For now though, I’d really just focus on enjoying your freshman year of college.</p>

3

<p>You’re thinking of Grad school the way you think of undergrad admissions - get a certain GPA, a certain SAT score, join a certain number of activities, get good reccommendations - it doesn’t work like that.</p>

<p>To get into Grad school, pick a major that you like, and excel in it. Do research, do well in your classes. Don’t overload your schedule, take a mix of difficult and moderate classes each term. Grad Schools don’t care about a stupid laundry list of activities - if you’re a Bio major applying for a PhD in Bio, they’ll want to see that you did well in your classes, have tons of research experience and maybe some articles published. Oh, and nail the GRE. :)</p>

<p>Read this article from Cal Newport’s blog (google him): <a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/04/02/an-open-letter-to-students-waiting-for-their-college-admissions-decisions/[/url]”>http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/04/02/an-open-letter-to-students-waiting-for-their-college-admissions-decisions/&lt;/a&gt;
Here’s a quote from it:

Have fun in college! Right now, just focus on finding a major you like, doing well and having a good freshmen year. Chances are you’ll change your mind a couple times, even if you’re convinced you’re going to do this or that.</p>

4

<p>If you are looking at what clubs will look good to grad school you have already missed the point. As noted above, there is no laundry list of activities that will get you into grad school. There are many weeder courses in college which are meant to tell people that they are not right for more advanced study of a subject; they are designed such that you must have both a work ethic and a level of intelligence to pass them. There are quite a few brilliant but lazy kids who get taken out by these courses, and a few students who are hard working but not cut out for the subject. Therefore, you must really take these courses before you know that you are right for graduate study. Grad school is not a trophy or an award, plenty of people can do fine without it; it is a way to dedicate yourself to further study of a subject. In conclusion, don’t set your future just yet, because from what I have seen plenty of graduate students who love their subject are constantly forced to the limits of their ability, so if you are not really really really devoted to your subject you could end up wasting time there (as a story, my sister went to an island archaeological dig, many of the grad students were so overworked that not once were they able to go to the ocean and swim on a 5 week dig).</p>

5

<p>Ahh. I see now. I was thinking honor societies that could help me out - becuase those DO seem pertinent. I’ll look into some of the resources and I really appreciate all of the help that everybody has given me! [:</p>

6

<p>An honors thesis will definitely help you in your quest, but this is not something that is set in stone until your Junior or Senior year.</p>