<p>Yes. I am a current junior... I know the school year is almost over.</p>
<p>Basically I want to go to yale or dartmouth. I will be applying for the class of 2011.</p>
<p>Alright, so my grades are pretty decent. GPA is 3.8 unweighted. I have had about 12 years of violin study. 5 years of symphony/orchestra. I got a 1720 on the new SAT; plan to study over the summer and hopefully score A LOT better in October. My communtiy service and leadership positions are lacking. REALLY LACKING. I was freshman class president, and part of the yearbook and newspaper staff... but that was in freshman year. I have also had about 4 years of exstensive kung fu/martial arts.</p>
<p>the reason I am so inactive with leadership and community service, is because I cannot find anything to do!</p>
<p>Guys, I need your help. What should I do between now and the admissions time, to beef up the resume? HELP.</p>
<p>I really think your chances of getting into Dartmouth and especially Yale are going to be very slim no matter what you do, but there are plenty of other good schools out there. The probably, really, is that if you're a junior, you won't have enough time to really do enough to get into them. If it was just your SAT score, you might be able to raise it enough to have a shot, but your ECs are really not what they should be (Ivies will expect you to find or make your own opportunities if there are not already suitable programs out there), and your GPA, while good, is probably only about average for that league of school. There's no reason not to apply to those schools if you really want to go there, and you still probably could have some chance if you write exceptional essays and boost your SATs a lot, but I'd be prepared for the possibility that you might not be able to go to either of those schools. Find a safety and some close matches that you think you could thrive at, and there's always grad school.</p>
<p>edit: You wrote your previous question while i was posting. <a href="http://www.fastweb.com%5B/url%5D">www.fastweb.com</a> can direct you to information about a lot of essay competitions. If you're interested in math or science, you can google AMC, USABO, USAPhO, among others, but the results will arrive too late to impact college decisions.</p>
<p>"the reason I am so inactive with leadership and community service, is because I cannot find anything to do!"</p>
<p>The schools like Yale and Dartmouth want students with such a passion about leadership, service, extracurricular interests that when there are few opportunities, they create opportunities, and those opportunities are so compelling that others join in with them.</p>
<p>I really want to be involved...it's just that. </p>
<p>I got to a charter high school, and I'm independent study as well. My opportunities to be part of clubs and such basically... are awful. I also take classes at CC at the same time.</p>
<p>I came to this crappy charter high school after freshman year. My parents dumped me here.</p>
<p>My parents are mother *****s. That's why they dumped me there. :( Gah, this sucks guys. I know I'm being unrealistic with my wanting to go to Yale and Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I seriously, don't know what to do for volunteer. If I just go volunteer at my church... would that help?</p>
<p>There is a miracle story on the front page of this sub-forum by sucuse1414. Just try... even if you know there is no chance.</p>
<p>Persistence....if you fail once keep trying.</p>
<p>Personally I plan to apply to every Ivy even with low ECs when the time comes. I don't care, I will sleep better at night knowing I tried and failed at everyone if that is to happen without having that "what if?" doubt in my mind. I am also not going to try to conform absolutely to their idealistic view of what a well rounded student is.</p>
<p>ECs are stupid specially when the people surrounding you only ostracize you for your knowledge or perfectionist attitude. Either way I will only have a few ECs there and most of them being volunteer service at a church, library, daycare, or summer programs. I also don't think I am 100% of what an Ivy expects but I am still going to try. You have everything to gain and NOTHING to loose(except that application fee).;)</p>
<p>I would research about Yale and Darth, during the summer, and find as many personal statements as you can of people who got into good schools, and write phenominal essays. That might be your only chance to get in.</p>
<p>visit, write to a professor, improve ur SAT, and do some leadership stuff. </p>
<p>i no some1 who wanted to go to a school VERY desperately, had no chance of getting in (yes it was Texas A+M but the kid i'm talking about had a downright obscene transcript), talked to a professor during a visit, kept up communication after, and lo and behold the professor pulled some strings and got him in.</p>
<p>you know, just by showing up here and asking for people to help you find EC's and stuff just shows that you are not ivy league material, no offense!! i feel exactly the way you do though, reaching very high but feeling like i can't get there and looking for help on CC.</p>
<p>some suggestions: save some children in africa and invent a "cure" for aging =p jk.. (not funny) well volunteer first and get your hours up, go for a club that you are passionate about and desperately ask them to make you officer for something, be phenomenal at your interview and in your essays (which can REALLY help), and yes, try to get at least 2100 on your SAT. but all in all, remember that the people applying to these schools are way better prepared and Overly qualified candidates. good luck though! talent not experience wins the day =)</p>
<p>Don't be discouraged though, you have nothing to lose besides teh 65 dollar application fee which is nothing in the long run. You should be proud that you had the guts to apply to these hard schools, cause i know many qualified people who were too intimidated to even apply. Best of Luck and keep up you hopes</p>
<p>You can try spending the $65 dollars, and going through the process, with your hopes being held high; nothing wrong with that.
But come March/April, chances say that you'd probably be preparing to fold your heart (heh, does that make sense in English? It's a Korean saying for letting go). You'll realize that you don't have to go to Yale or Dartmouth to accomplish your ultimate goals in life; in fact, sometimes it's better NOT to go to Yale or Dartmouth to reach your goal. College isn't about prestige and how good it sounds to other people to say that you will go to Yale or any other Ivy.</p>
<p>With the help of your viloin teacher put together the best, most professional music audition cd you possibly can this summer and talk to the music programs directly.Take your strengths and run with them. Good luck.</p>