High School Freshman: Advice please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hi everyone, and thanks alot for reading this thread. I am currently a freshman in high school for the IB program. I have a 95% above, if not over 100% in every one of my classes as of now, so I have a 4.0 unweighted, and a 4.6 weighted GPA. I am in 3 clubs, FBLA (future business leaders of America), JSA (a public speaking/debate), and IBSA (a public tutoring program). I am involved in each club, to make sure that I am making the best use out of them. I am also consistently working to improve my chances of getting a high score on the SAT, currently, I have around 700 Language, 720 Math, and not sure about the Writing. I am also on the swim team for my school. Furthermore, I am involved in musical activities, such as playing piano (finished with a CM certificate) and being in a band. </p>

<p>I know its not much compared to some of the crazy stuff you guys have, but I'm asking anyone with experience what I need to improve on, because Harvard is my dream school. Just for the record, I'm not a "nerd", and have a life, but I'd like to know how I can show that, maybe through activities or my essay? From other threads I have read, there's a </p>

<p>I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to post here, and it would be appreciated if somebody could direct me in this case. My goal is just to get a chance at getting accepted into Harvard, and if not, other Ivy Leagues. Thanks again to anyone who answers me.</p>

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<p>Keep up your grades, stay involved, and love what you do.</p>

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<p>I can almost guarantee you an 800 on Critical Reading and Writing for the SAT, as well as a 750+ on SAT Literature and A's in all of your English classes. Here's how you do it: read. Read whenever you can; try to cover at least 3-4 books a month. Look for classics as often as possible but feel free to mix in some commercial fiction. Look for lists of great books and ask your teachers to guide your reading. I basically did this and was able to easily get 800 on CR, Writing, and SAT II Lit without studying. Of course, the impressive stats are the smallest part of the reward I received for my efforts. Far more valuable are the vastly broadened perspective you'll gain, the new level of understanding you'll achieve, and the ideas that will shape the way you think for the rest of your life.</p>

<p>Other than developing those habits, just try to find what you love and do it and do it amazingly well. It doesn't matter what it is; as long as you love it and show your love, it's worth it and Harvard will love it too. Hell, even if you don't get into Harvard, you'll be a far happier person than someone who does everything to please colleges.</p>

<p>Enjoy your high school years, and remember that it doesn't matter where you go as long as you follow your dreams. Good luck!</p>

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<p>^ Not so sure on the SAT advice, but as a high schooler I went through the "blow-through-1000-SAT-review-books" strategy and one thing I regret not doing was writing down my mistakes. Kind of common sense and yes, I did go over the mistakes, except I did so many tests that I forgot what they were. This is especially crucial for SAT ii's, as I was smarter when I took them later in my Junior year and got 800s on my math II and Chem and a 750 on Bio-M. </p>

<p>I think a strong factor on your path to Harvard is to keep your stats up, but also keep your ECs strong too. I realized while thinking maybe a week ago that anything that lists "Good for your apps!" on their descriptions almost always never is THAT good for your apps. Chances are, it's something everyone else has done -- and, in addition, your passion obviously isn't in the activity so don't do it. I can't say I wasted my time doing Academic Decathalon and the Writing Club in my freshman year ("for apps" as I remember thinking), but it is as if I didn't do them since they were mentioned nowhere on my apps because I just didn't have enough interest to pursue them later. I later joined the Teen Council (I'm actually an official city commissioner after 3 years and current chair), won awards in the Science Fair (national etc.), and got an internship at UC Berkeley (biochem)and a bunch of other things. I can pretty much say with confidence that almost nobody at my school with the same caliber of ECs as I do and I'm quite proud of them. Moral of the story: Always look for unique ECs outside of school. </p>

<p>Like you, I'm also a band geek and I've been one for more than eight years. It's something I've never allowed myself to sacrifice for academics and it's knocked an AP off my schedule in both my junior and senior years (left me incredibly frustrated, but ah oh well). But, from my perspective, don't drop it if you are tempted to. It'll be one of the only things you can say you've really spent all four years in hs on and, if your band program is good, it's one of the most memorable experiences in hs. </p>

<p>Otherwise, good luck on your high school years. It's quite amazing you're on CC as a freshman (I didn't get involved with CC until the summer before senior year) and I wish you the best of luck. There's a lot of things still in store and, sooner or later, your passions will reveal themselves through your ECs, classes, and teachers. I know mine did. </p>

<p>If anyone wants more advice, feel free to PM. I'd hate for all my high school experiences to go to waste. I'm actually an 09'er (and I have reasons [notsoperfectstatscough] to believe I won't get accepted to Harvard, so don't take my advice too seriously like I'm a Harvard undergrad), but yeah. I'm willing to help.</p>

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<p>Definitely take TheWerg's advice. Reading frequently will help you not just through college admissions but through college itself. Reading canonical literature is fine, but if you're interested in a particular academic subject, non-fiction will do you just as good.</p>

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<p>By the way, I just want to second CrystalProphecy's comments about band. Too often band gets a bad rap for being a mundane EC characteristic of introverts, but it is possible to be both a "band geek" and a leader. Musicianship can even be the means by which you manifest your leadership. Just do something more than master your instrument; find a way to use your talent for the benefit of your classmates and your community.</p>

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<p>Be a leader, and serve others.</p>

<p>Don't just participate in your activities, take a leadership role.</p>

<p>Also, do something with your talents to give back to the community. Even if it is working in a soup kitchen on a weekly basis. Maybe you can become a awesome cook there.</p>

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<p>take lots of SAT practice tests, and the questions will become really predictable. sometimes you just have to familiarize yourself with how the test makers think.</p>

<p>as for extracurriculars, make sure that you really enjoy whatever you do. i am a little concerned that you describe yourself as "making the best use out of them." while leadership is important, i think it's more important to actually have passion for your activities. you'll also enjoy your high school experience a lot more if you do what you love (and rise up in the ranks naturally!) instead of forcing yourself to get involved for college purposes.</p>

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<p>I think the important thing is to do what you love and let the college chips fall where they may. My son is a computer nerd. He did everything from modding games on line, to working freelance, to programming projects for med school professors. He was the president of any clubs, but he showed an ability to go beyond the school curriculum and clubs and do what he loved out in the community.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I think the important thing is to do what you love and let the college chips fall where they may. My son is a computer nerd. He did everything from modding games on line, to working freelance, to programming projects for med school professors. He was the president of any clubs, but he showed an ability to go beyond the school curriculum and clubs and do what he loved out in the community.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Totally, 100% agreed. Live your life for life's sake, not college! </p>

<p>And mathmom, what you said gives me much more confidence in my application, which seems similar to your son's (game modding, design, but also community involvement).</p>

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<p>Hey, thanks alot to everybody who replied. It's really appreciated. :)</p>

<p>And to Dogdoc: Yes, I see what you mean about being concerned. I do realize that having a passion matters and that it will be very undesirable if I became a yes-man. Thanks for that insight though.</p>

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<p>All good suggestions above. Might I add: Try to be a teenager while doing it. Don't spend the next 4 years simply positioning yourself for Ivy admission. First off, it may not work out (realistically, the hurdle is very high) and you do NOT want to be in the same boat as kids I see around me in the halls every day these days who say "I wasted my high school days trying to get into school such and such and now I just got rejected.". Do things you love; do things for others; lead; but make sure you go to the dances, go to the football games; go to the bonfires during spirit week; go to the mall with friends.. w/e... don't be a pre-college hermit. Trust me. I know this. Props to you for being mature enough to think about your future, but don't let that become an obsession... 14 or 15 yrs old is too young for that...</p>

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<p>^^ I second umboFever09. You are too young to even be on here looking this stuff up. Relax.</p>

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<p>But do read TheWerg's advice above. S/he's right on target - it's the great secret that too many students miss.</p>