H!i I’m a freshman in High School in the chicago area and I would really like to go to Harvard. I know that it is a really difficult accomplishment, which is why I’m making sure to start now and do things in and out of school that I am not only interested in, but will help me in achieving this goal! So, I was wondering if you guys have any advice to give me, or if there are any cool out of school programs around the Chicago area that I might be interested in. Thanks!
Some info:
African American
1st Generation American (African)
1st Generation College Student
(I used to live in the southside of Chicago until I was 3. However, since I moved out when I was young I don’t think that it’s right to write about it.)
Classes so far
(This is the hardest class load I could take)
AP Human Geo
Honors English
Honors Bio
Honors Geometry
Spanish 1
(I think that I will get an A in all of these classes but I’m on the brink of a B in geometry so I’m working really hard)
Clubs
Student Council
Math Team
Enviornment Club
Key Club
Another school volunteering club
As you can see its not really anything special so I’m open to all advice!
It’s really early to be thinking about this. Don’t let college admissions haunt your high school years.
Also, with all the schools in the country, why Harvard? If you want to think about colleges, then try to get a little more information on what’s out there.
You sound like a great kid and you may have a chance. But don’t fit your self to a school, find a school that fits you. In the meantime, please enjoy high school naturally!
Having a goal such as wanting to go to Harvard is good. It will help to give you focus and motivation in your work. But don’t let it just be about getting into college. You’re only a freshman. Enjoy being a kid and a student. Just work hard on “working hard” in everything you do. You should also have a spike in one particular area where you will develop a passion. The elite schools may say they want a well rounded student. However, most of the students who are admitted have a spike, which makes them standout among others. Recruited athletes are one example. Others can be music, leadership position, research, etc. Find what you love to do and develop a passion for it. Again, enjoy being a kid and enjoy school and learning as well. Once you have these mastered, it will be a great plus in getting into college later.
The biggest thing I wish I knew before starting high school (with similar college aspirations) was to just do your thing. Challenge yourself, try new clubs and job opportunities, but don’t do a club/sport/any activity that would only impress colleges. My mom made me do a sport, for example, because she said it would look good on my application. I really really hated tennis but I did it anyways for 2 years (On the flip side, her pressure also made me try out for field hockey. One of the best decisions of my life!). My schedule is filled with honor societies and forced activities, many of which never even made it onto my college application. Just pursue your interests and do your homework, I would say! Enjoy your life and don’t think about colleges and what they want… yet
A lot of people talk about spikes but mine doesn’t really start until the end of junior year when I dropped most activities and kept the ones I’m most passionate about. Coincidentally, they relate to videography/environmental science. Spend time exploring different fields your first few years of high school, and your spike will come. If not, you can always apply undecided!
(Disclaimer: I’m just a senior in high school that actually got deferred from Harvard, so this is just my two cents)
It is way too early to think about specific colleges (especially the hyper-competitive ones). You don’t even have one full year’s GPA and you have no standardized testing.
In general, I’d recommend that you give up the idea of a dream school and when the time comes work to create a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on one or two hyper-competitive schools and then don’t get in.You need to expand your horizons and recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
You also need to recognize that HS should be an experience in and of itself – a time of learning and growth and not just a 4 year college application prep experience.
It is great to take school seriously and know that college will be on your horizon, but it is too early to start planning for specific colleges. I would highly recommend that you get off of CC until your junior year.
For now you should focus on:
–Working hard, learning, and doing as well as you can in the most challenging curriculum you can manage.
–When the time comes study for standardized tests.
–Continue your involvement in activities you care about and work towards making meaningful contributions to those activities.
–Enjoying spending time with your family and friends.
You definitely have the diverse background and academic potential that schools like Harvard are certainly searching for! The one thing I would recommend to young high schoolers looking to get into top schools later down the road is to find a specific area of interest. Colleges love to see dedication/passion from an applicant in a specific field, especially if that field is niche/unique. For me that was political science. I took polysci-engineered courses in high school, participated in youth in government, and wrote a politics-focused column in our school magazine. Focus your high school experience around that interest, like I did and you can get lucky like me!
It is very early to be thinking about college, but if you are thinking about it already, make sure you get educated on the many wonderful options out there. Check out Colleges that Change Lives for starters. If you want a larger university, look at U. of Chicago for starters
