I’m a rising sophomore at a competitive southeastern high school. The past year, I took all honors classes (4.0 unweighted) and next year I will take all honors again with the addition of AP world. For junior year, I am planning on taking AP calc (not sure AB or BC), AP Spanish lit, APUSH, AP English, AP Chem, and honors wind ensemble. Senior year, I will probably do AP stat, AP English (whatever the next level is), AP Bio, APES, honors wind ensemble, and AP Spanish convo. My main ECs revolve around music and science. I play tenor sax in the school winds ensemble, play in a jazz band with performances at major local venues (occasional accompaniments on piano), co-formed a trio for a chamber organization, have participated in All-District and All-State, competed and made it into my state school’s band competition, have taken saxophone and piano lessons for many years, have participated in music camp for several years, and am planning on auditioning for the MTNA’s solo competition this coming year. In terms of science, I’m in my school’s Science Club and was an alternate for Science Olympiad this past year (because I didn’t do it in middle school), have co-founded an initiative to clean up local streams (has expanded exponentially and am planning on integrating it into my school), have done 3 of Duke TIP’s summer science courses, have volunteered for several summers at my local science museum’s children’s programs, am on a team that introduces science to elementary schoolers, will compete in the Ocean Science Bowl, will volunteer at a local animal shelter next year (couldn’t do it last year because of an age restriction), and plan on working in a genetics lab at one of my local universities next summer. I also will most likely be the co-president and reviver of Key Club next year (previous leaders were unorganized), am in the NSHS (among top five in my state on NSE), and compete in Model UN (am the third generation of women in my family to do it, which is pretty cool!). I truly love all of my ECs and understand how important that is and for that to be communicated through the essays. However, I am a little worried because I don’t have many formalized leadership positions. My top choices are Cornell (legacy), Brown, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins. I know that all of the Ivies are basically crapshoots but was wondering if I should even bother applying.
You probably already know the answer, but your ECs are very impressive and you aren’t even a Soph yet. You do more than any high schooler I know. How you have time to sleep and study is amazing. You’re doing just fine and I’m sure you will get into a great college
You’re a rising sophomore, so it’s too early to tell; however, you seem to be on the right track. I’d say, as sophomore year progresses, try to narrow down to only 2-3 ECs that you really have a passion for, and once you’ve done that, put as much time as you can into those activities. Top colleges want to see that you have a clear focuses (foci?), and you’ve achieved deeply in those areas.
Look up “How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, by a Harvard Alum.” It should be helpful.
Thank you so much for the help citymama9 and picats3141! So it should be okay that I’m not planning on being president of like 5 clubs?
Or that I’m starting a few things sophomore year and haven’t really received any science-related awards?