Since middle school I have been striving to attend and receive financial aid/scholarships to NYU or USC. I am now a rising junior and would really appreciate some guidance and advice. I know my goal is very ambitious, but I really would like to achieve it so that way I can have a better future. I am a caucasian female and come from a low income family. I’m gay but I’m seeing less and less scholarships for my minority group. Plus, the schools I want to attend are very diverse in that way, so I know that doesn’t really “help.” My course load freshman year was one AP (World History- because that’s all my school allowed), all honors core classes, Health & PE, Women in History (I love history and I really wanted to take this class- possible career path), and film production (I love cinematography and this is also a possible career path). My GPA ending freshman year was 4.375, my rank was 4 out of 450. Freshman year I was only part of two clubs (astronomy club and Crosby Scholars), but I did make it into the Top Ten in Nationals for a KWN film contest. My sophomore course load was one AP again (US History- my school also offered AP Chem but I had no interest and am not planning to go into a STEM career), all honors core classes again, Spanish 1 & 2, and then Adobe Visual Design (something I was interested in, I got certified as an Adobe Certified Specialist). I got all A’s again and my ending GPA was 4.375, but my rank dropped because of those who took two AP’s. I really amped up my extracurriculars sophomore year. I was part of Crosby Scholars, Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy, Junior Civitans, and SkillsUSA (I won 1st place at regionals). I created a club (Junior State of America-politics (possible career path)) and was elected president. In the spring I was inducted into the National Honor Society. I also applied to the NYU Tisch Summer Film Program and was accepted. I was unable to attend though due to financial reasons- I applied for the scholarship but didn’t get it, and I looked elsewhere for funding but was unable to raise enough. My sophomore year I also went and got a job at Harris Teeter. Now it’s summer and I’m going to be a junior. This summer I’m taking Spanish 3 Honors online (I enjoy learning another language and want to advance in Spanish classes). My junior course load is two AP’s (Language and Gov.), Spanish 4 Honors, honors core classes (Pre-Calc being one of them), and Film Production 2 (to be certified in Final Cut Pro). My school offers community college classes but the only one I’d be able to take for junior year would be biology. I wanted an opinion on that since I would like it for my GPA, but I don’t have an interest in it nor plan on going into a STEM career. I know I’ll have to eventually take it in college. My junior year classes can still be tweaked but I would really appreciate some advice. My junior extracurriculars/positions so far are President of Junior State of America (I was reelected), National Honor Society, Officer of Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy, Programs Director of Junior Civitans, SkillsUSA (I will be competing at regionals and states), Crosby Scholars, and the Link Leader Program. I want to join the Spanish, Math, and CTE Honor Societies. Depending on what classes I take my senior year, my GPA will range from at least a 4.52 to 4.75. Any advice and criticism is well appreciated. I want to heighten my chances the best I can and see where I can improve. Thank you.