<p>What I mean by this is, how can I, as a High School freshman, put together an application that stands out. </p>
<p>My Academics are very solid, and I plan on taking plenty of AP's as I go along (Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Calculus, World History, European History, US Gov, and US History). I'm already taking European History and I am doing solidly in it. </p>
<p>First semester I got a 4.1 GPA (my school adds 0.5 to any AP course, but nothing on advanced classes). GPA and course rigor is not what I worry about most. What I worry about are the SAT's and subject SAT's. If anyone can recommend me a good SAT prep book that would be appreciated too. How else can I prepare for the SAT? </p>
<p>Also, extracurricular activities concern me in the sense that colleges seemingly place a lot of weight on them. My school requires 80 hours of volunteering in order to graduate, but for other criteria I feel like I'm behind in the game. My school offers very little clubs and I don't focus on one sport intensively, I sort of play a lot of them a bit above average.</p>
<p>If anyone know of a club that I could start at my school (my biggest interests being engineering, economics and physics) I would appreciate it. </p>
<p>Please if anyone here has anything to add or any advice, let me know. I dread the event of me regretting not have done more to get accepted into a good school.
My dream would be to be accepted into MIT and major in civil engineering.</p>
<p>soxpride, you’re only a freshman so I caution you on getting too wound up on the college process, but since you want to go to MIT in civil engineering, I’ll give you some tips based on my neighbor’s path, who is currently a senior at MIT in civil engineering:</p>
<p>1) Take the most challenging math and science that is offered to you. If you can, take add’l math via online gifted and talented programs. These cost money but you can never be too knowledgeable of math and calculus at MIT.
2) Get A’s in everything. Don’t take any classes lightly. Do more that what is expected; stand out from your peers on every homework, test and project.
3) Get involved while in high school: scouting, musicals, private instrument lessons beyond the level offered at your high school. Pick a few things and stick to them. My neighbor ran cross country for 4 years (was not the star), but was known as an amazing piano player. Once he finished his 1st semester senior year he tried out for the musical and got a great male part. He also earned his Eagle Scout rank.
4) Make sure you have a meaningful leadership role and that you stand out as a positive role model at your school and in your clubs. Eagle Scout, valedictorian, service projects.
5) If you aren’t in scouts and don’t play an instrument and don’t play a sport, then figure out how to use your talents to help the community. If you like computers, can you create and maintain a website for the town or a nursing home in your area? Can you travel abroad with a service crew and go back 2, 3, or 4 times to increase the role you play in helping? Can you start a student service organization and complement something that is done by the United Way in your area?
6) In the summer, make sure you are using that time to improve and grow yourself. If you can afford it, attend engineering type programs to expose you to similar students. Some of those programs also offer scholarships or financial aid, so don’t shy away if you don’t have money. If you can’t go to those programs, can you get a job as a laborer on a construction site and work your way up by the time you’re a senior?<br>
7) Get involved in science competitions; put yourself out there, get your ideas judged, and try to rise to county, state, and national level science competitions.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that MIT is looking for potential leaders and big thinkers. There is not one formula for what it takes to get in as they are looking for lots of things. Most students will have amazing GPAs and test scores, but they’ll also have more than that. They’ll stand out from others at school in big ways … they’ll get A+'s in the AP classes, not just A’s, they’ll volunteer for icky things that need to get done when others won’t, they will constantly be pushing themselves to be a better, smarter version of themselves and their teachers and principals believe they should be at MIT. When my neighbor got into MIT, we all celebrated because we all believed that that was where he should go, and it also said something good about our school, our programs and our support of him.</p>
<p>Good luck to you … you have time, so use it wisely.</p>
<p>^ Very good advice! Top schools want people who are or can be great leaders and thinkers. Not people who follow a prescribed path of “what looks good”. It’s who you are and not what you do.</p>
<p>The challenge for you is: are you one of those? It’s not a given, to be frank. It’s up to you to think outside the box, be creative, do things because you actually want to do them (mostly w/o regard of how people will view them). </p>
<p>You ever see “natural” leaders versus contrived ones? You ever see “natural” learners versus grade-grubbers? Then you know what I mean. Your task is to be one and not the other. But only very few people can do this. You also must accept that reality.</p>
<p>These are the types of students who get noticed by top school admissions.</p>
<p>The other thing that you need to do, is to sit your parents (and whoever else it is who will be helping you pay for your education) down and have The Big Money Talk. They will probably whine and fuss and say that it is too soon to be thinking about this, but you must be strong and brave, and keep them on task. If it is early enough for you to be concerned about your grades and your ECs, it is early enough for you to know the general parameters of your college budget. Have them pay a visit to [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) to learn more about the financial aid process, and point them to the Financial Aid Forum here so that they can get started on some reading. The sooner you know what you can (and can’t) afford, the sooner you can plan your program of studies and activities so that you are better positioned to qualify for merit-based scholarships.</p>
<p>Thesoxpride10: I recommend you download the common app and look at the spaces and how you want them to be filled out in four years. I did that with my son and he realized it’s more than test scores and grades. Take extra math and get Math SAT II out of the way early and Bio subject test out of the way freshman June. Realize engineering school programs may not look at Bio for admission but it’s nice to have for summer programs and great practice.
Look at JHU Engineering Innovation summer program. They have satellite programs this great 4 week program.
Start a VEX robotics program at your school. It’s much more affordable than FIRST and offers great opportunities to learn engineering and physics. If not supported, look to join a multi- school program or mentor a local middle school one. Go to a local tournament and you will be hooked!
Basically, discover your passion NOW and not your junior year. I wish HS was a time for dabbling but most kids stick to a path or passion for four years. That’s why the common app is so helpful. How do YOU want it to read in four years?
Good luck! It’s a wonderful journey and I wish you well.</p>