<p>First of all, it is wonderful you are already thinking about college. It is true, Stanford is really, really, really difficult to get into (I’m a senior applying there EA this year), and there isn’t any set “way,” short of finding a cure to cancer, that you can ensure getting in. However, you can do quite a few things to improve your odds.</p>
<p>To begin with, you need good academics. It’s good that you’re getting all A’s so far, and you need to continue that if you want to get into Stanford (a B or two won’t kill you, but try to remain in the top 5% or so of your class). Don’t fret if you aren’t taking AP courses yet – you won’t be penalized for that if your school doesn’t offer them/allow you to take them until later. However, take AP’s at the first opportunity you can, and try to take as many AP’s as you can without risking taking so many that you fail; finding the right number of AP classes for you can be difficult. In addition, I suggest that, if your family has the financial means to do so, you take your first SAT this year. Don’t expect a good score, but in my opinion, it’s helpful taking the SAT your freshman year because it allows you to get acclimated to the test early. Also, when junior year rolls around, I suggest studying for the PSAT so you have the opportunity to become a national merit semifinalist, which always looks good on college apps.</p>
<p>However, getting into a selective university requires a lot more than just solid academics. Indeed, I actually think having good extracurricular activities is the best way to improve your chances of getting into a stellar university. This is the way I like to approach it; you’ve got to figure that the vast majority of people applying to Stanford have amazing academic credentials. The vast majority of people who apply are in the top 5-10% of their class, score very high on the SAT or ACT, and will have glowing teacher recommendations. And yet, over 90% of them get rejected. So, in other words, if you only have good academics when you’re applying to college, there is no way in the world that you will stand out in the admissions process. That’s where extracurricular activities come in. They allow you to show admissions officers who you are, where your passions lie, and what you do with your time. They are what will distinguish you from the crowd.</p>
<p>Thus, I recommend that you look for a passion or interest of yours and find proactive ways to get involved. Never do an extracurricular activity just because you think it will look good on college apps – rather, do an activity because you love to do it, and your passion will show on your application. For example, if you love politics (such as myself), get involved in political stuff. Join your school’s Young Democrats or Young Republicans club and try to become an officer in the future at those clubs – or, better yet, if your school doesn’t have one of those clubs, create your own. Volunteer on campaigns, get political internships. Work with your county party. Join youth political simulation organizations such as JSA or YMCA Youth and Government. The same goes if you love science, or art, or business. Basically, find a general area you’re interested in, and devote lots of time to it. And, if you have multiple things you’re interested in, don’t feel the need to pick just one; indeed, if you chase both music and political extracurricular activities, for example, you might appear less one dimensional than if you only got involved with one of those. In addition, try to gain leadership positions in your activities, if possible. There’s also one other nice thing about extracurricular activities – they will give you a lot of experiences, which will make it easier to find a topic when it becomes time to write college application essays.</p>
<p>In other words, succeed in school, but realize that you’ll have to do a lot more than just that if you want to get into Stanford. Get involved in your community, show leadership, and find a passion (either inside or outside of school) that you can devote time to in the form of extracurricular activities. Good luck!</p>
<p>P.S. </p>
<p>There are a ton of great schools out there, so don’t limit your options. Stanford may be one of the most selective colleges in the nation, but there are still plenty more schools with great students, wonderful faculty, and vibrant campuses. :)</p>