I asked if my personal story helped me. If you all are right, then I wont be going to an elite college, which is OK. But I AM going to college, so you commenting that “I am too young and not ready” is not helping. Thank you to everyone who answered my question without telling me what to do with MY life. I understand it is the general consensus here that I will be rejected by elite schools because I lack experience. We will see if you guys are correct. If you are, I will settle in at my state U.
No, no one said you will be rejected. Our crystal balls aren’t that good and we have no idea how the rest of your application will look. We were simply trying to answer your question, point out some possible pitfalls, and help you to strengthen your application to highly selective schools.
Even if you did everything suggested here your chances, just like the chances of all the other talented, involved, super-smart applicants, are not great. The top schools only have so many seats. That said, there are many fabulous schools out there. Reread this thread and you’ll see some good suggestions. Apply to T20 schools but don’t set your heart on them and make sure you have a full range of reaches, matches and likely schools. Good luck!
The issue is finding “top” colleges that see themselves as just a career prep path. It’s a liability to apply to a top four year academic program while emphasizing you just want career X. And that their degree is just a means to that end, just something to put on an app for a job that requires it. It misses the point of these top colleges, entirely. And they don’t like it. THey dont see themselves as vo-tech.
OP doesn’t yet know what it takes. That’s on him or her. OP will either rise to this challenge, fix what’s missing- or Not.
Starting a business is not a tip. Not even for Wharton. Making money on investments isn’t, either. Top scores are not enough. I just doubt OP has even cracked the book on what these colleges value and look for, what it takes, and what the standard bar is, for top contenders.
@lookingforward If put off college for a year, what can I do? As a homeschooler I don’t have opportunities like band, clubs etc. No one has really suggested anything besides waiting. What am I supposed to do while I wait? Of course I will take more classes and study but I am already very strong in that department.
“No one has really suggested anything besides waiting.”
We have, though. A postgrad year at a prep school, and a postgrad year abroad have both been suggested. Both of those could come with a variety of EC opportunities in addition to academics.
This is very much about which colleges would accept OP. Attitude matters- and I don’t mean The Little Train that Could, insisting what you WILL do, when so much of the life experience needed is flat out missing.
And then arguing back. Based on, “I want what I want.”
You may have trouble with any holistic college which values the education process, itself. That includes in the 50-100 range.
This isn’t about social maturity once in college. It’s about his present thinking skills. He finished the hs requirements, he volunteered a few times, he likes to play golf. He invests. FAR from enough.
I see no feedback from OP that he understands our points.
@aquapt That wouldn’t work in my family situation, good suggestion though.
Just wondering what your family thinks about this. I’m guessing if they agreed you wouldn’t be on this thread asking. As for opportunities for clubs and all unless you live in the middle of nowhere I’m also guessing that’s not true.
@lookingforward Please answer my question. As a homeschooler, what else can I do to improve my resume?
@Nicki20 My parents are pushing me to go to an elite school. I posted this to ask if my story made me stand out and instead of getting actual feedback, I was berated for being young (with the exception of a few posters)
What’s your budget? Are your parents willing to pay for you to go OOS?
The problem with declaring yourself a high school graduate at 14 or 15 is that you can’t go back if you change your mind. If you apply to a bunch of schools and don’t get in where you want you could commute to a state school for a year then apply to a more selective college. But then you’ll be considered a transfer student. Transfers don’t get much aid and there are fewer admission spots for them.
There are so many things you could do in the next couple of years to strengthen your app. It’s up to you to figure out what those things are. But take your chances now if you want. Just go in with a realistic mindset. Zipping through your high school courses isn’t special or something too colleges look for, and I don’t think it will help your app.
@austinmshauri Not to brag, but I don’t have a budget. I most certainly will not be getting any need based aid. Parents income is 1MM+
If your parents are pushing you to go to an elite school they should know the answers.
A post grad year at a rigorous prep (usually means an elite prep or boarding school) would be great. (Lol, that would give you some perspective on just how prepared you truly are. You might find getting grades in the required courses and high test scores is little prep for true academic competition.)
A year of hard work on behalf of others could be helpful. (Not setting up tents, but immersing yourself on behalf of the needy/a project with an adult org dedicated to this. Full time.)
College courses are fine. Just do not matriculate to any degree-granting program. Dual enrollment, to fill the gaps and eagerly learn, is good. But realize- you may want to delay the hs diploma, to make this true “dual enrollment.” DE is for hs students.
Ask yourself: if being so professionally driven is a liability for top colleges, what could you do to offset that? It’s not at-home investing.
If you need fin aid, many top preps or BS offer generous scholarships to worthy kids. Even exploring and applying, seeing if you can get admitted, would be some measure of your readiness for the next stage.
And watch the attitude that cocooning is somehow superior. Top colleges want kids not afraid/not judjmental about involvement with peers in ongoing, productive ways. And able to have fun with peers, learn from them and grow.
In many ways, awareness, commitment to the right sorts of activities, over time, and humility top some idea it’s all about ambition.
As a 15 year old myself, I agree with what other people are saying about postponing college. Even though it sounds cliche, there are important lessons that I would not have learned without school, such as how to work well with others, how to form meaningful relationships with both classmates and students, etc.
Also, frankly put, you risk coming off as arrogant by using this incredibly early graduation as your narrative. When you said, “Not to brag, but I don’t have a budget”, this, coupled with your responses to other posters, shows to me that you still have a lot to learn in terms of emotional maturity. No one is doubting your academic abilities; it is very clear that you have the capabilities to succeed academically, but not necessarily the other social and emotional aspects that other four-year students have experienced.
@inflorescent Of course my actual application would be much more mellow and less arrogant sounding. If I came off as a bit arrogant, I apologize.
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Fordham? You have a chance.
BU? A chance, but less so.
NYU likes full pay, and you have a chance at the Arts and Sciences where you could major in Econ. Less of a chance at Stern.
More than a bit arrogant.
If your parents have such a high income, surely they can afford some kind of gap year activities for you?
Poor kids can take gap years too. Working and volunteering are both excellent ECs. I would say that, in fact, admissions officers are more impressed by working or volunteering, which requires initiative, than by taking part in paid enrichment activities.
It’s interesting that given your ambition and intelligence, you didn’t plan ahead more to figure out what you would achieve by completing high school in one year. If you’re very gung ho to get going with college, apply. See what happens. But apply to some safety schools too.
I’ve heard of a couple of students who were truly clever and made the best use of their time and opportunities. One kid has a plumber for a dad. His dad taught him plumbing. Every summer, during college breaks, this student worked and earned great money. He became licensed. He also got his degree and then went to law school. I think he took time off before law school to work as a plumber and earned plenty of money. He has no debt and a bankable skill to boot. Another student went into college with so many credits from APs and CLEP exams that he graduated from college in 2.5 years, with minimal debt.
Again though, you’re very young and I don’t see what the rush is. If you can’t think right now what you could do with a year of freedom, think about it some more. You have time.
I’m curious about your timeline, though. You said you’ve completed high school, so do you mean to apply to these top colleges for Fall of 2020?
@Lindagaf I would be applying for Fall 2021 in Fall 2020
@tdy123 How about Boston College?