<p><a href=“1”>quote</a>: Go after a course load that will challenge you but also one you will LIKE (Take me for instance - I took the absolute minimum in terms of required science courses, and took no electives. I did take those courses at the highest level possible, but I didnt continue with it because I have no passion, like, or aptitude for the intense sciences)… Do NOT choose courses because you think it will help you in admissions, cause it will make your highschool hell. Yes, HS is a stepping stone to college, but you also need to learn what your style/likes/passions are at least a little bit</p>
<p>(2) Take your time, and do things properly, but dont obsess and spend TOO much time (since you are still in highschool when you apply)… I began my applications for RD deadlines in the second week of December (started my essays at the beginning). It allowed me to keep up with my course load (English, Advanced Functions and Calculus & Vectors) because I knew I had allotted time to do my applications. For those who start in November or earlier, I feel it becomes a looming enterprise over your head. Mind you, thinking about it early is a very good thing, because it allows things to “stew” in your head.
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<p>As a member of the Class of 2014, I have to say that I almost completely disagree with everything included in these previous two paragraphs.</p>
<p>1: Colleges like seeing well-rounded students. At a liberal arts college like Yale, where the emphasis is much more on exploration than on specialization, it won’t be looked favourably upon if your schedule leans too heavily in any direction (especially not while still in high school, where everything you learn is relatively basic). While it may have turned out well for you, thatguy100, I really don’t think it would work the same way for most other applicants. In fact, if I had to guess, I’d say that you had some major “hook,” like, say, being a recruited athlete. (I’m not trying to discredit everything you said, but if you are, as I suspect, an applicant with a major “hook,” it would probably be useful to mention that when choosing to deal advice to future applicants…)</p>
<p>For students without such a hook, getting into Yale will be absolutely impossible if they never took a single advanced science class in high school. As well, taking electives and pushing yourself in classes that will challenge you is always a positive thing to add to an application. Doing the minimum is not. (Unless, once again, you have a major hook.) That being said, do not murder yourself with a schedule that you absolutely hate.</p>
<p>2: Everyone I know who applied and got into Yale (and other similar institutions) did so by working hard on applications for many weeks, if not months. While it is very common on CC to start working on essays as early as the summer before applications are due, I would recommend enjoying that last period of relaxation to it’s fullest. Starting in September seems to be the general consensus on the best time to begin, in my experience.</p>
<p>Also, please note that writing college essays involves so much more than sitting down with a computer and writing a couple hundred words and then clicking “submit.” Each college essay you write will consume far more time than you could have anticipated upon beginning. If it doesn’t, you’re either a phenomenal writer or you’re doing something wrong. Every applicant I’ve heard of who began applications in mid- to late December was not a particularly successful applicant.</p>