I feel like I don't enough extracurriculars for UPenn?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Ok I'm a junior in high school and I've just started playing around and searching threads on college confidential. It seems that everyone on here has a massive list full of extracurriculars and internships and leadership positions and its causing me so much stress??? I never really realized how important extracurriculars were. Throughout high school, I've done a few clubs here and there but I've never actually felt committed to them and never really had a leadership position. Will this hurt my chances at getting into a top college specifically upenn (my first choice!!!) ? Here's a list of my EC's:</p>

<p>-Cross Country (freshman and sophomore)
-Crafts For Change (sophomore)
-NHS (junior and also next year as a senior)
-Key Club (junior and next year as a senior)
-Red Cross (junior and senior)
-Prom Committee (junior)
-Tutoring program at elementary school 2 hours every week (junior and possibly as a senior as well)
-Over 100 volunteer hours</p>

<p>As you can see this isn't even a half as good a list of EC's as most of you on here have. Should I try becoming a leader in one of these clubs next year? It's really hard to get a position at my school because we have such a large population. I'm also planning on getting a job/internship this summer. </p>

<p>I have a really good gpa (3.87) and have taken several AP's so I'm not worried about the academics as much. </p>

<p>Also, I still have no idea if I want to take the SAT or the ACT because if I just take the SAT then I'll have to take SATII's as well and that seems like a huge pain. So I might just end up taking the ACT. What are your opinions? Also when should I take them? I was planning on taking one in spring this year and then one later in the fall. </p>

<p>As you can tell I'm really stressed out and I'm just a big mess of worry and nerves right now so I would really appreciate some feedback! Thanks!</p>

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<p>Your EC’s are pretty decent, but maybe you should think about your plans for major/coursework and try applying for a summer program in that area. </p>

<p>As for tests, you don’t have to take the SAT II’s just because you took the general SAT. I would recommend you take either SAT or ACT by end of junior year (maybe even both) and definitely prepare well using one of the many books out there. UPenn is an Ivy, so you really should be aiming above 2200 to be competitive.</p>

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<p>Also, some test prep places such as kaplan offer sat/act tests that tell you which test you would score better on. check it out.</p>

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<p>That list of clubs, even if you mix in a few leadership positions, is pretty standard for an ivy league applicant. You need to do something with your summer if you really want to stand out. Research internships are especially impressive if you can show that you are genuinely passionate about them and not just paying for some program. If you can gain recognition in some olympiads/competitions in subject areas you are strong in, it will help you out a lot. Overall you’re on the right track, you just need to add some “wow” factor.</p>

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<p>I’m really interested in psychiatry as a profession so I might look into a medical internship or something! I’ve also visited my counselor and talked to her about /possibly/ taking both the ACT and the SAT. Thanks guys!</p>