I am only a freshman but I’ve always had big dreams. I am a awesome student and was i was 12 I was accepted into United States achievement academy’s honor yearbook. Also i was accepted to go on the Peeople to People trip but didnt go due to financial poroblems .In middle school I participated in a group called girl power where they were bringing girls into STEM. I participated in odyssey of the Mind in mechanical vehicle team all 3 years and was a president in MESA (mathematics engineering science achievement). Lastly I created a debate team that turned into an entrepreneur club after school, got signatures for it too. I took algebra in middle school but since I switched school district I’m retaking it in high school.
What I take now:
Health (taking PE next semester it’s required to graduate)
Spanish 1
Global issues
Honors biology
Jazz combo (I’ve played stand up bass 5 years in orchestra and I’m a girl)
Honors english
Algebra 1 (taking honors geometry next year)
I am joining a vocabulary club as well to help me on SAT’s and a marketing/entrepreneur club that will travel to NY. I want to major in biomedical engineering or just biomedical science in college and I know upenn has a good program for that. I am planning to do community service each summer all through out high school. I worry that being white and not a minority will make it hard. I would also need a full ride because my mom makes 12K a year and we have been homeless in multiple ocasions. Am I qualified so far?
Don’t bother joining the vocabulary club for the express purpose of SAT prep. It’s been redesigned to cut out that entire part. (FWIW, that made me very sad…) Also, you’re a freshman. I wouldn’t worry so much yet. Don’t do high school for college and don’t do things you don’t like. Check out the High School Class of 2019 thread over in High School Life.
Don’t hyper focus on UPenn or the Ivies right now: just do the absolutely best you can with what you have (ie: whatever your school offers, etc.) and do the things you enjoy. It sounds like you already are doing many impressive things that you enjoy, so just keep at it! Focus on getting through freshman year with good grades, and don’t worry about SAT prep until at least sophomore year.
When the time comes, in junior year, apply for Questbridge college prep, and in senior year apply for Questbridge college match. You’d be an ideal candidate.
And just generally: allow your interests to grow and your ideas of where you’ll go to college to change. You may dream of Ivies now because they are omni-present in the minds of most students, but come junior, senior year you may discover many other schools that would be equally good fits or better fits. I suggest this because when the time comes, you’ll need to follow the money, which may or may not come from Ivies (if you can get in). You’re on track to having a good application, so just work hard and follow your passions! And definitely keep Questbridge on your radar. If you’re in a Posse city, see if you can get nominated for that program, as well.