You sound very accomplished, but a big piece of the puzzle, I think, is what u say about yourself in your essays-- HOW u present your POV is aso important when you consider the applicant pool. What do they learn about who you are-- important I think.
Best wishes. Bet you willget into quite a few schools off your list.
@Nedcone Thanks
Not joining clubs (especially science Olympiad, quiz bowl) as a freshman
Taking unnecessary classes just to boost my GPA
Spending too much time studying last year and not enough this year
Without a doubt I would change how seriously I took my classes. My lack of compassion meant that low grades went unnoticed, and I think they ruined any chance of attending an outstanding school. I hope you all take every test, homework assignment, and class work seriously. when thy compound, and effect your GPA, you’ll either be proud or embarrassed.
Wish I improved my SAT scores and gotten teacher recs earlier (reason why I had to apply RD to all my schools) 
Applied to less selective schools in lieu of some highly selective ones I didn’t have a chance at
Took school more seriously freshman and sophomore year
Socialized more
Studied more for standardized test and worked harder on my essays/supplements and didn’t miss the deadline for requesting an interview.
For me, definitely should’ve taken the ACT/SAT more seriously. 1430 and a 22, not acceptable at all
Studying harder for ACT/SAT and taking SAT subject tests seriously…also not screwing up all my math classes!
I had a rough high school career. My grades were all over the place. I had straight 6s (A to A+) in math, but my grades in history and english would be a 5 (B to A-) one term and a 3 (D to C-) the next–my GPA was a 4.6 (on a 6 point scale) which was a bit below average. I had never had to study for tests or even spend much time at all on HW in middle school, and I didn’t learn to adapt in high school and struggled with tremendous anxiety and depression. I’m still horrible with procrastinating and time management, but I’m trying to work on it so history doesn’t repeat itself in college.
I would have cared a little bit more the earlier half of junior year. Also, I would have gone out of my way to find extracurricular activities that demonstrate my interests in science. I think this is why I didn’t get into MIT; no signs of passion for science. Consequently doing less sports to do this.
@andover2016 I feel you, I’m in the same exact boat. My grades cost me big time, as I’m headed to my safety this fall. Oh well; knowledge and experience don’t come cheap. At least we have gleaned the study habits necessary to thrive in college. We will excel there while our classmates just begin to learn how to manage their time effectively and beat procrastination.
Standardized test scores.
I had terrible scores for my EA school, but luckily retook in November and got a much better score in time for RD decisions (thank God). If I had had my second score in time for EA admissions, I think I stood a much better chance of being admitted. I also wish I would have applied to a different EA school.
For reference:
Applied to Harvard EA with 2080 SAT – was deferred, later rejected.
Got 33C ACT in November in time for RD apps.
Wished I could have had my ACT for EA (and applied to Yale instead of Harvard EA… I realized later I liked it a lot better.)
Will be attending Columbia (RD admit).
Still thrilled with my acceptance at the end. I feel extremely lucky. But if I had to do it all over again, I would want to write the ACT earlier and try a different EA school.
Go Lions!
hi! I know this is from really long ago, but i am now in the same boat as you were 2 years ago. If you dont mind me asking, how did things turn out? where did u end up going to school?
I would have applied to a much lower amount of schools and applied to an in-state public.
Focusing my Common App and UC essay about dealing with career NJROTC rather than AP-spamming students rather than my novel.
Culling half of the patsy extracurriculars from both my high school career and my Common App.
Explicitly writing more of my supplementary essays on how I’m not a cookie-cutter Asian male.
Soooo many thoughts on this.
Tbh, had I had another teacher rec, I could have applied to so many more schools, and maybe had a leg up on the ones I did apply to. I didn’t want to ask or know who to ask though. Wish I would’ve just sucked it up and gave it a shot.
If I could change one thing…it would be how I allowed other parents to make me feel a little GUILTY for 1) taking our daughter out of the public school system and putting her into a private full IB school and 2) not applying to an in-state school. For four years right up to the week before she was accepted to GW (Elliott School- University Honors Program- Presidental Academic Scholarship-Test Optional) parents (and their kids) would make offhanded comments about our choices.
They didn’t care about the fact that my daughter does not do standardized tests very well and would have fell between the cracks with 1200 other incoming high school freshmen.
Once those parents learned she’d been accepted to her #1 school…it was amazing how their attitudes changed. That small private IB education opened doors for her to build a very strong resume which completely overcame the need to apply with test scores (Girls State, highly selective Yale Foreign Affairs Focus summer program, Wellesley College Book Award to name a few). Between her acceptance to American University (Global Scholars 3 Year BA/MBA program) and GW…we just smile and nod.
She is our only child and we will walk on hot coals for her…ALWAYS!
Grades
Unless if you are aiming at a liberal arts college (most of which are private unfortunately), they will look at grades the most. If I would have known this, I would have dealt with my unique, personal circumstances more and find another environment to study in. I thought the circumstances would pull me through, but they won’t - ESPECIALLY at public universities.
Nevertheless, I still would have ended up at San José State most likely.
Speaking of that, everything will play out to the point where you will be attending your ideal undergraduate college - assuming you applied to colleges with your list being all about YOU and NOT your parents, friends, and et cetera. Do not worry if you don’t get into your first choice…the last degree matters anyway.
Care more about my extracurriculars. Use site blockers to stop myself from wasting hours on the internet.