I'm a freshman who has big dreams for college. What should I do between now and the time I apply to

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

Hi, I’m a freshman who hopes to get into a selective college such as Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, MIT, etc. I know that lumping these colleges into one category isn’t necessarily correct, but it is true that the accepted students excel in similar aspects.

My Stats:

~3.98 Unweighted GPA due to a B in gym, all As otherwise

4.3 Weighted GPA (out of possible 4.5, AP and Honors = 4.5)

SAT I 2000 (score from 8th grade for CTY, plan to retake)

Honors Algebra II, Honors Chemistry, Honors Spanish II (Planning to take Honors English II, Honors US History II, Honors Spanish III, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors Physics, and AP Computer Science sophomore year)

Ethnicity: Asian

Hooks, URM: None

Extracurricular Activities:

Violin (for last 5 years, 1st violinist in school orchestra, most likely 1st chair by senior year, plan to audition for regional orchestra and partake in other competitions)

Computer Science (plan to start an app development club sophomore year and release apps to the market and design stuff to help our school)

Community Service (ran and took part in some food drives, helping the elderly, plan to do throughout high school)

Research (conducting and hopefully publishing some engineering research at a college close by this summer and throughout high school)

I also do some math competitions like AMC but I doubt I can get into USAMO or anything.

So what are some other things that can better increase my chances of getting into these selective colleges? I know not getting in isn’t the end of the world but it’s something I decided to aim for and it seems to be a good goal to have nonetheless.

Thank you!

2

Follow this advice: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

3

As someone in a very similar boat four years ago, my best advice is to focus on your personal passions, and to strive for real leadership in those areas. It doesn’t matter what you choose, but choose a few activities and focus on them. Maintain a good GPA and keep involved in service and you’ll do well.

4

your plan would not give you more than a 15-20% shot at Harvard Princeton Stanford or MIT. Maybe a solid shot at Columbia especially if you get up to a 6 or so on AIME (they heavily recruit such talented STEM students). It’s basic af, especially for your ethnicity. Unless you make USAMO, or possibly even then, you’re cooked by this plan (for MIT let’s not even think you have more than a 5% shot by this plan, maybe a 15% shot if you make USAMO).

Get more leadership, do more unique activities, get leadership. Actually do some humanities activities.

Above all, maintain your gpa. Don’t stress standardized testing or a rigorous schedule too much, a 2300 SAT and 2-3 780+ SAT IIs, a fair number of APs will suffice, you don’t need 2400 SAT or perfect scores on 5 SAT IIs and 5s on 12 APs. Certainly don’t take a super easy schedule, but don’t take as many APs as possible if you don’t need too, pick and choose a couple not to take.

5

Follow your passions and make something great happen in those four years. The first step to getting into an Ivy League school is being rich- Just kidding. The first step to getting into MIT, Stanford, etc. is realizing that the difference between yes and no is all just pure luck.

The most important step is realizing that the difference between getting in and not is whether your enrichment as a person happens in other places besides the textbook.

6

See comment # 1 = read the link very carefully many times, then liberate yourself.

7

@ellipticmodulo pls ask the question when you are a junior. It’s still too early!
BTW, how do you get 3.98GPA uw as a freshman?

I know one B out of 3 years of HS get you 3.975 but not just one year of hs!