I'm pretty much a typical Asian overachiever...

Applying to College
1

<p>except that I don't do research (missed the chance at school), debate, or win anything that could impress colleges...</p>

<p>I only have 100+ hours for community service (that's for only one year), Science Olympiad (no official position), Habitat for Humanity (same as Sci Oly), Key Club (likewise), and violin..</p>

<p>I can't write, definitely can't play sports, be a leader, or handle public speaking (any kind of speaking at all actually)
I'm kinda freaked out because everyone on CC seems to have super ECs while I have almost none. And I somehow have to get into an Ivy League (parents kept mentioning Yale -- bad pressure <em>sniff</em>)</p>

<p>My grades are pretty good, and I'm planning to graduate with at least a 3.8 and 7-11 APs (probably 11 if it didn't cost so much...) but I desperately need an idea for some extracurricular activities I can handle....Is there anything?</p>

2

<p>ECs won't help you if you don't have anything else to bank on to stand out in the crowd.</p>

3

<p>"I can't write, definitely can't play sports, be a leader, or handle public speaking (any kind of speaking at all actually)"</p>

<p>Perhaps you could try working on some of these things? Admittedly, some people are just flat-out uncoordinated and can't play sports, but public speaking, leadership, etc. are things many people are only uncomfortable with - not necessarily incapable of. </p>

<p>What year/grade are you in?</p>

4

<p>going into 10
When I memorize what I have to say (presentation), I'm alright
but when I'm making up my own words (even in an essay) words don't connect and make sense. That's why I hate talking more than speaking?</p>

<p>And that whole thing with showing your passion with EC, how do you know what your passion is..? I like learning..</p>

5

<p>^try tutoring kids or applying what you learn.</p>

6

<p>You still have plenty of time to figure out what you really like.</p>

<p>I'm actually quite the same person as you- I'm stereotyped as the Asian- I'm good at math and science, I play piano, and the only sport I play is tennis (and I'm not even good at that). </p>

<p>When I was a freshman, I was a serial joiner. I think I was in all but 5 clubs at school; I just wanted to learn to ropes at everything and figure out what everything entailed. I thought that my application would lean on student government, computer club, and piano.</p>

<p>Then slowly, I understood what each club actually entailed; some clubs just showed up to competition or existed for name value, and others required real effort. I also understood which things I was more interested in. I started getting more active in the literary magazine and JSA. I quit art club, photography club, and computer club. I only showed up to french club meetings. I even quit FBLA, of which I was a board member and had placed at regionals. </p>

<p>Each year, I grew more. I figured out that student government wasn't for me, and didn't run for position again. I was invited onto the math and science teams (some starting freshman year, some starting sophomore year), and realized that it was something I was good at and liked doing. </p>

<p>Over time, I just kind of understood what things I liked and what things I didn't. Now I know that I am interested primarily in three things: math, piano, and writing... but that I still have other hobbies that I still participate in: politics, tennis, volunteer work. </p>

<p>Don't stress too much, you're still pretty young in the college process. Maybe take my approach and try to serial join your sophomore year and figure out what you like and don't like. Or figure out your own way of knowing what you like and don't like. That's really the whole point of extracurriculars, isn't it?</p>

<p>If you're good at science and like it, maybe email some local professors outside of your school program and get started on research. You do community service- try to find a cause you really believe in and work solely towards that cause. You play violin: join some local orchestras, compete in some competitions, consider sending in a supplement when it comes time. </p>

<p>Being stereotypical doesn't mean you're wrong. I tried not to be good at math (well no, I didn't. But I did try at really feeling passionate towards history, but that failed). I tried being amazing at art and running and business. But it's not me. I'm the asian girl who plays piano and tennis and does math. And guess what, I'll end up going to college.</p>

7

<p>Thank you so much~~!</p>

8

<p>Three words: Do Not Worry</p>

<p>There is plenty of time to figure out who you are. 100 hours of service is a lot considering that you are going into 10th grade. </p>

<p>The best thing to do, in my opinion, is ask around. It's better to ask your peers than us in CC because they know your community and school better than we do. If you are part of church, try to involve yourself in some programs related to that (they do not have to be religious related). </p>

<p>But for now, your top priority is to keep your grades up. I know so many people who started well and just fell miserably, people who aimed at Harvard and Princeton who just settled for Rutgers, their safety. Maintain a high academic standard.</p>

9

<p>...and begin studying for the SATs relatively early, so it's not one giant mound of collecting pressure in the beginning of your junior year. do a little practice each week...and you'll end up doing fabulously! :)</p>

10

<p>Or actually. I'd recommend taking the PSAT sophomore year and not even looking at preparing for the SATs until you get your PSAT scores back. That's what I did, and when I got my scores, I decided that taking a course/studying would not be the best use of my time. Instead, I just looked over the format of the test again before I took it junior year. That being said, I'm a decent standardized test taker. If you're not, you'll know after the PSAT (keeping in mind that the writing score does not count the essay, which can significantly affect your score- mine went up almost a hundred points). You'll also know which sections you may need to work on.</p>

<p>(If you can't tell, I'm not a proponent of studying for the SATs. They're an aptitude test for a reason; everyone's just abusing it. I guess that since everyone's studying for it nowadays, you have to do it too to keep up, but it's like doping in track- you have to do it to keep up but it's not neccessarily right. But studying for the SATs isn't as bad as doping... Okay, now I just seem like an idiot so I'll leave :))</p>

11

<p>I understand that your parents have hopes and expectations.</p>

<p>However, maybe your parents are not in touch with how difficult it is to get into Yale. Do some simple math: There are about 20,000 high schools in the U.S. About 1,200 freshmen matriculate to Yale each year. Of the 1,200, about 300 are hooked admits (athletic, race, legacy). Let's further suppose you end up as the MOST qualified college candidate from your high school in two years. For every approx. 23 high schools in the U.S., 22 fail to get an unhooked student into Yale for every ONE that does. </p>

<p>Do your parents know that?</p>

12

<p>^wow, that's a lot of math...</p>

13

<p>1,200 matriculate to yale, but how many are accepted to yale</p>

14

<p>wow
Last year I think about 4 people from our (public) high school were accepted to Yale (one was also accepted to Harvard and Princeton, and the other was going to Brown PLME). (Our school also sends more than like twenty people to Cornell for some reason...) One girl didn't have an amazing GPA, SAT scores, and not many APs but still was accepted because she won some kind of women of the year research thing... (I can't do research because I'm already a year behind and it was at the same time as orchestra-- orchestra necessary)</p>

15

<p>Wow, um, don't worry that much. You're fine, honestly for yourself I'll have to throw some gruesome platitudes and say that you should get involved in a couple things you do, and before long it'll be fine.</p>

<p>I also share your sentiment of not being able to excel in certain things, because I seem to be pretty..."low" when it comes to academics, but hopefully it'll catch on later. If I'm not 50% as lazy as I am now, I should be fine... </p>

<p>(As a fellow sophomore btw, who also didn't do ANYTHING...including academics, EC's, and everything else...ever since I can remember).</p>