<p>I'm currently a freshman in High School and have a (weighted) GPA of 4.36 for the first semester. I played on the freshman volleyball team and am currently on the JV softball team (hoping to make Varsity next year, lots of politics so we'll see). I don't do any clubs at school but I am in the church's Youth Ministry Group. Also, this summer it looks like i will be interning at a law office, as I am interested in politics and law. I might have the opportunity to work with a state rep (MA) in the near future as well. I am planning on joining at least one club next year, or maybe starting one before school for kids who play sports and don't have time after school. I really want to go to an Ivy, especially Dartmouth. I have no idea if what I'm currently doing is enough to get in. Basically, I am looking for general advice as to where to take myself from here. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>i’m a sophomore and want to go to dartmouth too :)</p>
<p>maintain straight a’s, take one or two aps sophomore year and 3-4 at least junior and senior year. get at least 2200 on the sat’s and get above 700 on two sat subject tests. those, at least, are the basic goals to reach for if you want to even have a chance. </p>
<p>form great relationships with your teachers and guidance counselor, show them you are serious, participate in class, go to them for extra help (even if you don’t need it, they will see your dedication if you do so.) you will need two teacher and one guidance counselor recs and their liking you is crucial if you want them to write strong recs. </p>
<p>after you have all this taken care of comes the most crucial part - ec’s. most top college applicants will have amazing grades/test scores, so this is the area in which you really need to stand out. the best thing is to do something really different - although being class president, playing high school sports, participating in academic teams, and doing generic community service are good and often important, strive to go off the beaten path. start a business, publish articles (it doesn’t have to be anything fancy), start a club or your own charity. however, make sure you are passionate about what you do and show dedication. it is also better to stick with a few things that are important to you rather than do a million different activities - this emphasizes dedication. </p>
<p>it seems like you are on the right track. start that club, nab that summer law internship! also, try to stick with your interests. you like law, you like sports. perhaps add one more “passion” and attempt to mold your ec’s to those things. </p>
<p>in my case, i feel my ec’s are pretty strong and my main interests are writing, entrepreneurship, and tennis. i’ve written more than 10 articles for national sailing magazines, a print article for Teen Ink, and plan to join my school’s lit. mag. next year. for entrepreneurship, i’ve started two small businesses. i homeschooled for a year and a half to improve at tennis, playing 5-6 hours a day and plan to be ranked within top 500 (although preferably higher) by the end of high school.</p>
<p>by sticking to three things i feel i wasn’t overwhelmed by a broad scope and participation in countless activities and have remained grounded and focused. and don’t feel like you need to be some genius with published research or a national math contest winner to go to the ivies, just find your niche and you will be good.</p>