Ivy League help. (9th grade/rising sophomore)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hi, this is my first time on CollegeConfidential so I hope I'm not putting this in the wrong place. Anyways, I'm currently a 9th Grader (Rising Sophomore) and really want to go into a top college (Like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, etc). Anyways, I'm curious of what standards they admission offers have. Like what should my GPA be (weighted or unweighted)? How many AP classes average do most people take that get in Harvard? What extracurriculars should I take (Main Question)?</p>

<p>My GPA is currently 4.28 (Last semester and this quarter) (Weighted), and this quarter's is around 3.8 (Unweighted)</p>

<p>My classes this year (1st Semester grade included)
World History Honors 99
Lifetime Wellness (Fancy way of saying P.E.) 97
Algebra II Honors 93
Biology Honors 99
English I Honors 99
Strings Orchestra 97
Spanish II Honors 97</p>

<p>My classes next year are: AP World, Precal Hon, AP Bio, Chem Hon, Eng II H, and Span III</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Model UN
Youth in Govt.
BSA (Will most likely become an Eagle by 10th or 11th grade)
Guitar (Private Lessons, not w/ school)
Mu Alpha Theta</p>

<p>Planning on taking Debate next year</p>

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<p>Start by reading various College Admissions websites:
[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Freshman Application Process](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/decisions.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/tips/decisions.html)
[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Preparing for College](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/preparing/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/preparing/index.html)
[What</a> Yale Looks For | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/what-yale-looks-for]What”>What Yale Looks For | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)
[Admission</a> Requirements<em>-</em>Princeton University | Admission Requirements](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/requirements/]Admission”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/requirements/)</p>

<p>Then, please read: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Once you’ve digested all of that info, you will know what to do. Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>I can just say that it is wayy to early to start worrying about college for you, you are just a freshman! also, there is no “magic formula” to get in to a particular college, decisions are made by a myriad of reasons that, in the end, seem random. But, to put you in the running, you should aim to get the highest grades possible (obviously) and a 2200+ SAT. Remember, that like half of applicants have these prerequisites, then its just little things that make an applicant get accepted (may be race, EC’s, geograpic area, sex, WHO KNOWS). You should just follow what you truly love, and take it to the next level. that is, if you like dancing become the best dancer in the state/nation/ whatever, for example. Just do the things you love, and try to give the best of yourself in anyway possible. harvard says it looks for “excellence” and that the foundation for any acceptance is based on the applicant’s “strenght of character”. Those are really vague words, but they mean it. Excell in what you love, and just be the best person you can become- this is really important, and this will show throught teacher recs and essays. Be genuine, show passion, and enjoy life!</p>

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<p>Thanks! And yeah, the things I do now I like and am very interested in. I was just wanting to if there is anything you guys recommended that I am interested in. But I get the point though.</p>

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<p>Here’s some anecdotal advice: stay off of this site. From my friends, the ones that have had the most success with college admissions are the ones that spent the least amount of time on this site. Use it sparingly</p>

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<p>[Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)</p>

<p>This is one of my favorite articles on this subject. Please do yourself a favor and read it – I think it’s insightful and a must read for those of us stressed out about admissions.</p>

<p>On an unrelated note, I am happy to see you do Youth in Govt. It’s one of my favorite programs in this world. xD</p>

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<p>Thanks, that link helped (especially the part about the guy w/ the nuclear reactor). </p>

<p>and yeah YIG and MUN is probably my favorite school related extracurricular</p>