Hi,
I really want to go to a ivy league college, but I don’t know what to do to get their. I’m taking Algebra 1 in 9th grade (taking Math 8 this upcoming 8th grade year) and feel really bad about it. Also I wasn’t able to get into Spanish either for the eighth grade year to get a high school credit. This 7th grade year was my worst year I ruined my chances even more by taking a I.T class (a high school credit) and getting a “B” in that class. I need help planning to get back on track and get ahead of my peers. I’m afraid that i’m falling behind.
Oh my. You’re a rising eighth grader? What type of world have we become when kids this young begin stressing about college… Just do what you can. Get all the opportunities you have (not the bs by lottery or by choice stuff, but the stuff you actually have control over.) and excel in them. And you know what? Being this young, you might not be sure what your dreams are. Some people keep the same dream their entire lives, and that’s great, but others may find some other place where they belong. When I was your age, I was 100% sure that I was going to be a doctor. I wanted to go to places like WashU and JHU and all the Ivies. I planned out this entire track (schedule, clubs, sports and all) for high school and began thinking of all the awards I was going to win. I am a rising senior now, and the dream of being a doctor has long since left my mind. I want to go into Chemistry now, and I want to attend schools like Harvey Mudd, UC Berkeley, and Cornell. I threw my entire high school track out the window after my freshman year, and I never accomplished half the things I set for myself. But to a greater extent, I’m still so happy. I’m so free. My grades may have pushed me out of the elite schools for my major, but I know some school out there wants me. Don’t focus on what happened before. Trust me, life takes you on one hell of a ride. Focus on what you will do. If things happen, they happen. Work around that, and you’ll find a way. You will be fine, Ivy League or not.
Thanks! Just made me realize that I still have a long ways to go and have a lot of opportunities. 
I feel so sorry that you feel this way as a rising eighth grader. Truth be told, colleges couldn’t care less what you do in middle school. They see nothing from your middle school grades and it is that way for a reason. You don’t need to be years ahead in any classes to get into Ivies by the way. Wait at least 2 more years before really starting to think about college. And Michelle is very correct on what she said. As an eighth grader, now would be a good time to start discovering your interests. By the way, I am a rising senior if you wanted reference.
@swag125 Excelsior, my friend. Carry on. I wish you the best as you enter the eighth grade and high school.
There is nothing wrong with caring about your future at a young age. The problem arises when you are “worrying about it” as you mentioned. You’re in middle school. Relax. I have always been a mature kid, but I lived life to the fullest in middle school. I goofed off and did things that a middle school kid should do. And I was happy. The moment that I stepped foot on my high school’s campus for the first day of ninth grade, I went into the college mindset. I matured more in that moment than I had in the three years in middle school. Just never worry about college. Plan for it, think about it, but do not worry about it. Hope I could help.