Need more tips on getting into prestigious school

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Haven't taken the ACT yet. Should get at least a 30 according to practice tests, etc. </p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 - should be 4.79 unweighted by senior year if I keep all A's. I'm top of all of my class currently. No ties. </p>

<p>Schedule:
Freshman year - took all honors with 3 electives and 2 college classes total(college success, fundamentals of public speaking)</p>

<p>Sophomore year- took all preAICE/honors(5 classes), 1 elective, and 6 college classes total(humanities, psychology, computer apps, sociology, Spanish, college algebra)</p>

<p>Junior year- taking 2 AICE/AP classes, 2 preAICE/honors courses, 6 total college classes for the year, maybe 8. (Percalc/trig, statistics, philosophy, Spanish 2, Spanish 3, abnormal psychology probably and 2 other classes in the summer.)</p>

<p>Senior year- my schedule will consist of 2-3 AP/AICE classes and 6 college classes total.
**I will have my AA degree and Cambridge diploma</p>

<p>Extracurriculars in/outside school:
1 year SGA- going for 2
I have 2 jobs
1 year track- going for 3???
1 year cross country- going for 2
Fundraising for my dad(terminally ill from oral, prostate, and lung cancer)
Plan on joining the debate team or some academic club this year
Volunteering - will have 500+ hours</p>

<p>Question about extracurriculars: would it be appropriate to do lacrosse for 2 years instead of track for 3? My coach is a "either let your dad die on his own and spend 24/7 running or quit" kind of gal.
I have a huge passion in learning, new experiences, and helping others. I want to do as much as I can for my community naturally - not for colleges. </p>

<p>What should I do to increase my chances at schools like Yale, etc and especially Duke and Vanderbilt? What are my chances so far?</p>

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<p>Are you a freshman?</p>

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<p>^ no, I am going into junior year.</p>

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<p>Oh sorry.</p>

<p>This feels pretty awkward now…</p>

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<p>Hahah I’d like to not think about freshman year too much. Too many throwbacks</p>

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<p>Post this in “what are my chances” forum. Do whatever ECs you like doing.</p>

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<p>You should post in the Chances forum next time, but since you are already here:</p>

<p>Your app looks fine. Your coach seems like a total prick, so if you want to switch to another sport just go ahead and do so. Great academics, decent EC’s… provided your essay/recs/test scores are also good, you should be a contender for all of those schools. You should definitely try applying. I am by no means an expert about this (only a rising sophomore), but this is what I can deduce from reading similar threads in the chances forum.</p>

<p>Best of luck, and I’m sorry about your dad. My uncle had three types of cancer as well, and that was already really hard for me to deal with so I really can’t imagine what you’re going through.</p>

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<p>What do you mean by prestigious?
If you mean HYPMS, I would think about trying to aim for 34+ on the ACT
But if you just mean top 50 school, I think you’re set</p>

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<p>Yeah knowing just about anyone with cancer is tough, especially to watch.Thanks</p>

<p>Thanks a lot everyone!! I reposted it in the chances forum. :)</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>No such thing. Conventionally, the highest possible unweighted GPA is 4.0. </p>

<p>Here are my completely arbitrary recommendations, based on stuff I’ve read on here (I posted some of this on another thread once, btw):</p>

<ol>
<li>2250 SAT score or above 75th percentile. The ACT equivalent is around 33 or 34, and I’d recommend you take both tests.</li>
<li>3.8 unweighted GPA </li>
<li>Top 10% of your class</li>
<li>Have high-quality extracurriculars you’re passionate about. A lot of people devote most of their ECs to one specific area.</li>
<li>Leadership. But think outside the box…this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a bunch of officer positions in clubs.</li>
<li>Find a summer program, internship, or job (paid or volunteer) during every summer. Free, selective summer programs are more impressive than expensive ones. </li>
<li>Develop good relationships with your teachers and pick the ones who will write the best recommendations</li>
<li>Take a couple SAT Subject Tests and get 750+ on them.</li>
<li>Write good essays. A lot of people don’t, so you’ll stand out. Spend a lot of time on them, but don’t start them until the middle of your junior year or so.</li>
<li>If the college considers demonstrated interest, visit and do an interview if possible.</li>
</ol>

<p>When selecting colleges to apply to, look at the following:

  • Gender ratios (if you’re in the minority gender you might have a higher chance of acceptance)
  • Do you have URM status and does the college care?
  • Are you first-generation and does the college care?
  • Whether the college considers demonstrated interest
  • Your financial situation and whether the college has need-blind admissions, merit aid, etc.
  • Whether they’re trying to create geographic diversity (colleges far away from where you live might be more likely to accept you)</p>
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<p>

No one cares about “should”.</p>

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<p>Even if you have a lot of ECs and decent GPA, a 30 ACT would not be very good.</p>

<p>You shouldn’t even be thinking 30s; think 34-36s.</p>

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<p>I meant weighted my bad</p>

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<p>And my goal on the ACT is a 34- I’m confident I will reach it. All the practice tests I’ve taken are 32’s-35’s. </p>

<p>My weighted GPA will be 4.79 if I keep all A’s and my unweighted is 4.0. Simple typo mistake. -_-</p>

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<p>Also, I plan on taking the SAT too, thanks for the recommendation. :)</p>