<p>I'm about to be a freshman in High school, should I even be worried about going to my choice college? Any tips on what I should do in high school?</p>
<p>Get very good extracurricular activities, with leadership. Make sure to maintain a good character so that you stand out on college applications. Also, make sure to take the most challenging courses available. Do well on the SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>Most of all, do not worry about it! Just maintain your goals and have fun in high school. As long as you keep up grades and test scores, you won’t need to worry. When it comes times to worry at the end of junior year, you will be ready.</p>
<p>For a school like Stanford, the most important thing to do is find what you love and persistently pursue it. In your essays, show your passion for what you love doing.</p>
<p>Raise enough money to feed a nation in Africa for five years.</p>
<p>If you can, try and cure cancer by the time you get out of high school. This should give you a pretty good chance at getting into Stanford. This is not a guarantee however as their decisions are fairly unpredictable. Curing AIDs would most likely secure admissions into Stanford.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with those who say find something you’re passionate about and get involved in it through academic classes as well as extracurriculars. Also, starting around junior year, try to get to know your college advisor so that he/she will know you well and be able to write a personalized recommendation letter for you. This is especially important if you go to a big school, because you really want your letter to stand out.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys.
So I should:</p>
<ul>
<li>find a passion</li>
<li>attempt to do something amazingly charitable</li>
<li>Know your teachers/advisers well</li>
<li>Do well in grades and tests</li>
<li>Above all, stand out</li>
</ul>
<p>Anymore tips from some experienced college/high school people?</p>
<p>I personally think what you have overcome is more important than purely what you have done. I’m not saying you have to grow up dirt poor and create a charity for kids in Africa by your senior year, but there will be many times you want to do something and you will hear it isn’t possible or likely. You’ll get teachers telling you the reasons why you can’t do something, but it’s up to you find a way to overcome that. Those are the stories that are interesting. </p>
<p>Also, follow your heart. I wrote an article in our school newspaper because I was very upset at a situation. I wanted to let it out in a constructive manner, and I felt the essay I wrote about the ordeal was the strongest essay I submitted in my applications, and it got compliments from my Stanford admission officer.</p>
<p>Just F**k someone important… or just cure cancer.</p>
<p>^^^The curing cancer was my idea but it still deserves to be reemphasized nonetheless. F**king soming important sounds like a solid idea too. I agree with Lobzz</p>
<p>
lmao!</p>
<p>Just relax for now and do what you love to do. Unfortunately, I was so worried about getting into college at the start of HS that I joined a bunch (probably 6-7) of clubs that I didn’t REALLY like and am now only involved in 2 mainly with a couple of others I just go to once in a while AND I have no clue what I’m going to start writing my common app essay about this summer because I still haven’t found my passion.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t forget the good grades! NUMBER 1 THING. It doesn’t matter if you’ve cured cancer… chances are you won’t get in with a 2.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Thanks Rainbow. That sure is some good advice</p>
<p>You’re welcome! I’m still learning about this whole process myself. Basically what I’ve learned so far is NUMBER 1 THING is GPA (99% of the time of course there are exceptions to every rule) and number 2 is allowing yourself to do what you love and grow as a person. Don’t do things just because they “look good” because nothing really looks all that good unless you love to do it. I have number 1 down pat… number 2 not so much. Still, if you have number 1 perfect and none of number 2 then chances are you won’t get into any top schools in spite of being a genius.</p>
<p>Also, don’t get TOO wrapped up in SATs/standardized testing. Focus on your grades and passions instead. I know plenty of 2100 applicants who have gotten into the same colleges that 2400 applicants have been rejected from. However, make sure you still do well seeing as you want colleges to know that you care and that you’re at least a good test taker (IE below 2000 take it again since you’re aiming for Stanford, below 2100 MAYBE take it again depending on how the rest of your profile is, above 2200 I really wouldn’t bother (although some people disagree with me on that).</p>
<p>My goal right now is a 2200 but seeing as I’ve scored below 2100 twice now I will probably stop at a 700+ on each section since SATs are only one part of my app and I don’t want to look obsessive.</p>