Open for literally any helpfull advice.. Please

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I need advice on activities that I can do to improve my chances on getting into a good school. I am willing to work hard, I just have not had any opportunities that interest me, although as highschool continues I realize that I need to start.

I am a highschool junior attending a small(600 student) school, I went to a different highschool for freshman and sophomore year that did not offer AP or Honors classes, and I am now in AP English Literature and Honors World History, and first semester I took Honors Algebra 2/Trig, but have since dropped the honors into regular.
GPA : 3.82
SAT(First time, last month) : 1780
C. Reading : 580
Math : 570
Writing : 630
Family Income : >$45,000
I am a female, hispanic and Alaska Native as well as caucasian
Any advice is GREATLY appreciated, I feel embaressed to set my sights even moderatly high because of my lack of extra-curriculars.
I would love to go to UCI, although I know that it is a stretch, but I also don’t want to head into applying to colleges selling myself short. I am very competent and I try very hard in school, and hopefully I can improve my chances with any support/criticism/advice I can get!

2

If you’re a junior already, that will be an issue. You’ll be applying early to schools this fall, and regular decision applications will be due in December. At most, you have 10 months, and colleges just don’t place much stock in activities that you take up only at the last minute.

I’d suggest looking for activities you’ve taken part in before, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to show a real commitment in this little time.

3

Most public universities will mostly consider your grades, course rigor, and SAT scores.
First, spend time preparing for the SAT. Register for question of the day, use Khan Academy materials, etc.
Since you’re lower-income, get fee waivers from your guidance counselor.
To increase your odds, plan to take 2 subject tests in May or June- I would suggest in English Literature and World History (you’ll need to review for both). This may increase your odds at some private universities that will factor in your URM background as well as lower-income status.

What’s your class rank?

Get a job ASAP and stick to it, doing your best work (thus showing reliability, responsibility, consistency, maturity). This is probably your best bet.

4

How do you spend your time outside of school? Really think about everything here and make a list – do you read books, play computer games, spend time on social media, hang out with friends, help with family, play with pets, draw pictures or make jewelry, write poems, play musical instruments, go to church? You must be doing something when you are not in school. Whatever that something is – IS your extracurricular activity so far.

Anything can relate to a possible college major or career. If you like to socialize, you might become a party planner one day or major in hospitality. If you like to spend time on social media, you might major in digital communication and social media. If you like to read books, then you could consider majoring in English and working for a book publisher as an editor. If you really just sit around and watch TV, then you could consider a career as a screen writer or in TV and film production.

The idea of extracurricular activities is that they represent you and what truly interests you, and are not something fake you simply add to your schedule when it’s time to apply to colleges. Look at who you are already and what you enjoy, and think creatively of how that applies to jobs and college majors, and pitch yourself that way to the extent you even need to mention extracurricular activities or write essays. As someone already mentioned, many schools will just look at grades and test scores and curriculum (difficulty of classes you chose).

If you do want to add some activity, make sure it grows out of an existing activity and interest. For example, you can start a blog on something you’re already an expert on, or load your photos and art onto an online portfolio and try to get them displayed, or help teach a Spanish or English class. My daughter took some Spanish classes and helped teach computer skills to Spanish-speaking adults. You could use your language skills (assuming you speak Spanish) in an activity. Just brainstorm about all possibilities relating to who you are – your heritage, your unique skills and interests. Don’t knock anything as not being important enough to count as an “extracurricular activity.” Even being an expert on your own heritage or building a family tree using an online tool like Ancestry.com can be an extracurricular activity, and relate to a possible major in history or cultural studies and a future job at a nonprofit organization, a museum, in tourism or in teaching.

5

My class rank is 20/158
@MYOS1634‌
Outside of school I read a lot, try to improve my writing, watch movies- esp. in spanish to try to improve. I like the english major idea, are there any specific groups/clubs/jobs to look for that will appeal to colleges and be possibly entertaining and helpful?
@mommyrocks‌

6

You will need to research and possibly create your own opportunities at the school level, your town, and also state, national and international options. For example, your school may or may not have a literary magazine or a Spanish culture club or an international club open to watching movies in other languages. Likewise, places you can get to locally may have teen reading and writing clubs (check local public library announcements). If you don’t find a group you want to join, then create your own. My daughter started a Computer Science Club at her school in 11th Grade – this was at the beginning of the year so easier, but you could set up the foundations of a new club at your school to start next fall, with you as President.

Online, there are many options for publishing or writing – e.g., NaNoWriMo every fall, and essay contests, poetry contests, blogging, etc. You can browse some contests here: https://cogito.cty.jhu.edu/competitions/ or go to Google.com and research “high school English competitions.” There are also national Spanish language tests/competitions.

You will want to take the SAT subject tests in English and possibly Spanish, in addition to preparing well for the reading and writing portion of the SAT and ACT.

Look around for summer possibilities like teaching at a summer camp that uses some of your interests and skills, where you are paid to help others, and also for volunteer activities right now. Perhaps you can volunteer to help Spanish-speakers with English, or vice versa. Is there a Latin American Association near you that you could get involved in?

Make a list of all the books/stories/poems you’ve read for fun in high school outside of requirements for school, and then consider creating a list of books or short story anthologies to tackle over the summer, with some possibly related to your heritage and in Spanish. The list might become the basis for your Personal Statement or another essay when you apply to college. For books and stories in English, make a note of any word you don’t know while you’re reading and create your own dictionary of these words, to help you with the SAT later. (You could do the same for Spanish to help you with the SAT Spanish test.)

Keep an eye on what UCI is looking for here:
http://www.admissions.uci.edu/applicants/freshman_admission.html
http://www.admissions.uci.edu/applicants/freshman_selection.html

Research suitable majors here:
http://www.admissions.uci.edu/about/academics/humanities.html
You could possibly major in English and minor in Film and Media studies, or possibly minor in Spanish to be able to read Spanish literature with others.

Also research similar majors at a variety of California universities in case you do not get into UCI, so you know the other places you would be most interested in attending.