<p>puddly's list is not too far off btw.</p>
<p>ur lucky...wish i'd known about this as a prehighschooler.</p>
<p>check this out if u like math and would like to be really good at it: artofproblemsolving.com</p>
<p>dude.. you're not even in high school. but here's what you need to do.</p>
<p>1) come back in two to three years
2) eat some ice cream, play outside, enjoy being young and stress-free
3) stop worrying. if you're this motivated already i'm sure you'll do fine, but don't ask what you "need" to do - it's up to you. find your interests, excel in them, and show the admissions people your heart.
4) don't start collecting a laundry list!
5) be a kid. you're not an overstressed junior (yet) -- enjoy it while you can.</p>
<p>I think you might want to talk to a therapist or counselor. If you spend 4 years of high school trying to be something you are not, just to get into Harvard, it will be very sad. Harvard does not accept people because of stats, or lists, anyway. And it may not be the best school for you (our daughter is still trying to decide whether to accept). </p>
<p>You can't find out what you are passionate about when none of your motivation is inner or genuine, but is just geared to the external, artificial goal of getting in schools. Try to explore who you are and what you like in high school, and the right things will happen at the end. Relax, have fun, let it all go for a couple of years.</p>
<p>Super warning kid from a Harvard pre-frosh: Don't look for what you "need" to do to get in. Harvard's a good school, one of many across the nation. K? </p>
<p>1) challenge yourself to do <strong><em>your best</em></strong>* on whatever you try.
2) work passionately: find meaning in what you pursue.
3) start writing in a journal, at least once a week. (Not because you plan to take AP Lit, but because you'll learn so much about yourself.)
4) don't compete with others--it'll just make you sick.
5) HAVE FUN!</p>
<p>Look, life isn't worth living for admissions.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think it's great that you're starting to think about this now! I agree with the others though, don't stress yourself out. My biggest piece of advice is to get involved with something, take a leadership position in it, and stick with it. Sure, you could join a ton of clubs and say that you're VP or President of them (when in reality, you do nothing). But if you distinguish yourself in one, and then make a difference in your community, you will stick out and you'll have a great topic for one of your college essays or short answers. This goes for getting into any school, not just Harvard.</p>
<p>The rest is obvious: get good grades, take the hardest classes you can (without killing yourself), do well on the SATs, get involved in your community...etc. Two of my friends who were competing with me for valedictorian (they're now #2 and #3) thought that their academics alone would allow them to get into the Ivies. One applied to 4 Ivies and was rejected from all 4, and the other applied to 3 and was rejected from all 3. Both are very good students, but weren't able to distinguish themselves in the applicant pools at the Ivies.</p>
<p>Also, and this is thinking ahead a little, think carefully about your college essays and <strong>choose teachers to write recommendations you know you well and who are GOOD WRITERS</strong> A teacher that can write an interesting and persuasive letter is going to help you get in.</p>
<p>For me, the college application process allowed me to get to know myself better. I actually enjoyed crafting my applications for each school. I ended up getting into Harvard (where I'm going), Princeton, Brown, Tufts, Georgetown, BU, Bentley, Fordham, and UMASS-Amherst. I got waitlisted at Columbia and George Washington University. It's a crapshoot, but the earlier you start thinking about it (not obsessing...there's a difference) the more options you'll have. Good luck!!!</p>