Putting myself on the right track for HYPS schools

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>First here are my stats:</p>

<p>-Class of 2014
-African-American (well really Nigerian-American)
-Female
-My parents both work in medical field (psychiatrist and general practitioner, will this be a disadvantage?)
-Private (Catholic) school. Nationally ranked for sports (especially Football)
- Washington Metropolitan Area</p>

<p>Grade-wise:</p>

<p>Frosh year schedule:
- Honors Biology
- Honors US Govt and History
- Honors Algebra II
- Honors Lit
- Honors Religion
- Honors Spanish III
- String Ensemble
- P.E (doesn't really count though lol)</p>

<p>This year hasn't been my best, at all. The majority of my grades this year were B's. I've gotten C's in Govt and Algebra. I got a D 1st quarter Bio. The only A's I get are in strings, pe, and spanish (one quarter). So my highest W GPA (.5 for honors) is 3.6. </p>

<p>I want to make myself a straight A student like my friends. I used to get straight A's in elementary school (lol). Middle school came and then I had struggles with bullying,loneliness, and stuff, so I didn't exactly 'shine' then either. It's pretty embarrassing to talk about my grades and gpas. My parents are disappointed in me too. </p>

<p>Soph schedule:
- Honors Chemistry (IB Chem SL is also offered to sophs)
- Honors American Lit
- Honors Pre-Calc
- Honors US History (APUSH is also offered to sophs)
- Honors Religion
- Honors Spanish 4
- String Ens.
- P.E for a semester</p>

<p>I'm debating whether I should keep a study hall for the semester I don't have a class. My options are College Prep (a class with some SAT prep, college searches, etc. My counselor said I don't need this because of my HPST scores), or Intro to Psychology (I like Psych, I think I want to take IB or AP Psych later) Opinions?</p>

<p>EC's:
- String Ensemble
- Forensics (hopefully I can make it to final rounds and such)
- Volleyball (trying out for JV, plan to do Varsity Jr + Sr yr)
- Black Student Association
- I want to do over 100 hours of service by the time I finish high school
- Film Club (but it's not active, which is a shame since I love Film)</p>

<p>Future EC's:
- NHS (if I'm even qualified)
- Receive awards
- Key Club
- Track and Field (possibly)
- Hip Hop Club (maybe)</p>

<hr>

<p>-Also, do you all have any ideas for good summer programs for me? I'm interested in almost everything (except math, I will not go to a math camp lol). I'm looking for prestigious programs to do next year.
- General tips to succeed is school?
-Things that will make me stand out on college apps
- also....MY NUMBER ONE SCHOOL IS STANFORD! So tips from people who've gotten in would be nice also
- Staying motivated...how do you do it?</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>I’m glad even freshmen realize that you have to go to HYP to be successful.</p>

3

<p>Haha your sarcasm is funny. My dream is stanford. I also like gwu, georgetown, some uc schools, villanova, umd, umbc, and some others. I know ivies aren’t everything, but my dream school happens to be a top school.</p>

<p>Ps, I just finished fresh year, so I’m a sophomore now.</p>

<p>Sent from my LS670 using CC App</p>

4

<p>Oh wait, you’re a ■■■■■</p>

<p>Sent from my LS670 using CC App</p>

5

<p>so far, you’re hopeless.
I recommend starting a tech startup, creating a nonprofit reading exchange program for girls in Africa, or leaving your house before 7 each morning in the summertime to make a two-hour train ride to a major university, where you’ll be working all day doing cutting-edge research for NASA on weightlessness in mice.
Maybe then might your chances rise above zero. Of course, all of these have been done before and most of your competitors will definitely have achieved similar “average” feats by the end of the next 4 years due to the insane power creep. So I recommend starting early and mixing it up a bit.</p>

6

<p>Maneuver to get the easiest teachers. Milk your URM status during application season and you’re golden. Also ace the SAT or write an essay about how its racially biased…whichever is easier.</p>

7

<p>What’s in a name? That which we call a ■■■■■,
by any other name would be as sweet.</p>

8

<p>You’re african american. You’re in.</p>

9

<p>This thread should be locked now, because it seems no one is taking the OP seriously.</p>

10

<p>Don’t listen to the ■■■■■■. All I can advise, as a freshman myself, is to get your grades up. Fast.</p>

11

<p>And all I can advice is become State or Nationally ranked in a sport HYPS cares about: women’s squash, maybe?</p>

12

<p>Aww I remember when I use to think HYPS was the only way to go… aww memories</p>

13

<p>"Aww I remember when I use to think HYPS was the only way to go… aww memories "</p>

<p>That’s good for you, but I don’t think HYPS (minus MIT because I’m not interested in tech) schools are the only way to go. I don’t care for Yale, so-so for Harvard. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys</p>

14

<p>Just keep trying hard & do what you’re interested in. Do do things just to get into X School. Take interesting classes & enjoy high school, its only going to happen once.</p>

<p>& of course, volunteer, sports, etc, but you seem to have that down. If you’re interested at all, check out the Columbia SHP program. Google for programs/things you’d be interested in</p>

15

<p>Make the film club active. If your grades were really because of outside pressures, fine, but if you can’t hack that many honors courses you really don’t need to. Drop the course rigor a little bit. Find something you really love or excel in and do well in that field. If you can win awards, that’s good. Like for forensics, or if there’s any art (drama, music, writing, fine art, etc.) that you enjoy. Your race gives you a good shot, but you do still need the grades, as well as great ECs.</p>