<p>Hi all...
I am sophomore (just entered on 1 April 2013) studying in a CBSE school abroad. So far my grades and Ec's in Grade 9 / freshman year were good...I just wanted to know whether I should improve them more or continue my efforts....I haven't take any SAT/AP etc...exam yet...</p>
<p>Here is my break-up so far in grade 9:
CGPA- 9.8 ( after upgrading)</p>
<p>EC's so far.....
School Publications Team Co-ordinator - for Both grade 9 and 10
Founded an art blog based on my interest in Paper Sculpture
Taken part in an Art Exhibit as the youngest conducted by the Ministry here...
TMG Design a Cover Competition - GCC second runner up
TMG Design a Cover Competition - National first runner up
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Senior level Kit design competition- WINNER
Interviewed thrice as an artist by various people
Playing the keyboard since Grade 2
Currently learning the Grand Piano
Guitar - Just the basics
Trumpet- School Brass Band
The Middle East Math Challenge - Top 100 GCC and Top 50 National
Energy Bachao Andolan - my project was about a magnetic generator
Asset Test, Grade 9 - Distinguished Performance
IBT test Certificate of Distinction - English (international test like n olympiad, score 99.1%)
Minds in Action - Finalist and Top 20 National level
Spelling Bee Finalist 2013
The Inter School Be'ati Watani Quiz Contest Participant - 2013
Science India Forum , Knowledge Fair 2013 - Participant (project on a dynamo powered vehicle)
Green Olympiad, TERRA quiz- Participant
Member of a local Youth Organization
Participated at Clean up the World at Ghantoot Reserve - 2013
Round Square 2013 at Doon School, Dehradun</p>
<p>For this month, I have the following activities rounded up....
UN FAO International Art competition
Results of the KHDA Human Rights competition are yet to be announced....
Terry Fox Run
Climate Change Justice Ambassador, Plant Academy
Google Science Fair 2013</p>
<p>So I have done all of that last year...I dream to be an engineer....What are my chances in the Ivy League??? Should I improve more, or should I continue at this pace, I still have 3 more years left to improve....
Thanks a lot!!</p>
<p>Ok. Wow. I see some good stuff there. I’ll try to put this in points.
Though SAT/ACTs don’t matter after a point, I still need to see them to have an idea. That said, try taking them in 11th so you have enough time to prepare as well as re-take if necessary.
Some of your ECs sound interesting. It’s a long list however, and when you compile a resume keep in only the “interesting/oblique/quirky” and the “prestigious/well-known” stuff. Eg: Keep in the “Founded an art blog based on my interest in Paper Sculpture”. That sounds interesting and will grab the attention of a reader. Build on this blog and write about your artistic interests in your essays. Keep in mind that participation isn’t technically an EC. By all means, participate! Enjoy! You have 3 whole years ahead of you! I just mean that when it comes to the point that you have to fit your life on a few pages, narrow them down.
Consider sending in an art portfolio and start working/planning on it in advance. Not now, probably. But a year in advance would be good.
Try focusing your activities into groups that you think are logical. The way I see it, your ECs focus on three categories- Art, Instruments, and Energy Initiatives.
Since you say you want to be an engineer, try getting in some more STEM ECs. Olympiads never hurt.</p>
<p>So. That was my advice about the improvement. Now, about your “chances”. Firstly, as hard as this may be to believe, admissions are often coin-tosses. That said, are you in the right ballpark? YES.
Your ECs sound impressive, sincere, and directed. Keep up the work, pay close attention to your academics, and enjoy the years of high school in front of you. Stick to something for 4 years; it’ll show commitment. You’ll probably end up as one of the top contenders in the Ivy Admissions Process but, please, and I can’t stress this enough, don’t do something for the sake of getting into college. So far, your ECs seem sincere. Keep them that way and you’ll coast through high school and (hopefully) one of your dream colleges. It’s great that you’re thinking it out this early but don’t get too absorbed in the process right now. Best of Luck! :D</p>
<p>Thanks a lot!! I know I am pretty early…=) Tx a lot…Olympiads are not offered by our school…I have taken part in STEM last month…Our topic was Solar System, so I created a HTML 5 web based Learning App for IOS, windows and android…</p>
<p>Although this may be sort of a “bold” decision, I would take at least one SAT sophomore year, or summer between sophomore and junior year, just so you get a feel for the actual test(as opposed to the PSAT), find out your strengths and weaknesses, also remember participate in summer events! This helps and distinguishes you from others with similar ecs and grades as you!</p>
<p>And it’s never too early to plan for college! Also, if you want merit-based scholarships, you could start right now!! There are many unclaimed scholarships for underclassmen!! Mostly because many people aren’t as ambitious as you!! I wish I had your drive my sophomore year!!</p>
<p>One thing you might want to work on is athletics, although it’s not that important, it shows that you’re a well-rounded student, not just a good
academic-based student</p>
<p>You have a positively impressive catalogue of activities to your credit, activities that will, no doubt, stand out to an adcom officer on perusal. Congrats on your amazing achievements! A few pointers though:
Building on fireflies’s advice, I’d recommend you to build on your paper sculpture interest; find different avenues through which you may manifest this presently inchoate interest. Start an activity/club to the same end in your school probably, try building up a decent portfolio that you could probably send in as an art supplement. The Ivies adore artsy-partsy people and the relative paucity of people with such interests as yours will only help.
I see a glaring lack of community involvement in your resume. Not too sure about the rest of the Ivies, but based on what I’ve been able to glean from acceptances in the preceding batch as well as mine own, Hahvahd/Yale/Princeton share a common proclivity to take in people who’ve made unique(if small) additions to their community, be in at the school/localilty/regional level.
Try to notch up a score in the 2200-2400 range on the SAT(dunno what its equivalent might be on the ACT.)</p>
<p>work on GSF …u will get into ANY engineering school of your choice with that…as for the ivy league…I don’t think they are much of engineering places…anyways I didn’t apply/get into any of them so I won’t be able to assess you on that. But All I can say is work on STEM and all round ability is sort of important too, but do stuff that matters to you AND them…Thats what will get you IN.</p>
<p>The following is what you do : You are only eligible to get in if you come from a family of two moms and three dads. Anything less is not impressive. You must have first cured cancer got bored of it and shifted to Afghanistan. Where you were the victim of a horrible terrorist suicide bombing which made you lose all your limbs. Yet you decided to fight all the various terrorist outfits in Pakistan and killed a major terrorist bare hand without any hands. Twice. Please note it must be a prestigious terrorist- I’m talking OBL,lakhawi et al level. So that will get your app looked at. On top of that have 2500s on the SAT. I know its possible. I certainly did it. Your essays need to be of the level to be eligible for publishing by the NYT and must display a young man seeking knowledge and not an Indian student just wowed by the Ivy league. It goes without saying you must be black , first generation,Latino ,Hispanic. All at the same time. You have 3 years , do all this. </p>