Read this if you have a minute, reply if you have a few. (Okay, more than a few :D )

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Here is a brief (as brief as I can make it) summary of the college bound me. (My questions are at the end, above "Final Thoughts")</p>

<p>Skills/Lifestyle:
I am great at academics, and am taking every single AP class that remotely interests me (which means, I am taking 8 AP classes over the next two years). I am self-studying calculus (effectively to boot!) right now, averaging 6-10 hours in my textbook per day, and reading stuff like "Lectures on Physics" by Feynman during the intervals in between.</p>

<p>I am, like most everyone else, good socially. So, even though I am dedicated, I have a social life. I only mention this because my studies make me seem as if I were the anti-social type, which might influence college admission, and I want to make it clear that I am not.</p>

<p>My life (as seen from above) consists mainly of (outside of school) studying and reading things beyond the scope of what is required at the time, simply because it peaks my interest, and trying to be as focused and dedicated as possible before college, so that I may take full advantage of it.</p>

<p>And yes, I DO enjoy doing/attempting these things.</p>

<p>Issues:
My school sucks (academically), is obscenely large, and offers no clubs worth considering outside of the typical Key Club, NSA, and sports. None of which I am interested in.</p>

<p>My passion is simply learning and academics, and there aren't really any extracurriculars I can think of that would allow me to do these things. If I could be included in an interesting research project I would be more than glad to participate; but as of yet, I do not know of any, nor can I think of something to research right now.</p>

<p>Goals:
I really want to shoot for the HYPS leagues, and I know that I would be able to handle the academic excellence expected in those colleges. The issue lies in the fact that those top colleges, at least from what I have read, place great emphasis on extracurriculars to "weed out" everyone who is just average (average meaning students that aren't gratuitously amazing). And anything short of a top 20 college would be simply unacceptable for me. I yearn to learn (unintentional rhyme), and would want one of the best colleges to do it at. Standford is currently my "dream" college, but, I do realize that it is ludicrously difficult to get into as a freshman.</p>

<p>Help/Questions:
All I have to say is, any advice? Please. There's bound to be someone (likely many) people who are similar to me in regards to interests (i.e. being academically oriented), and I would greatly appreciate input on what I can/should to do maximize my chances of getting into the best university's. I know that, above all, it is a crapshoot, but I still want to try. Oh, and since race does matter in applications, I am Latino, and the first in my family to attend college.</p>

<p>And please! Tell me if self-study (including viewing college lectures online) and reading college level literature and non-fiction would constitute as an extracurricular? Moreover, a valid one.</p>

<p>Final thoughts:
It is simply frustrating to be a person who enjoys to study independently and learn, which is more or less the very ESSENCE of what college is about (aside from earning the degrees of course), and yet be blindsided by how difficult admissions seem to be, and learn that they focus (at least at the top ones) on EC's, of which I have none of (unless of course, I can actually count my self-study as an EC).</p>

<p>Thank you for reading, and thank you for any replies. I tried my best to keep this concise, and I hope that it was short enough to warrant full read. (Also, I tried to format this with bold fonts to make it easier to read and navigate, but I don't see any option to in the advanced editor.)</p>

2

<p>Stat wise?
SAT? AP scores? to substantiate the claim that u got intellectual juice flowing around u?</p>

3

<p>I just saw the “How to improve your chances thread” and realized that I broke a few rules. I apologize.
Ugh.</p>

<p>I should have mentioned that I am a Sophomore (sorry). I also was home schooled for 3 years (aka, I did nothing), and transferred high schools during freshman year (meaning I missed a lot of stuff). In fact, I REALLY should have mentioned those things. In the interest of brevity I left out things that didn’t concern the here-and-now.</p>

<p>SAT: None (I am studying for it, but that doesn’t really matter now does it). AP: A five in Psych. Yes thats it, I know. That was all I could take, I was unable to do any other AP class due to Junior-Senior year prerequisites.</p>

<p>Why am I confident that I can handle all those AP classes and score fours or fives then? Based off of a mere SINGLE AP class? Well, there is the natural inclination to think I’m all that (unfortunately, I do. Blame evolution and lack of maturity); and theres also the fact that I am already getting ahead on the classes right now (calculus most notably), and don’t do anything but read and study at home. Meaning that I more than believe I can handle studying for AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and AP Physics next year, and then the rest of the AP’s the following year (which I will also get a head start on over the summer).</p>

<p>That’s not much, I know. The best thing I have to substantiate my “intellectual juice” is just what my attitude is right now.</p>

<p>My main question is though, not so much as "can I get into ****** " (although, a quick list of what I should do to maximize my chances would be nice) but rather, any advice on how to proceed over the next two years given the fact that I’m academically oriented (by this I’m not trying to say I’m smart–I’m not that self-indulgent–rather I mean to say that I enjoy studying). </p>

<p>“How to proceed” meaning, is there anything in particular I should pursue that I haven’t thought of yet? Given the fact that I really enjoy learning, but have no particular interest.</p>

<p>And the other question was whether or not if self studying would count for an extracurricular.</p>

<p>So given the fact that I realize I do not have much of the goods and scores to back up a “can I get into” post, I would be satisfied with an answer to the above two questions. And would GREATLY appreciate it :)</p>

4

<p>I would look for volunteer opportunities outside of your school, for what it’s worth. Or, if you don’t think that your school has any worthwhile clubs, start one yourself. you said you have academic interests - do you have a math team? If you do, join it. Start a club for some sort of academic pursuit that you’re interested in. Also, have you looked into tutoring? Becoming a tutor for students in lower grades - or fellow students who are struggling - is really rewarding as well.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, reading college-level literature and non-fiction definitely isn’t an EC. No offense, but a lot of people do that for pleasure, and it isn’t something that has a set schedule by any means. You can maybe write an essay about it, but it doesn’t count as an extracurricular activity. </p>

<p>When you say you’re a sophomore, does that mean you’re an incoming sophomore? If so, you have three years. Stop worrying. You have plenty of time. :)</p>

5

<p>If ur intellectually oriented and really liked it, by all means explore ur intellectual depth.
If u have no interest in volunteering, dont do it. nowadays most ppl will have volunteering on their lists of apps, but if u do not have any leaderships or innovative ways of doing volunteer works rather than lumbering through muds and sweats as other volunteers do every weekend or so then dont OVERDO it. Do it in a unique way so U can stand out among other “volunteers”
The best things to substantiate ur claim that ur intellectual are:
A.Take as many AP classes as u can
B.Test scores (ACT/SAT)
C.Competitions and Awards
D.Get the teachers to know that u really love learning.(recs/letters)
E.Take summer classes
F. Internships/science research (esp with uni prof.)
U cannot get up one day and say that “Ok. i love learning, lets tell adcoms that.”
sorry but thats not how it works. U HAVE TO SHOW IT TO THEM.</p>

6

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<p>It’s this type of mentality that could set you up for disappointment. Do not put the “top 20” schools on a pedestal, and do not fool yourself into gauging your self-worth on an acceptance to one. Repeat after me, “Love thy safety.” </p>

<p>That being said, I certainly think you stand a decent chance at these schools if you apply your academic vivacity in school over the next year and kill your SAT/ACT. Being Latino and first-generation will really help you as well.</p>