right track so far...?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>I'm still "young" (14, almost 15; going to be a sophomore), but I want to know... if I'm on the right track so far.</p>

<p>wealthy public school in LongIsland, NY
asian female
rank: school doesn't rank, but about 5/~530</p>

<p>ACADEMICS
9th grade [I'm only including academic courses]:
English 9 Honors A+
Biology Honors A+
Research Honors A+
AP World History A
Math 10 Honors A
French 2 Honors A
[all the rest-- electives, whatever, were A+]</p>

<p>ECs
Science olympiads (won 2nd place at regional level; going to have a position next year)
Photo club (secretary)
Jazz band pianist
TRI-M
Varsity Swim team
Violin and Piano: A+ for state music exams
volunteering at local hospital for 50 (I'll get more-- I still have a few years before I apply) hours
Finalist for national photo competition (top 5% of entries)
Women in Science award for excellence in biology (this is probably going to be considered a "stupid" award.. but 9th grades just do not get a lot of awards. It was 2 out of the entire class.)</p>

<p>STANDARDIZED TESTS
Biology M SATII: 770
AP world history: 5</p>

<p>I took the SAT in seventh grade, and got around a 760+ for verbal and ... something bad for math. (~550). The math will probably improve-- it's just that I never learned the material yet.</p>

<p>I intend to make all-state for violin, and maybe piano (I think stanford values musicians more than HYP, since they're all prodigies there anyway). I will probably come to be president of the science olympiads and win more awards in that; I will maintain activity in all of my current clubs/ecs; my grades will probably get higher (more A+s....) in all of the most advanced courses available.; Um. Maybe I'll try for Intel/Westinghouse. Each year there are about one to three semifinalists/finalists from my school.
Writing and photography are also my strong points; so maybe I will win some writing / photo contests.</p>

<p>recommendations shouldn't be a problem. Most teachers like me, and I'm an 'active' student that usually contributes to the class well.</p>

<p>for the past record: my school typically sends 2 students to Harvard, ~3 to princeton, a lot to cornell, 3 to columbia, 1 to MIT... yeah. They all scare me.</p>

<p>And I've already decided that I'm going to apply SCEA. Early, I know, but I visited the campus last year and totally loved it...</p>

<p>I'd really appreciate your opinion and suggestions. Thanks !</p>

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<p>You've certainly done a lot...and I'm no admissions expert nor have I gotten in to Stanford (applying this year!) but if there's one thing I learn from these boards is that do what you love to do and don't try to fit yourself so you seem appealing to colleges. I really liked my Science Olympiad and so I did it too...make sure you are doing things you really enjoy as part of your highschool life.</p>

<p>I think you are getting worried about this too early but it's good that you are really driven. Enjoy life! Explore your self mentally...see what kind of person you really are... I get the impression that you study a lot(I could probably be wrong) but take some time to learn about yourself and your personality...I know this is strange advice but if it's one thing I've learned from working and studying a lot is that it gives you something to be occupied with so you never have time for self-reflection.</p>

<p>All I'm trying to say is that you are starting to get preoccupied with this a little early and don't let that influence what you do in High school for your e/cs because you think it will look "good". Keep up your excellent grades and scores and take a little time off for self-reflection and exploration. If it convinces you...Stanford says they consider character a very important admissions factor.</p>

<p>Junior year will mean a lot to you as the work will truly test your character as I really learned a lot about who I am. I really learned that I have a thing against injustice and I never thought I would have the strength to stand up against something I think is wrong...and yet I did on multiple occassions and was rewarded for it. </p>

<p>Heh, I know that sounds contradictory as it was the massive amounts of homework that tore me down until I realized who I actually was but I also did take time to think about who I was and it was the thoughtful, hard homework assignments that wore me down to such a point...not SAT studying.</p>

<p>The reason I say all of this is because you said "stupid" award. You should cherish every accomplishment you made and it seems like you said stupid because you think Stanford will find it stupid. Your tone in your post also gives off the aura of panic and a working-frenzy so that's why I say what I do.</p>

<p>One last thing...your grades may indeed drop as you get more and more APs but keep trying your hardest!</p>

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<p>oh, haha, no... actually all I ever do is self-reflect. I hardly ever study, which is why I didn't get an A+ in world history. (math is another thing-- I just suck at it in general, haha)
I've kept a personal journal for self-reflection since I was seven years old, and I still write about five pages every day. I'm weird, I know.</p>

<p>thank you very much for your comments! :-)</p>

<p>anybody else?</p>

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<p>^^ Oh wow...you must study a lot for the standardized tests (sorry, I don't believe in natural intelligence... I believe people are just inclined to learn what they love...)! I reccommend maybe you get an internship so you can have some experience being somewhat independent in what you want to study (looks like science?). I intern in a lab and it's great! I mean you have to do some work that they tell you, which is minimal (depending on your P.I.), and it really is fun! It's like...you have nobody telling you what to do; you just do what really interests you. Also, you get experience and it can help decide if you really want to pursue that field.</p>

<p>My P.I. told me a story once of a grad student he hired who was at the top of his graduating class at Harvard and he said that the kid could not take on independent tasks...he was just good at being a student. An internship can really give you that independent experience early on! I must warn you...after interning, the first month of school will be aggravating since you have to do what others tell you if you want to keep up a high GPA and you can't have that much freedom!</p>

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<p>yeah, I like science a lot.
I didn't study for the English part of the SATs... just the math I need to study for.
that's a good idea, to intern at a lab... </p>

<p>so it's keep working and maybe I have a chance? =/</p>

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<p>Nobody here can tell you if you have a chance so don't bother with those "what are my chances" threads...especially since you are only 15. Nobody here works from Stanford admissions (that I know of).</p>

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<p>thepapercrane I've already remarked on how I'm just amazed on how your already thinking about universities. Yeah you are on the right track but no one in their right mind would tell you whether or not you'll get in or your chances.</p>

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<p>woah, your 14 and have decided to apply SCEA?? dang child......</p>