<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm going to be a junior in the coming fall, and of course, that murky idea of college becomes clearer and clearer with each passing day. But I have millions of questions, and I'm not sure what to do. Hopefully some people here may answer?</p>
<p>First, grades. I really really wanted to keep a 4.0 all four years, but sadly I got B/B for both semesters of my math course, and now my GPA is 3.9, which I think shouldn't be too worrisome if we were just looking at the GPA, but my high school is extraordinarily competitive and I think this may drop me out of the top 10 ranks at my school, which I think are extremely important. I am concerned about this.</p>
<p>Second, extracurriculars. I am kind of realizing at this point that I honestly have not too much in my profile of special extracurriculars that will make me stand out. All I have done in school is competitive debate since freshman year. I've only lately discovered that I have a true love and passion for writing, with the help of my English teacher last year, but I haven't done anything substantial to show for it. I could, certainly, attempt to write many things and begin submitting to literary magazines and contests and such, and I've already joined a local teen newspaper staff, but I'm afraid that this sudden dedication in just one year shows no continuity and they'll think I'm just doing all this for show. Besides writing, and debate then, I have no other extracurricular I can think of to show off. This makes me worry the most, I think. </p>
<p>Third, even if I began to devote extraordinate amounts of time to extracurriculars, I'm afraid that my numerical and quantitative stats will start to ail. It's always been said that the most challenging courseload at the school should be taken, but this comes at a price of time. During the school year, I find myself needing to devote extreme amounts of time to be able to complete the curriculum with superb grades, which of course takes away time from extracurriculars I'd like to do, such as write. Then there is also SAT preparation, and I've heard it said again, a high score is definitely preferable, but prepping to achieve this also takes away more time from available. I find myself barely left with any time left to devote to an extra.</p>
<p>I aim for Ivy League, but more and more I find this dream completely unfeasible and impossible, especially when I read the extraordinary stats and achievements of the accepted students in the decisions thread. Compared to them, it seems I have nothing. Nothing extraordinary.</p>
<p>Have I already lost? Is it too late for me, already going to be a junior, to begin to put together a shining profile? </p>
<p>And if I have a fighting chance, what should I do then? Do I forgo some of my extracurriculars for the sake of academic success? Or do I go completely the opposite direction and forgo some academic success in favor of extracurricular success? What I'd rather prefer, obviously, is to find a balance, but it seems academics will soon overshadow any sort of balance, especially when I enter what they call the "hellish" junior year. How do I show, with what limited time I have, my passion and dedication to the only one true talent that I think I have, writing? And will that even help?</p>
<p>Are there things I am neglecting to consider? </p>
<p>I apologize for this extremely long post of what I would imagine seems very asinine and silly to college veterans, but these doubts and fears have plagued me forever and the fears simply get stronger as I prepare to enter the scary junior year. I am open to any sort of kind advice one is willing to offer me.</p>