Sophomore in high school, what can I do to improve my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey! Thanks for taking the time to click on my humble wittle thread. What can I do to improve my chances (slim as they may be) for the following schools? As you can see I have a little bit of time to raise my GPA and add on EC's or whatever, as well as decide on colleges. I honestly have no idea where I want to go. I have not visited any schools as of yet, and most of the colleges I'm going to mention are naive fifteen year-old girl pipe dreams. I believe in dreaming big.</p>

<p>Extreme Reach: Stanford, UNC Chapel Hill, Cornell (I'm really not that into the Ivy's honestly, too pretentious and <em>cough</em> I'm not smart enough), Johns Hopkins, MIT (Ha! Haha! Good one, self), UCSB</p>

<p>Not-so-extreme Reach: Syracuse, Binghamton, Christopher Newport, Longwood, UCSC, Ithaca</p>

<p>I'm a sophomore in a suburban Virginia school.
I have a 3.7 (mostly due to slacking off freshman year. I was young and stupid(er) back then) weighted GPA; my school doesn't "do" unweighted, for some inane reason.</p>

<p>I'm taking the most challenging courses available to me at present, except for math, in which I am grade level and excelling in (for the time being). This includes AP World History. Next year, other than taking all honors and Algebra II, I will be enjoying the rigorous course load of three AP's (U.S, Psych, and Lang/Comp).</p>

<p>Senior year will look fairly similar, with AP Gov., AP Lit, and perhaps an AP Science. </p>

<p>None of that is set in stone. </p>

<p>I managed a 185 PSAT score, which (correct me if I'm wrong) translates into a 1850 estimated SAT score. </p>

<p>Math: 53 (530)
Critical Reading: 68 (680)
Writing: 64 (640)</p>

<p>My goal is to get a 1900 or above. My math section will be the hardest part. Alas, I love math, but math doesn't love me. </p>

<p>On to the Current EC's:</p>

<p>I've been playing Varsity Lacrosse since freshman year, lettered, and will go on to play all four years. Practice is every day but Sunday's for an average of two hours, but this usually extends to two and a half/three as spring rolls around. </p>

<p>I'm president of the Gay Straight Alliance and Vice-President of Film Club. </p>

<p>I have as many Oscars as Leonardo DiCaprio. </p>

<p>Yes, it's a bare list. I may join Mu Alpha Theta, get a summer job, volunteer, co-create a volunteering/community service organization, and/or plan and execute a town wide Green Skate, in which skaters longboard around to raise environmental awareness and promote greener methods of transportation (I will most likely put a fiscal twist on it, in order to raise money for the Nature Conservancy. Other charity events, such as lacrosse tournies or slide jams, could be arranged. I take it the world is your oyster when you have the drive to pry it open.) </p>

<p>That's my current high school career. Thoughts? Criticisms? Any input whatsoever is welcome. Thanks in advance! :)</p>

2

<p>“I have as many Oscars as Leonardo DiCaprio.”
LOL, made my night.</p>

<p>I’m no chancer, but you’re funny.</p>

3

<p>Haha, glad I could. </p>

<p>Anybody?</p>

4

<p>Judging by the kids on this site who get into the ivies, I would say that you don’t have very good chances. However, you seem like a very good writer, and youre funny. A stellar essay could go a looooong way. Aim for straight A’s junior year, I believe most prestigious schools are very fond of upward trends.</p>

5

<p>You didn’t mention your intended major, which can be very important.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Get your SATs up to 700 in each subject. Your scores are in the “improvable” range and there are tons and tons of resources in the SAT/ACT thread, like silverturtle and Xiggi(search them.)</p></li>
<li><p>Drop Psych and take an AP science your junior year, if you can.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Keep doing what you’re doing. Have fun. Good luck!</p>