<p>Hey guys,
I'm from Vancouver, Canada, and I'm a freshman heading into my sophomore year and I'd like to get into as good a university as I can. My parents have a high expectation of me and so do I. Harvard, Cornell, Oxford, etc. would be an ideal university to get into.
My problem is, I have no idea where to start.
So far, I am moving high schools to a better one that offers a better program (the IB program) so I won't be doing any AP stuff, but it is more rigorous.
Based on what I've read on this forum in the last few hours, universities look for much more than just grades. I'll try and get my best grades over the next few years, but I'm guessing I need to start volunteering and doing more extra curriculars. </p>
<p>Also, summer is coming up and I'm applying for a lot of things hoping to find a passion for something that I can go really in depth in (mostly sports). </p>
<p>Is it too late for me to start volunteering? Also, If i do more sports outside of school will that have any affect on my application/chances of getting into a good university?</p>
<p>Your advice is greatly appreciated, I just need a starting point so I can stand out in my applications to top universities.</p>
<p>As the article states, you should do three things to maximize your chances (notice I didn’t write “guarantee admission”) at “top universities”:
Do well academically (Top 10% class rank, above 700 on each SAT section/subject test and/or above 30 on the ACT)
Do what you love outside the classroom, and do it really well
Be a genuinely nice person</p>
<p>Doing these three would constitute a good starting point. Worry about the rest when you’re nearing the end of your junior year.</p>
<p>To answer some of your other questions/comments:
About 75% of the students applying to highly selective American universities (Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, UChicago, Duke) are qualified to do the work at them. Therefore, decisions are made “holistically,” meaning that they take into account outside activities, letters of recommendation, and essays in addition to grades and test scores. Many of these schools now seem to like students who have highly developed “passions” for one or two things. In other words, quality is far more important than quantity. It is not too late to start volunteering, but try to volunteer for something that interests you. For instance, if you like sports, then volunteer at a sports camp. A genuine passion for sports may certainly help you get into a highly selective university, but if you’re going to take the sports route, you should try to become as skilled as possible at one sport so that you can be recruited by a school like Harvard to play. Being a recruited athlete will really help you get in if you’re qualified academically.</p>
<p>My sophmore year of highschool is when I really got serious about school. I started to search and think critically about the schools I wanted to get into. I decided I want to major in the sciences: Chemistry/Biochemistry and have a minor in business. I also aspire to get into an Ivy League school. The things I would suggest you do would be to start looking at schools more in dept. look at schools that offer a good vibe to you, or fit your eccentricity. Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton are my top 3 after my extensive search
I then suggest you focus on your school work and obtaining the best grades you can fathom( A’s A’s and more A’s, but yet again the ocaisional B won’t kill you). Start to get involved in your community and school by starting a non for profit organization or volunteering at hospitals or shelters whatever interests you.
Find a hobby other than volunteering such as sports or clubs, and perfect that hobby. When I say this I mean if you join football, be the guy they send to score touchdowns and gets voted MVP. If you choose swimming &diving, work to be in the next Olympics. If you choose rugby a less popular sport then… Just be good. When it comes to clubs be the officiator/ president/ Vice President. When you try to be perfect in extra curriculars you show a drive and passion not al</p>
<p>My sophmore year of highschool is when I really got serious about school. I started to search and think critically about the schools I wanted to get into. I decided I want to major in the sciences: Chemistry/Biochemistry and have a minor in business. I also aspire to get into an Ivy League school. The things I would suggest you do would be to start looking at schools more in dept. look at schools that offer a good vibe to you, or fit your eccentricity. Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton are my top 3 after my extensive search
I then suggest you focus on your school work and obtaining the best grades you can fathom( A’s A’s and more A’s, but yet again the ocaisional B won’t kill you). Start to get involved in your community and school by starting a non for profit organization or volunteering at hospitals or shelters whatever interests you.
Find a hobby other than volunteering such as sports or clubs, and perfect that hobby. When I say this I mean if you join football, be the guy they send to score touchdowns and gets voted MVP. If you choose swimming &diving, work to be in the next Olympics. If you choose rugby a less popular sport then… Just be good. When it comes to clubs be the officiator/ president/ Vice President. When you try to be perfect in extra curriculars you show a drive and passion not alot of kids possess.
Find a job, apply for scholarships, do things bigger than yourself that also help others. </p>
<p>Take it from me I’m not a junior in highschool freaking out over my upcoming ACT in September that basically determines my future. I was in junior Beta club. Sophmore council as a secretary. Best buddies and Science research club. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA at the end of my sophmore year and a 4.3 unweighted. I compete in science competitions won a gold award at IJAS. I’m doing an internship at a university with 2 other peers of mine on quantum dots efficiency in photovoltaic cells. I run track and I’m trying to get recruited by the Ivy League becuz I’m in the range of their sprint times(I’m breaking 11.0 for the 100m). I’m going to start a non for profit organization I’m addition to the 200+ hours I’ve put in community service to my school, church, and other communities. Ive visited and helped in foreign countries. I’m also Nigerian. Which is good because I’m a minority. Lol and I still think my chance of getting into the Ivy League is 10% just because of the talent of my other peers applying</p>
<p>In other words your going to have competition and you should literally strive for perfection in whatever you do and you should do it with passion. If you don’t love it don’t do it</p>
<p>akachi: I know you’re trying to help but if I had a nickel for each Ivy wannbe who said: “I’m going to start a non for profit organization” I’d be a happy man.</p>
<p>Every time I see this, my retort would be: what are your plans for your “organization” after you leave? Was your city so bereft of similar organizations that you were just compelled to be the “founder” rather than carefully examine the work of others around you (those who actually do this for a living) and join into their work? Basically convince me that your NFP org isn’t cynical resume padding, done for the sake of college admission.</p>
<p>Or at least say:“I had an idea to do a small scale charity event for X” rather than the bloviated “I founded a NFP organization” Prove me wrong but if that Org was so sensational to you, why don’t you take a few years off to run the thing rather than to apply to college?</p>
<p>I have many yrs exp sitting on and chairing the boards of actual NFPs. HS students in general aren’t “founding” NFPs. </p>
<p>Don’t buy into the myth that this is some requisite feature that will make your profile “outstanding”. Actually, it’ll likely tag your profile as either a) naked resume padder or 2) naive do-gooder (usually #1)</p>
<p>Thanks eye opening. I really just wanted basically a place honor students at my school or teachers in the community to get together and tutor students in the baths and sciences. Ill change my non for profit label to academic learning opportunity program outside the classroom.</p>