Sophomore- what else do I need to do?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Hi! I'm a sophomore in high school. I currently want to get into an ivy league. My SAT score from last December was a 2040- 800 in math, 630 in CR, and 610 in writing (8 on the essay). I'm taking two AP tests this year- AP world history and AP spanish. I just found out about the national ap scholar award. For this, I need atleast eight aps. These are the only two that I've taken so far. I feel that I could self study atleast one but I don't know where to start.
I recently also just found out about CLEP exams. Should I even consider taking these? If so, what are the advantages?</p>

<p>I also want to do some internships (something to do with engineering/biomedical). Where can i find such internships. I'm planning to do some hospital volunteering over the summer. </p>

<p>I have over 120 community service hours and I'm planning to go for the gold presidential service award. What are the advantages of this award? Are there any scholarships if you have a lot of community service?</p>

<p>I'm a part of many clubs in school and out of school. I hold a leadership position in one of them.</p>

<p>I used to be in dance at my school but then I dropped it to take more academic classes. Is it mandatory that I'm part of a sport to look good on my college application?</p>

<p>Is it reasonable to even be dreaming of an ivy league- given my stats. I have a perfect 4.0 gpa and I'm in the top 1.5% of my class of 825 students. </p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions. :/</p>

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<p>Relax and get a gf? = p lol</p>

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<p>Community college is right for some people.</p>

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<p>First: why do you want to go to an Ivy League school? Because of the name or because you genuinely believe one would be the best fit for you and what you want to become?</p>

<p>From what it looks like, you’re on a good track. Don’t go things just for the application, though. I’m not going the same route as you, so I don’t really know the answers to your questions. Just wanted to put in my two cents.</p>

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<p>No offense, but you kind of sound like a prestige chaser. You’re going to be eaten alive on CC. </p>

<p>"I also want to do some internships (something to do with engineering/biomedical). Where can i find such internships. I’m planning to do some hospital volunteering over the summer. "</p>

<p>Check out the “summer programs” subforum"</p>

<p>“I’m a part of many clubs in school and out of school. I hold a leadership position in one of them.”</p>

<p>The universal advice on CC for that is that that’s stupid. Drop the ones you don’t like, or all of them really. Key club will not get you into Harvard. Find something you like to do and get really extraordinary at it- colleges are much more impressed with commitment to 1 or 2 very time consuming, challenging activities (e.g debate, scientific research, making USAMO, publishing a novel etc.) than being in 8 clubs that don’t take much talent.</p>

<p>“I used to be in dance at my school but then I dropped it to take more academic classes. Is it mandatory that I’m part of a sport to look good on my college application?”</p>

<p>See above. DO WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO. Colleges can sniff from a mile away when you’re doing something for colleges alone, and in those cases, what you’re doing probably aren’t very prestigious anyways.</p>

<p>As for your questions on APs etc… Take the most rigorous courseload at your school. Some people self study APs. However, keep it within reason. Don’t kill yourself with a courseload you can’t handle.</p>

<p>Lastly…chill. Nobody cares about your SAT scores from Sophomore. Get less stressed, find something you’re interested in (that’s academic related) get good at that. For SAT prep, I would recommend checking out the “Xiggi method” in the SAT subforum. Community service isn’t that meaningful on apps - do them if it gives you fulfillment, not for the app. However, having them is better than not having them.</p>

<p>“I have a perfect 4.0 gpa and I’m in the top 1.5% of my class of 825 students.”</p>

<p>I know I’m sounding mean, but again, nobody is impressed. Keep doing the work, but * become an extraordinary person * </p>

<p>–</p>

<p>If you have any other questions, use the “search” function. Most of your questions have been answered before.</p>

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<p>Sorry about that guys! I’m new here so I’m still overwhelmed by everything on this site :slight_smile: but thanks :D</p>

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<p>I’m going to tell you, you’re not going to get anything worth doing for an internship unless your parents or other relative gets it for you. Just how it is. If that’s not possible, don’t worry about it.</p>

<p>If you have a career path in mind, what is it? Any ideas, anything you can say? </p>

<p>Do you want to work with people, numbers, or things, for instance.</p>

<p>What subjects are you best at or enjoy the most, what the least.</p>

<p>I feel that it would be more impressive if you showed advancement towards an area that interests you, rather than doing a bunch of community service, or taking 31 AP classes.</p>

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<p>Find a passion.</p>

<p>Get mentors, and work/volunteer for them (or someone they recommend) for a long time. eventually you’ll get boosted into something higher, and do well in that. keep jumping higher and higher, looking for better positions/opportunities, and you’ll be recognized.</p>

<p>the key? find something you love.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>Lol, I was exactly like you when I first joined CC. I even posted one of these “what do I need to do” threads.</p>

<p>My advice is to chill.</p>

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<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>

<p>Same. lol I feel so much more grown up.</p>

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<p>“Lol, I was exactly like you when I first joined CC. I even posted one of these “what do I need to do” threads.”</p>

<p>I not too long ago did the same sort of thing on another forum… Career advice. Got the same “Chill” advice. </p>

<p>I never did one for getting into college though. Didn’t aim to be that competitive in High School… Now I go to a state school though (which I’m satisfied with but not everyone is). Perhaps “chilling” isn’t the best advice though.</p>

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<p>aww thanks guys :)</p>

<p>I’m still stuck on trying to figure out what I want to be - but I’m considering something in like biomedical engineering. or nanotechnology. :slight_smile: I really like computer related “stuff”.
But to the contrary of all that i’m working towards, I also want to have something to do with the fashion industry :confused: I know it sounds weird, but I want to work with computers and fashion. I don’t want to really design clothes ~ I just want to help make like virtual prototypes. I know that is like graphic designer stuff, but even when you go into graphic design, the odds of you getting into fashion are rare. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>I LOVE numbers and math, though I hate revealing my true inner geekdom at school. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice guys and I hope to grow up here too</p>

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<p>Pretty varied there…</p>

<p>By the way, if your parents suggested Biomedical engineering, it’s a bad suggestion. From my schools salary '09 salary statistics, you’d be better off waiting tables than with a degree in Biomedical engineering. Infact, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what he’s doing. If you want to go to Med school it might make sense. If you’re really into it (meaning you’d look at getting a PHD in it one day) it makes sense, otherwise, do something else. Also, if you’re aiming for Ivy League specificly, they’re not big on Engineering. </p>

<p>You want to do designing and like computers? I would focus on computers first, because it’s far safer (as you said, tons of people want to do fashion, most wait tables with the biomedical engineer), but you can do sort of creative works with it. Do you want to be in engineering? Build a computer, create a custom case out of something people wouldn’t make into a computer case. Make it all pretty. Write a college essay about it. Make a business out of it. Get bored of it and do something new but have that as something you can say you did. </p>

<p>Do some graphics design on your computer. I have no idea what more to say about that. But if you get skilled with it, that could definitely work to your advantage your whole life.</p>

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<p>Yeah I think I’m going to just stick with technology and make a lot of money to satisfy my shopping-dress-cute-clothes addiction. lol :slight_smile: I think i’m leaning more towards something with medicine and physics? My mom said that there was some career called medical physics, which kind of appeared of interest to me. I couldn’t exactely find the career title online but it basically pertains to working with the machines of a hospital.</p>

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<p>^ haha biophysics would be perfect for you. Thats what I was thinking about, but since NU is my first choice, if I get in, I would do neurobiology. Still close lol.</p>

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<p>wow :open_mouth: i’ll definately look into it :slight_smile: thanks!</p>

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<p>I’ve got a question for you. Did you like the dance class that you took and then dropped for more academic classes?</p>

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<p>What else do you need to do? </p>

<p>You need to forget about the name of something, follow what you WANT to do not the NAME you want to be associated with you. You need to grow up and stop living off labels. You need to follow your heart so you’re not a pawn in society’s game for the rest of your life.</p>

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<p>I did like the dance class. but only as a hobby- not as a true career option. more like a form of fun exercise :D</p>

<p>But I truly do ENJOY math and science. I just want to be the best I can be at it and make the best out of it. </p>

<p>With the combination of interests that I have, i don’t think there is any way to pursue them all. </p>

<p>Thanks you guys :)!</p>

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<p>I’m not suggesting you become a professional dancer. But keep taking classes. Growing up and having that thing you enjoy doing as a hobby (and also keeps you fit!) is an excellent thing. While trying to get into a good school and maintaining good grades, don’t forget to have fun. A fun class can do that.</p>