<p>i'm a sophomore at a large public school (~550 in my year) and i wanted to know if i was on the right track to get into my top choice college (Stanford U, 9% accept rate total) which i plan to apply early action to.</p>
<p>My GPA my freshman year was abysmal, but here are my stats so far:</p>
<p>9th grade GPA: 4.3 w, 3.6 uw
10th grade GPA (so far): 5.0w, 4.0 uw
Projected PSAT: 2400
Projected SAT: 2380-2400
Projected SAT2 averages: 780-ish (Bio M brings me down, only 740)
Club memberships:
Science League (9, 10)
2nd singles, Varsity Tennis (9, 10)
Stock Market Club (10)
Asian Club (10)
Health Careers Club (10)
Forensics/Debate (10)
FBLA (10)
Conquer Childhood Cancer (10)</p>
<p>Class rank won't be that good cause of freshman year, but definitely top 5%.
Also, taking most challenging courses available. Haven't decided on a major yet but leaning to medicine, possibly minor in English.</p>
<p>if anyone could tell me what areas to improve on, i'd really appreciate it. thanks!</p>
<p>1) The PSAT is out of 240
2) How you can “project” PSAT and SAT scores?
3) Don’t just join a ton of clubs to look good. Stanford wants depth not breadth
4) I don’t know your GPA scale, but you aren’t taking all AP classes for sure, so not 4.0 scale
5) Enter private research competitions like Intel or Siemens
6) Get off CC, you’re only a sophomore…</p>
<p>1) I think anyone would have been able to figure it out. Around where I live, we don’t say “I got a 240 on the PSAT,” we say 2400. Multiply it by ten. Whatever.
2) I can project them because I get 2400s on every single practice test I take?
3) My clubs are focused in two areas: business and medicine.
4) I’m taking every high-level course available. My academic schedule is the most rigorous the school offers.
6) You’re 15 as well. I don’t care if you’re a senior, we’re the same age and I think I’ve got about as much of a reason to be on this website as you. We both want to get into an excellent college. If you’re graduating at 15 with all your amazing ECs, clearly you’ve got a better shot at Stanford than I do. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take a shot at my dream and do whatever I can to get it.</p>
<p>but thanks for taking the time to look at this.</p>
<p>First off, don’t be so defensive. He’s just asking questions. Yes you’re on the right track. Keep doing well in those classes and work hard for the next 2 years and you’ll have as good a shot as anyone.</p>
<p>And don’t ever claim a 3.6 is abysmal. I don’t care if this is CC where everyone has 4.0/2400 and cured AIDS. I feel like slapping you just for saying it.</p>
<p>Ok, I’d like to warn you about projected SAT scores. They don’t always turn out the way you expect them to… It strikes me as arrogance.</p>
<p>Joining clubs doesn’t show any focus. You have to do things in those clubs, and it’s pretty hard to be super active in each club that you’ve joined. Just having the same themes for all the clubs you’ve joined isn’t enough.</p>
<p>Really, now. Sure, you’re on the ‘right track’ but that doesn’t mean heck in sophomore year. A LOT can happen from now until Senior year, and even then we can’t really tell you if you’re ‘good’ for Stanford. I agree about the SAT score comments. If you think you’re in the 2300+ range, you’re actual score is a function of luck. It takes only a stupid essay grader and a goof-up on the math to get 50+ points missed right there - believe me, I know from personal experience.</p>
<p>The advice everyone has given so far is incredibly true. I know how you feel comparing yourself to other people on this website, but Knights09 is right. a 3.6 is nothing to be ashamed of. </p>
<p>Keep doing your practice standardized tests, and come back when you have a score colleges can look at. I know you don’t want to mess this up, your track to college, but you’re doing fine. </p>
<p>Deffinetly focus in on a few clubs your interested in; seek leadership, get to know the advisor. Be concious of the letters of recomendation that you will have to be asking for your senior year.</p>
<p>When you start giving projected SAT scores and such… you’re not asking if you’re on the right track, you’re asking us to CHANCE you in your sophomore year with your projected stats. </p>
<p>And yes, stop being so defensive and yes you are coming off as arrogant. Being elitist is nice, but at least be more substantiated with it. All in all, yes be more focused, I joined science olympiad and robotics for all 4 years and I’m captain on both teams. Yeah that’s only two clubs and I’ve expanded my club activities in senior year just because of more time, but overall it’s your role in the club, not your position, pick the most rigorous and/or fun club(S) you like in that list and then re-assess what you want to stay in.</p>
<p>don’t take this as racist or whatever, but you seem like the cookie-cutter asian. </p>
<p>Can you get into Stanford? Sure.
Will you get into Stanford? I don’t know.</p>
<p>If you are purposefully and deliberately building your profile for Stanford or other top schools, I’d stop. Because in college this attitude turns into pre-professionalism. And from what I’ve seen that is so stressful, especially at a place like Stanford. So learn how to do things you’re passionate about, take a step back occasionally, etc. It will pay off, although maybe not in the short run.</p>
<p>If you are truly passionate about your ECs, it will become apparent (or already is). A laundry list really can’t do anything much justice. Although sometimes it does.</p>
<p>Don’t be so mean to him/her. He/she is just trying to start early, and that’s good! I wished I started early. You seem on the right track. Try to do something AMAZING! Because with your stats, something amazing, out of the world extraordinary will be great. Like RSI, Intel, forming your own business, research at Stanford, research somewhere, travelling to places and doing amazing things there. You see what I mean…big things!</p>
<p>A) Chances are that you won’t get a 240 or a 2380-2400 on the SAT. Wait until you get your scores first. But yes, those scores would be excellent if you can get them.</p>
<p>B) Your Extra-Curriculars are very shabby so far. It doesn’t really seem like you have a passion or an area of focus. Do you have a leadership position in any of those clubs?</p>
<p>As many people have said, don’t try to project SAT or PSAT scores. Some years, you’ll get an absolutely abysmal curve. I remember around two years(?) ago, you miss one math question on the PSAT, and bam! - you were stuck with something like a 74-75. Quite tragic when you think back on it and realize that you fudged up your calculator typing. Same thing goes for the SAT (and let’s not even start on the essay grading, which can be so subjective it’s laughable.)</p>
<p>But mostly - dude, relax. Go out and have some fun. You’re only a sophomore. Find stuff you like to do and quit worrying so much. :)</p>
<p>You will never get 240 by multiplying 2400 by 10. work on your math. Stanford likes math. (I am just busting your chops. Relax, go ask a girl to the dance.)</p>
<p>college-goer: I’d appreciate it if you would stop giving me a negative impression on CC by spreading these rumors. </p>
<p>Anyways, if you deem what I said as “racism,” then you better get used to it. College admissions committees admittedly (and secretly) profile kids based on race. They’ll view the OP as the typical high-achieving Asian (high test scores, lots of pre-professional clubs, tennis team, probable pressure from parents). Whether this is good or bad in terms of college admissions I don’t know. I never stated (or implied) that I knew the answer to this. I left that up to the OP to decide. </p>
<p>Being ignorant and idealistic will only hurt you in the long run. It’s time to understand reality.</p>
<p>OOOOh okay. you are so smart and insightful. not to be racist or anything, but you sound like anyother posing crackers.
all my asian friends do their things because of their motivations, not from their parents. its either jealous white people like you make up those sterotypes or maybe theres a problems in the area where you live in.</p>
<p>how do you even know I’m white? For all you know I could be Asian. A lot of where I get my impressions of different races come from the people themselves. Many Asians I know acknowledge and support their stereotype. Same things with other races and ethnic groups. Maybe the Asians where I live are just different. And same with the Asians I’ve met in college. And the Asians I’ve heard and read about on CC. It’s definitely not all Asians that fit the stereotype, and I don’t even know if it’s a majority (there’s also the DDR/dyed-hair/general slacker Asian stereotype). But there are a noticeably large number of Asians that fit (or are very close to) the typical Asian mold.</p>
<p>And you know what, maybe I just come from a place where race is not regarded as some untouchable topic and where people (from all races) don’t give a crap whether they are politically correct.</p>