<p>Chelsea,</p>
<p>I want you to review your posts in this thread, and note how often you use the following words:</p>
<p>Helped
Assisted/Assistant
co-teach
in a group
attend a group
Secretary
I would
I could</p>
<p>Now go back and find where you have used the following words to describe your activities:</p>
<p>Founded
Spearheaded
Started a group
Organized a team
Led
Created
Taught
Overcame
“x didn’t work, so instead I tried y, and it worked”
“I met all sorts of resistance, but I was determined to reach my goal, and did”
I did…
Managed</p>
<p>Do you get my drift? There are leaders, and followers. One is not morally or practically better than the other. But they are not the same. Neither is related to academic success. The world needs both, business need both, organizations and homes need both, but the most elite schools are primarily interested in leaders, not followers. Which do you think you are? A natural leader can learn to follow, and a naturual follower can learn to lead, but learning, or forcing oneself to be or do a thing is not the same as being or doing a thing naturally.</p>
<p>You’ve made a great point. I think I’m kind of in the middle. I brainstormed a few things. As you know, I’m interested in politics. I would love to found a club that is focused on political activism. However, because I go to a rural school, no one really cares about politics. A friend of mine couldn’t even remember who Joe Biden is. How can I start a club if no one wants to join? I also thought about taking a bunch of pictures of my community and turn them into post cards. Then I could sell them at my 4-H carnival and raise money for tornado victims. That’s a start, right? I could also do something to benefit the missionaries from my church.</p>
<p>You have asked many questions on CC, to get an idea about dorms, libraries, food, the area surrounding the school, need for car, whether or not there are severe storms, how much partying goes on, what the abroad programs are like, etc. And, of course, how posters view the strength of the programs. This info will help you pick schools to apply to. But, in the end, where you end up is about the colleges picking you. Have you looked at the requirements (or recommendations) for curriculum and how colleges state their expectations for ECs? This is vital. Eg, most schools like to see 3-4years of foreign language and leadership in ECs.</p>
<p>lookingforward: I have spoke to my counselor many times about me either taking Spanish II as an independent study or online, but he (we’re getting someone new, so maybe she will let me) keeps telling me that I can’t because neither are available. I can’t take Spanish during the year because it won’t work with my schedule, but if I had to, I guess I would give up band. I desperately need to talk to the counselor…</p>
<p>I’m gonna make a difference in one way or another this year. I don’t know if I can handle everything, but I won’t know until I try. </p>
<p>When I graduate, I should have: 3 years of history, 5 years of math, 5 years of science, hopefully 2-3 years of Spanish, 4 years of English and I’ll have taken band and debate all four years. Those are just the basics.</p>
<p>Taking an online language class doesn’t hinge on the counselor. Plenty of motivated kids take language and other classes online- including STEM kids who want to free up their hs scheds for advanced physics or math, and homeschoolers. Btw, if you will have 5 years of math and science, are you taking classes at a local college? (You only show pre-calc, above, for senior year.)</p>
<p>lookingforward: Don’t I need approval or something to take an online class? </p>
<p>I can take up to 7 classes, so I can only take those listed. I’m not even sure if enough people will want to take AP English or AP Bio, so the classes might not be available.</p>
<p>Also, I took Algebra I in eighth grade and I’m doubling up on science next year, so that’s why I have five for both.</p>
<p>Chelsea, you’ve already been given some good advice. I only have one thing to add. In order to get into one of the Governor’s schools, you need to first be nominated by a teacher. The principal of your school, the teacher, and usually a guidance counselor fill out recommendations and send with your application and transcript. If you seriously want to try to get nominated, you must talk to a teacher. For girls, there is often a better chance of being admitted into one of the sciences based Gov. programs. If you excel in bio., then talk to that teacher. Ask them if they would consider nominating you. Talk to your counselor and let them know how interested you are in applying to gov. school. If you have a gifted resource teacher, talk to them. You are going to have to advocate for yourself. It’s free if you can get in! Otherwise, there’s Telluride, but I think you are now past the grade level. If you have an interest in a language, there are often free summer programs that encourage cultural relationships. The State dept. also has a free program abroad to Germany (my nephew just finished a year there and is now fluent!). There are free programs, but you have to really work hard to get them.</p>
<p>If you have talent in the arts, here’s a free state program for talented/gifted youth:</p>
<p>[ABOUT</a> : Missouri Fine Arts Academy](<a href=“http://mfaa.missouristate.edu/about/about.asp]ABOUT”>http://mfaa.missouristate.edu/about/about.asp)</p>
<p>the other gov. school in your state is called the Missouri Scholar’s Academy. That’s where you would find the application and info. if you wanted to look at a bio. program or chem. etc. Good luck.</p>
<p>here’s the program my nephew just did for FREE:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/[/url]”>http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/</a></p>
<p>jkiwmom: I really would like to attend a program that would help me make sure that I’m interested in IR. I also need to be become proficient in Spanish. Here’s a stupid question, what’s a resource teacher? I don’t think my school has one. We have a guidance counselor. </p>
<p>I play the clarinet and I like acting, but I don’t know if I would benefit from going to a Fine Arts academy. I’m not a prodigy or anything, but thanks for the suggestions! 
I also love to dance, but I haven’t taken lessons since fifth grade. My dance moved to NH and I was so upset that I didn’t want to take lessons from anyone else.</p>
<p>Jkiwmom: My parents won’t let me go abroad. I don’t even know if they would let me go to Jefferson City for a program.</p>
<p>Re: enrichment programs, whether run by a state or a U, you still need a solid foundation of your high school and other EC experiences to impress adcoms. It’s not a magic replacement.</p>
<p>Look into online language through a local comm coll or state U. Gather info now, to see pricing and whether you can get a slot. Don’t wait for a new hire GC to get situated and to make time for you, in order to discuss it. Get info now.</p>
<p>Lookingforward: Okay. I’ll look to see what my community college offers. I’m excited now! I just discovered that my community college doesn’t offer courses for foreign languages. I’ll try Mizzou.</p>
<p>Lookingforward: If I wanted to take Spanish II online through Mizzou, it would cost close to $1,000. I wasn’t expecting it to be that expensive! I don’t know if my parents will let me. Arrgh…</p>
<p>Ask in the admissions forum or homeschool- they know what online curricula are out there.</p>
<p>I have to clarify, since lookingforward is mentioning the “can’t replace good EC’s with programs”. I agree, but someone mentioned that you should do governor’s school and I wanted you to be aware that you can’t just go to governor’s school! There’s a process to making that happen and I don’t want anyone to think you can just go for resume fluffing. You have to first be really talented in a particular subject area, then nominated! (my daughter was for Japanese). I agree the online language is a good idea, and the homeschoolers are great at telling you where to find college credit courses. Good luck.</p>
<p>jkiwmom: Yeah, I’m not sure about Governor’s School. I don’t want to have too much on my plate, but I’ll go to the home school forum and see what they say.</p>