Hey y’all! I need a few opinions cause I’m pretty worried about my ability to get into a top school. Basically, I’m currently a freshman, but I’ll officially have junior standing next year since there aren’t enough classes at my high school/local colleges for me to take. I’ll be out of classes by my third year of high school, adding multiple easy filler electives in order to have a “full” schedule.
Currently, I have a 4.0 UW GPA and got a 1550 on my SAT (might retake but that’s a different story). This year, I took AP Physics 1, AP Calculus BC, Honors Chemistry, Honors Biology, Honors Humanities, and PE/Health. Next year, I’ll be taking Multivariable Calculus 1&2, Linear Algebra, English 101, History 144, and a fine arts class at my local college and AP Physics 2, AP Chemistry, AP World, and Honors English at my high school. I’m in a few clubs (MHS, SNHS, PHS, and MUN; no leadership positions) and I have a few MUN awards plus some staffing experience. It’s highly unlikely that I’ll be able to get a “meaningful” leadership position in any clubs next year mainly because I’m younger and club leadership is a popularity contest at my school.
Anyways, I’m worried that my ECs are no where near good enough. I don’t have any major stem awards (always sucked at math comps and it’s something I really hate) and I probably won’t have much leadership experience. Research opportunities in physics, my intended major, are hard to come by in my area but something I’d love to do.
Does anyone have any advice? I’m sure I could spin my essays to highlight other ways I’ve shown initiative(+other qualities that colleges like) but I’m really worried about the lack of activities. Will colleges be more lenient considering I basically have to graduate a year early or will I be held to the same standard? (My guess is the latter)
I don’t see any FL in your schedule. That’s quite a significant omission, especially if you’re looking at elite colleges, many of which like to see four years of one.
You seem to have quite a lot of classes planned for next year; can you not spread them out a bit more? You might have time for more ECs then.
Does your hs offer no humanities APs?
@Conformist1688 oops I forgot to mention it: I already have 4 years of a foreign language so I just omitted it.
To be able to take classes at a community college through Running Start (local program), I have to have junior standing. I really can’t spread it out anymore, mainly because no matter what I do I’ll end up with 10 HS credits my sophomore/junior year. Considering I have 11 as a freshman, I’ll only need 3 to graduate.
My school does offer AP humanities and I will be taking them both next year and in 2 years; at that point, I’ll be completely done with everything offered. My junior/senior year schedule will basically be college english (school doesn’t have AP Lit), AP Macro/microeconomics, PE, AP CSA, AP Stats, and college astronomy.
Doesn’t sound like you have EC direction anyway- will staying a full four years add anything in terms of ECs? If so, you don’t have to graduate just because you have enough credits. My D had 48 high school credits at graduation (full time DE student). What type of EC do you want to pursue?
Lots of colleges will be happy to admit you early without a boatload of ECs, so don’t worry about that. What sort of places do you think you would be looking at anyway? Do you have a notion yet of what your major might be?
You are a great candidate for a year abroad- esp in whatever language you have 4 years of already. Something like a Rotary exchange?
@milgymfam The biggest issue with staying 4 years is the fact that I literally don’t have any classes to take; having too many credits is not an issue (I’ll have the same amount as most graduating seniors) but I’m out of classes to take. Would it help? Definitely. Is it an option at this point? It isn’t. If I could have a dream EC, it would definitely be research, but physics research opportunities for high schoolers are extremely limited in my area. I’ve also talked to the college counselor at our school, but it wasn’t too helpful.
@happymomof1 Sadly, there’s roughly a 0% chance that me graduating early will impress my dream college, so I really need to fix my ECs. (MIT has been my dream school since I was 9 yo) I’m planning on majoring in physics. However, I am curious what colleges would accept me as an early grad: I do have a full college list at this point, but I’m wondering if there are any I missed.
@collegemom3717 I’ve considered doing a year abroad and I do have decent options in regards to countries (speak 2 languages fluently, 1 I partially lost but I could get it back in about 3 months, and 2 more that I’m passable in) but I just don’t see that benefit; I’ve technically already studied abroad because I started school before immigrating to the US so going back won’t serve any cultural benefit. Going to a country wherein I’m not fluent in the language is technically an option, but one I don’t really care for. Plus, there will be major issues with my classes and changes in curriculum, because no matter when I go in my high school career, my “on-level” classes are APs and college classes.
If you are just finishing your Freshman year, how do you have 4 years of a foreign language? Do years prior to HS count towards college admissions requirements?
@CottonTales I actually did take a foreign language in middle school, but I never bothered to bring up the credit, although I definitely can. Instead, I passed a college level examination for a language I already knew and got HS credit for it (it’s on my transcript).
Is this a language you grew up speaking? If so it may not pass muster, as it won’t show you have successfully STUDIED a FL.
You’ve gone through every class available at your local community college and any commutable four year? How can that be? I’m also not sure that you can test out of a foreign language for which you are a heritage or native speaker.
OP: Yes, to answer your question, you will be held to the same standard. Please read through threads on foreign language recommendations — I think you’ll see taking courses in high school is preferred to a proficiency test.
If MIT is your lodestar go to their website and study their high school preparation recommendations and their website in general. I understand their admissions blog is excellent.
I would challenge you to look at this differently. Instead of thinking in a narrow frame of admissions, please consider how you can use the next three years and your considerable brain power to make a difference for yourself as a student, for your school and your community. IMHO colleges like MIT will appreciate this and expect innovation if your opportunities are somehow limited in your area.
Work with teachers, counselors or other mentors on possible volunteer or internship opportunities. Because of your age this may need to start small and slow. Be thoughtful about how something could grow into research opportunities.
Enjoy your high school years and expand your vision.
I’ve spent 4 hrs/week studying this language for the past 8 years (roughly how long it takes to be able to write well). I did live in a country that speaks it for a few years when I was very young and speak it at home (mixed with 2 other languages) but I have taken years of classes. Also, my district allows us to test out of any language or can waive the requirement all together.
@milgymfam Before this year, there was only one community college in the area which had math above Calculus BC. Next year I’ll be done with the highest math offered; while yes, there are plenty of other classes I can take, I don’t see the point of taking 10 art classes if I want to be a stem major and don’t enjoy said classes.
Also quick note: I can’t switch my schedule or spread anything out anymore; this post was mainly asking for advice surrounding ECs (I’m especially open to “weird” ideas). While it’s understandable that the general advice is always “take all 4 years” I can’t really do that considering that I’ll be basically out of all major related core classes my sophomore/junior year.
Thank you @Southoftheriver! (if only I hadn’t already spent 3 years of my life reading the mit blog ?) Nice to know that I was correct in my assumption. I actually do fit the criteria listed on the blog quite well, but impact isn’t easy, especially with the pandemic. I’ve met with my counselor ~10 times this year, but she wasn’t that helpful in regards to finding ECs outside of school; it was a lot of the usual “join clubs” advice. I’m currently in the process of improving my ECs, but everything is paused and nothing is certain. Anyways, any new or interesting ideas are always welcome (obviously not required tho).
You know what MIT is looking for, motivated and open to intellectual discovery. It appears you could be a one trick pony. Brilliant but not otherwise all that interesting.
You have 3 years to become unique. Find some passions. Maybe make up your own club or group if there isnt one that fits your interests.
So I have a friend that’s kid is you. He’s at University of Chicago free ride.
What he did when he was more of less done in Sophomore year he spent a year in Germany taking classes in German for a year
He claims he learned German 3 months prior. His senior year high school he spent a year in China at an American school. Then off to University of Chicago.
He went to an advanced 7/8 grade program BTW.
Not sure if any of this makes sense.
Besides that peer to peer tutoring looks really good. Tutoring to a middle school looks good. Use your brilliant mind to help others. Start /create something to benefit others. Maybe some cool /interesting club? Put yourself in the position to lead.
Agree with the observations and suggestions. If no on-the-nose EC is available, then think about volunteering, fleshing out hobbies or working. Cut the grass for the elderly person down the street, work on Census 2020 outreach, etc. Think about helping others, not college admissions. Give back, and opportunities will come.
Try to absorb the suggestions on this thread and really think how to make them work - not why they won’t.
If you want to go to college in the US you will have to take classes outside your major.
Might you be interested in studying overseas (assuming you can afford it)? Then you could limit yourself to physics and the hs requirements would be less broad.
I would advise you to email admissions at schools you may be interested in and ask them about their FL requirement. I would be surprised if testing out of it would replace the recommended # of years. MIT recommends 2 years, but most elite schools say 3, some 4. And the general rule of thumb, reccomended means required.