What are my chances and what can I do to improve them?

<p>I'm a high school junior right now in Orange County and I think I'm a bit weak in extracurricular activities. I know you won't be able to tell me much because most of my AP's and SATs are coming up, but I'm mainly looking for what I can do to improve my chances (outside getting good scores/grades).</p>

<p>Target Colleges: Ivy Leagues especially Harvard/Yale, MIT, UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford (there's more including backups, but these are my top choices)
Weighted GPA: around 4.8
Unweighted: 3.89
Class Rank: unsure</p>

<p>I got a B+ in PE freshman year 1st semester (don't ask), B+ Geometry-H second semester freshman year, B Algebra-2H 1st semester sophomore then A second semester.
I might get a B+ in physics this year, but otherwise I'm all A's.</p>

<p>APs:
Computer Science A:5
European History: 5
This year and next:
Computer Science AB
American History
Statistics
Spanish
English
Calculus A
Economics/Government
Biology</p>

<p>IBs: (full IB)
Physics and Spanish this year, not sure about next year</p>

<p>SAT: in January
PSAT: 228
SATII's: in May/June</p>

<p>Principal Honor Roll
Awards in various subjects
5th (1st in US) of American Computer Science League (team not individual) and I'm joining this year as well
Key Club member and I participate in events
Tutoring
Amnesty Club International (board member next year)
Piano and singing (but I recently started)
Choir next year
(Intership helping autistic children or possibly nanotechnology research where I participate in a national science competition)
National Honor Society
National Merit (probably)
California Scholarship Federation</p>

<p>I definitely need to work on extracurriculars and I'm trying to get more community service. Any suggestions? Any examples of lists of extracurriculars?</p>

<p>I'd say if you chose something with a large commitment, it would really help. Volunteering with the same organization often is very good - shows dedication and interest in something. A job also looks good even if you can only work on weekends and during breaks. Anything that requires a significant time commitment, basically.</p>

<p>Summer programs also can help - courses at a local community college, a strong program for a specific area at a college, a 2 week community service trip, anything like that. Good luck!</p>

<p>applebell:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Match</p>

<p>You might want to check out the Yale, Harvard & MIT ED Boards and see the stats (I think yours are great) and ECs of the people who got in and those who didn't.</p>

<p>Hmm during the summer I was thinking of doing an internship researching nanotechnology and also volunteering with autistic children. The internship puts me in Siemens. Would you guys suggest that?</p>

<p>While those activities are good to do in general, they won't set you apart from the thousands of other applicants who all look the "same" on paper. But then again, no one should ever participate in something for the pure reason of 'looking good' to college admissions officers. I believe if you are passionate about something and heavily involved in it, it will show. However, if you are participating in certain activities to pad your resume, that will also be clear.</p>

<p>The guy ranked #3 in siemens this year got deferred by harvard.. don't put all your eggs in one basket (the internship)</p>

<p>Hmm Siemens? I know the team that got 3rd in Nationals and one guy got into Harvard and the other, Yale.</p>

<p>amnesty club international?</p>

<p>u sure u even know what amnesty club international is?</p>

<p>I'm talking about the individuals competition. He is floating around somewhere on the Harvard forum... I'm just saying that competitions like that aren't tickets into harvard. Plenty of people get rejected each year with them</p>