<p>Hey everyone! I've been looking at CC for a while but I never bothered to make an account, but I finally decided to make one!</p>
<p>It's been a life-long ambition of mine to get into a Princeton or Harvard. I've worked hard in my high school career (so far) to be able to achieve this goal, and so far, I think I've done a good job.</p>
<p>I'm going to be a junior in high school in the '14-'15 school year. Right now, I have a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 4 weighted. This year, I took all honors classes (AP isn't available for sophomores at my school), and next year, I'm scheduled for all AP. I'm in a lot of EC's, and hold a few officer positions in said EC's. I helped found a GSA at our school this year, and I'm going to be the president of it next year. I'm also founding a debate team at our school next year. I'm involved in some good charity organizations in my area, in I'm going to be spending more time on that in the coming months. I also operate a small computer repair/building business and I've been working on developing apps (both of which are out of genuine interest and out of desire for saving up for college.)</p>
<p>I know that's a mouthful, but I'm wondering if there are any other tips you guys could give me as to what I can do over the next two years to strengthen my chances of getting accepted into an Harvard/Princeton.</p>
<p>Any input is appreciated! </p>
<p>(PS: I recognize that this could be a pipe dream, and I have several safety schools at the ready in case I don't get accepted.)</p>
<p>It’s good you’re challenging yourself. Hopefully, you’ll knock out great grades. But remember, your GPA is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than your ECs. If needed, shed tertiary ones and buckle down in order to get the GPA you want and is within your capacity. It seems that most CC denizens overestimate the value of a long list of ECs.</p>
<p>Conversely, don’t just take APs solely to fatten your transcript. If you get mostly Bs or Cs, then you need to ramp downwards. The conventional wisdom is to take the most rigorous schedule you can while doing well.</p>
<p>One last thing: take off the star-struck glasses: (H or P or bust). 15 year olds who dream about two schools are 15 year olds who know little about available excellent educational offerings and what society really values. Don’t be a “name” chaser.</p>
<p>your last sentence concerns me “… in case I don’t get accepted”. You need to go into this absolutely fully expecting that <em>you will not be accepted</em>. This is true for most excellent students. It is not a matter of checking the right boxes and having the right scores and grades. Most will not get in, and it’s no fault of their own. Sure, apply, but don’t think of the other schools on your list as “safeties”. They should be great schools that you’d love to attend.</p>