<p>do the EC that you think you can go the farthest in</p>
<p>Yea, you really shouldn't be doing clubs just purely for the prestige..its more likely that you won't enjoy them that much and you'll be more likely to just do enough in the club. If you dont like doing it, then you probably won't work your butt off in it. </p>
<p>However, in my school, debate is a huge club.</p>
<p>As for sports, you can always do something like tennis or cross country. At my school, you can join tennis even if you're not that good. Cross country at my school, so far, isnt too time-consuming.</p>
<p>thanks for all the help everyone, it really helped..
I think I will join one of the olympiads.
Also i think im going to join debate and model UN.
and hopefully, i'll be able to start my own club.
i think i'll stay away from sports - i actually started summer courses at my high school today and I found out it takes 2 hours to get home.</p>
<p>amnesia - i agree with enjoi. what are your stats like?
if your "guaranteed" a spot at harvard, the least you could do is try and give out some advice is to how you achieved it. not just post that you're guaranteed.</p>
<p>amnesia seems to think that running two organizations makes him a shoo-in...he may be partially justified, as Harvard likes, er, pushy, self-confident people, but then again, he's gonna have a horrible time after college if his attitude doesn't change.</p>
<p>Olympiads are a full-time job, IMO. If you want to make it to the top, you'll have to spend night and day on it (or be naturally gifted, which I'm guessing the top people are).</p>
<p>top dedication eh?</p>
<p>any other strategies that help/worK?</p>
<p>for Olympiads? No...take one look at the questions they ask and you'll see what I mean...</p>
<p>If you want another way into top colleges that doesn't require "top dedication", you could always make a fool out of yourself on reality TV or something...</p>
<p>The olympiads do require <em>tons</em> of time. If you're just an average, good, or even great team then they really don't. But, if your team is oustanding (nationally ranked) then you spend more time than you wouldn't even imagine. I'm in Science Olympiad and we're already having meetings for next season, some people building/studying for events, and almost everyone picking our events. Our team really is like a family, that's how much we go through together. But, it's all worth it in the end, it's an amazing experience.</p>
<p>I don't know how much it will help in college admissions, but olympiads are prestigious and require the most dedication.</p>
<p>all those activities require a lot of dedication. i wouldn't say any activity is more 'intensive' than another w/o looking at the regional competition and your own high school. debate is very time consuming as well. So is MUN. It all depends on what level you're competing. At the national level, all those academic competitions will demand a lot. I'd advise picking one, or at the very maximum, two, and focusing on them. It takes a lot to go far, and it may not seem like it now, but it is. And they'd rather you go far in one or two than spread yourself out with three or four.</p>
<p>i looked at the international physics olympiad site but i couldnt find anything there about signing up for next year. could someone help me out?</p>
<p>that's not fair...my school doesn't have a CHEM olympiad....
ew? haha</p>
<p>do you suggest sticking with the same clubs throughout high school, or changing it up?</p>
<p>Stick with the same clubs. It shows you care and are dedicated to it, and the longer you're in it, the greater your chances at an "impressive leadership postition" in the club, which seems to be increasingly important.</p>
<p>My question was already asked, but not answered--could someone please explain how the olympiads work? do a lot of high schools have teams? I think my high school has a science bowl and that's it. What grade do you have to be in to compete? Are all teams/competitors school teams, so if your school doesn't have one is it impossible to participate?</p>
<p>USACO is an individual olympiad. All you need is a computer and internet access (both of which you obviously have access to, since you're here on the boards :p).</p>
<p>Go to <a href="http://ace.delos.com/usacogate%5B/url%5D">http://ace.delos.com/usacogate</a> and sign up for an account. Then try their practice problems. Contact the people running it if you need help.</p>
<p>USAMO is also an individual olympiad, but in this case you will need a bit of help from your school. Your school will need to send in an order form for the AMC exams (like $10-20 for a pack of 5 exams, so grab some friends and split the cost if your school pennypinches) and provide a proctor. If you pass the AMC, the next rounds are free. Your school will still need to provide a proctor.</p>
<p>Both USACO and USAMO are open to high-school students (and younger...brr...)</p>
<p>goo math team. =) haha .. I guess Debate, Sci Oly, Aca Dec. what everyone's been saying.</p>