What can a junior do to improve chances of admissions? (extracurricular-wise)

Applying to College
1

<p>So i've been surfing around this website and suddenly, my future college apps are starting to look a bit dingy. I'm missing a lot of the "achievement/awards" part. So many people on this site have these national contest winnings and stuff like that to put on their resume. Unfortunately, the ones i see most are math or science related and no offese, but those subjects bore me. :P </p>

<p>im really interested in history and was wondering if there were any special things i can do to make my app stand out even though i only have two more years of hs left...</p>

<p>Im currently doing these: (history stuff)
-founded a National History Club chapter at my school
- working on a history paper, hoping to get it published in the Concord Review (a national magazine that publishes high school writers on history)
-maybe DAR essay contest?
-volunteer at my local historical society doing curatorical work/research</p>

<p>other stuff
-badminton (9,10,)
-drawing classes and taking AP studio art next year so hopefully some contests
- US congressional award silver
-Model UN (9,10)
- Rotary Interact (10)
-Human Rights Club (10)
- Chinese School (graduated this year but will still TA)</p>

<p>i feel like im cramming all this stuff in so late in my hs career but i really hope it helps :] unfortunately, i've recently got a 690 on my world history sat ii T_T but i got a 5 on the AP world history exam. oh this crazy world ><</p>

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<p>In all seriousness, if you’re only a rising junior, I think you’re totally on track with ECs. Maybe try to win some awards with Model UN next year and get an officership. Enter some essay contests. You’re fine! You could try raising that SAT II score and maybe take the APUSH/ SAT II US History exams.</p>

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<p>Also, if you’re interested in government at all, you could try and intern at the state senate/house over summer or try to become a page.</p>

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<p>“volunteer at my local historical society doing curatorical work/research”</p>

<p>This caught my eye. Its a bit unusual and intriguing. If you really delve into the research and make yourself a subject-matter expert, take some initiative at the historical society, bring your work to the local schools, or find some other way of increasing your depth and expertise, you could potentially get a lot out of the experience-including some good material for your application that would make you stand out and perhaps a letter of recommendation that says something unique about you. School clubs, Model UN, are all fine but very common. You want to focus your efforts on things that differentiate you and that you really truly enjoy doing.</p>