What can I do now to prepare?

[yayeleanor]

<p>Hi:)
So I'm a freshman right now at one of the most competitive math/sci/comp sci magnet public schools in the country... which means I'm already thinking about college. I think I want to do something with engineering, most likely biomedical.
As far as activities:
--I'm joining the robotics team, mock trial, and maybe SGA
--I've been doing girl scouts for 9 years
--I'm starting to volunteer at a local hospital
--As far as grades, I have 6 credits from middle school, all 4.0+, depending on if they're weighted
What can I do now to prepare for applications later?
Thanks so much for reading!</p>

[slant6]

<p>If you like the ECs you’re doing now, try to stick with them until you graduate. Same with your grades: keep them up, and challenge yourself, but don’t overload yourself with projects and classes you’re not that into. Slow and steady wins the race and all that. Stay dedicated to what you want to do, but don’t be afraid to explore. Dedication appeals to colleges, but so does courage to try new things. Make friends with your teachers and EC supervisors; you’ll need them to write recommendations for you.
Best wishes!</p>

[mikemac]

<p>Just so you know, joining this and that or racking up hours of participation is not what top colleges look for. They want to see leadership and achievement. So spreading yourself too thin may hurt you. </p>

<p>As a frosh it is wise to explore different areas to see what interests you most, but at some point you’ll probably want to focus on a small number of things where you can really make a difference. Top schools evaluate ECs like Stanford says on its website

Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.
<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/evaluate.html[/url][/quote]BTW”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/evaluate.html

BTW</a> if you are at one of the top magnets, I suggest you take advantage of the resources you have right there with you and start talking with the college counselors. They can give you examples of what grads from your very school have done and the classes they have taken that prepared them for the top schools.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p>Typically, the most important factors are:</p>

<ul>
<li>good grades and/or class rank…</li>
<li>… in the most rigorous available course work at your high school, and …</li>
<li>… good test scores</li>
</ul>

<p>At the most selective colleges, extracurriculars and the like are definitely used, but only those who have the academic credentials will get that far (unless they have “hooks” which are mostly things one is born with, other than becoming an athlete that the college is interested in recruiting).</p>

[happymomof1]

<p>Don’t neglect to talk with your parents about the money. Your grades, test scores and ECs will get you into college, but what you can pay will determine which college you actually attend.</p>