<p>I am going to be a freshmen and I'm extremely bright maintaining a constant 4.0 GPA my entire academic career.
I currently go to the best private school in my state an also it's surrounding states and 30% of seniors at my school go off to the Ivies, MIT, etc.
There aren't many honors options until I'm older but I have been placed in the highest math class for my grade.
I know that for my career I would like to be a journalist and or a writer of novels.
Besides working on my school's literary publications, trying to publish a book, maintaining my GPA, and acing the SATs what should I do during my high school years that will stad out to Yale?
It is my dream college, and I know that they have a stellar English department. I am mature for my age and I am very driven. Please take me seriously and respect my goal. Thank you.</p>
<p>I apologize for my constant grammatical errors. My keyboard has been acting up, and has not been receiving all signals lately.</p>
<p>Very few admits to top schools set out as ninth graders to get into them. Even though it’s a distinct possibility, you’re severely limiting yourself and may ultimately do self-defeating things if that’s all is on your mind.</p>
<p>You want to write a book. Why? Is it a coup you’re counting? If I were a Yale reader, I’d be looking for the student who had so much bursting out of them and onto the page that they couldn’t hold it in. A publishable book would be the logical conclusion/afterthought to a burgeoning body of creativity. A book? Meh. Actual creativity? Very different…</p>
<p>“Besides working on my school’s literary publications, trying to publish a book, maintaining my GPA, and acing the SATs what should I do during my high school years that will stad out to Yale?” </p>
<p>Again, these are very short term goals. What you want to become is a TRUE LEARNER. An explorer. Set yourself on a trajectory that the idea of Yale et al is just a small stepping stone. Get to a point where you say “I can do without it. My life’s trajectory is going to be THIS!” You want to stand out? Then why do all your goals/achievements to be had look like what all the other lemmings have as well?</p>
<p>Are you truly adventurous? Or will you protect your GPA in lieu of really pushing yourself?</p>
<p>I’m not trying to quash anything. I take you at your word that you’re driven. Hopefully I’ve given you something to chew on.</p>
<p>What can you do to get into Yale? Donate money to build something on campus. </p>
<p>Frankly, given your goals, there is absolutely no reason to go to a school like Yale. Good writing is more something you either have or you do not. All going to Yale will do is spend a lot of money to give you and your family something to brag about. Any college can help you sharpen your English skills to be a novel writer. No need to waste money on an Ivy-league education for that type of goal.</p>
<p>Check out the bios on whomever you consider the ‘best’ journalist (or novelist). My guess is that very few went to Ivies and those that did likely went to Columbia.</p>
<p>The Ivies are highly selective for anyone. Even a seemingly ‘perfect’ resume may yield nothing and they will never tell you ‘why’ you didn’t make the cut. Set your sights on 10+ schools with a wide range of levels of prestige. You are setting yourself up for heartache focusing on one school this early. (especially one with tight admissions).</p>
<p>If you ignore all of the other advice and insist on going to Yale, you will likely be best served by writing a novel now and getting published (not just self-published online pap). That would set you apart. (of course, it would also prove that you don’t need Yale to be a great writer).</p>
<p>Calm down. You’re only in 9th grade. It’s great that you’ve already set a goal, and Yale does have an excellent writing program. Despite what @Torveaux said, English is worth it at an Ivy simply because of the connections you’ll make and the distinguished faculty you’ll work with - they can easily help you get a job out of college or grad school. Also, Yalies consistently win more undergraduate writing competitions than any other college in the nation. Also, Yale offers great financial aid. But ultimately, don’t make yourself miserable by obsessing for 4 years over getting into 1 school. You’d be surprised at how much you can change within those 4 years - or even within a year. Junior year changes you. Visiting schools in the first few months of senior year can change your opinions dramatically. Wait and see. Plan ahead, do your best in school, but overall, enjoy high school at least a little bit.</p>
<p>All of the top writers won undergraduate competitions. LOL.</p>
<p>It is true, Yale has a great English program and if you want to be an academic, and can get it, go for it. If you want to write for a living as a novelist…it is about as useful as mammary glands on a male porcine animal.</p>
<p>Check out Cal Newport’s How to be a High School Superstar. Good advice on becoming an interesting candidate for selective colleges.</p>
<p>Be sure to apply before the deadline when you’re a senior ;)</p>
<p>Try playing a sport or starting a club.</p>
<p>“or starting a club.” Yep. That’s an original idea…</p>
<p>The simple answer is to do your best at the things you do. But while I think Yale is great (and it has a lot of great resources for would-be writers), it’s a bad strategy to have a single dream school at your stage.</p>
<p>The first step of getting into Yale: don’t think about getting into Yale (until you apply). I speak from experience.</p>
<p>Cal Newport’s books are great. I second CHD2013’s recommendation.</p>