What can I do to keep on track to get into my dream school?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I’m a freshman in high school right now and I was wondering what can I do to keep on track to get into my dream school, Columbia. I currently go to a junior high school, which is 8th/9th grade. To put this in a bit of perspective, 3-5 people from my high school get accepted to Ivy League schools every year.

Here are my stats/plans:

Current GPA:
UW: 4.0
W: 4.18

ACT (I took this in 7th grade with no studying whatsoever so it’s not really an accurate estimate of my abilities but… I can only get better right?): Composite: 26. M: 26. Eng: 27. Reading: 30. Science: 21. :frowning:

I am hoping for a SAT score in the 1500s and an ACT score in the range of 34-36. I think I can do it if I start studying summer before junior year.

I am taking the most rigorous courses available to me right now.

Advanced Courses (Honors, AP, IB, etc)

Already taken (first semester):
Adv World History (Advanced courses are like Honors/Pre-AP at my school)
Geometry (most kids at my school are taking Algebra I or Geometry A&B right now)

Current (this semester):
Algebra II w/ Trig
Adv Biology
Adv English 9

Planned:

10th:
AP Calc AB
AP Comp Sci Prin
Adv English 10
Chemistry
Physics
AP Euro

11th:
AP Calc BC
IB English 11
IB Biology HL
IB History I
IB World Religions/TOK?
Advanced Debate

12th:
IB Math HL
IB English 12
AP Physics I
IB History II
IB Theory of Knowledge
Spanish B, SL, IB

ECs:

I’m going to put my middle school ECs here, just to give you an idea of what I’m all about.

Science Olympiad (Numerous regional and state medals, attended nationals last year)
Science Fair (Numerous regional and state medals, a few special awards)
Science Bowl (2nd at State last year)
NJHS
Volunteered at library last summer (Idk how many hours)

I go to a junior high school so I’m not really in any high school ECs right now, but here’s what I’m planning on doing.

High School:
Science Olympiad

Science Fair
Science Bowl
FBLA?
Debate
Volunteering
Internship at local University?
I’ll figure out more next year, when I’m actually at the high school.

I am also hoping to have an awesome enough science fair project in 11th/12th grade to get into the RSI at MIT. Wish me luck

Other Stats:
State: AL
Gender: F
Ethnicity: Indian

Sorry for the super long post!

2

Definitely look into conducting research at a university. When you reach junior year, participate in Siemens, and in Regeneron STS during senior year. You are on a good track right now! (better than I was during freshman year lol)

3

@AznDude525 Definitely going to look into that! Thanks!

4

^ I concur. You’re ahead of the curve, so to speak. You’re on the right track, for sure.

Don’t totally hedge your bets on only taking the SAT once, though. Aim for 1560+ for the most selective schools. Be prepared to devote a lot of time to it (which you seem to have already prorated. Good).

Good luck. :slight_smile:

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@mohammadmohd18 Thanks! I am actually aiming for taking the SAT/ACT 2-3 times and getting a perfect score on each. I know friends and relatives who have done this and I think that with the correct preparation I can do it as well. That would definitely boost me as an applicant, right? :slight_smile:

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To schools like HYPSM? Not as much as you think.

Getting a perfect score isn’t necessary. A 1570 is the same as a 1600 in the admissions officers’ eyes. All they need to know is if you are academically capable of attending their school and doing very well in higher education. Standardized test scores only get your foot in the door; you need to impress them with less quantifiable things past that point (ECs, LoRs, awards, essays).

It’s not so much that a high score will help you–it just won’t hurt you. You have to understand that the majority of applicants to top schools have similar scores. They won’t give much of an advantage to someone who got a 1600 over someone who got a 1570, you see.

Aiming for a perfect score on just one of these tests (let alone both) is a laudable goal. But it’s not as easy as saying, “I will prepare for it.” There is an element of luck involved.

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@mohammadmohd18 Of course! From reading the forums here at College Confidential I’ve gotten the sense that to get into top schools you need to have good test scores, grades, amazing ECs, awards, letters of recommendation, etc. What else would you suggest?

I know that perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT are not needed, just good scores (35-36, 1560+) . But IMO, if you aim high, even if you don’t achieve your goal, you will still get to where you need to be.

Anyway, thanks for your help! I would love some more feedback from people!

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I can’t suggest anything else, because you’ve named pretty much most, if not all, of what I was alluding to. Your planned schedule is rigorous; you seem to be motivated enough to get stellar test scores; and your ECs are better than most 9th graders I’ve seen.

Keep it up. The stress may seem unbearable at times, but just think of the goal. Write down on a piece of paper your motivations for getting into your “dream school”–stick it above your desk and look at it whenever you feel exhausted from studying or prep.

I should say, though, that I wouldn’t be so set on a specific school (Columbia). You might get rejected from there and accepted to UChicago, or Stanford, or Duke, Cornell, Vandy, Yale, Brown, Harvard, or a LAC like HM or Pomona or Scripps or Swarthmore that you fall in love with. In having a narrow view of the horizon ahead, you’ll neglect the opportunity to explore the multitude of beautiful, wonderful colleges that students of your caliber will be able to be in a good position to apply to. Even worse, if you get rejected from Columbia…you’ll be a wreck.

Don’t be a potential wreck. Don’t drink and drive. :)) Just kidding, haha. Don’t have a specific goal of “I have to get into this college, or I am an unworthy, degenerate person who’ll probably be lucky to get into ASU (not to bash ASU).”

9

I don’t understand the Spanish for just one year. Am I missing something? Most strong schools want to see 3-4 years of foreign language. Is it because you are already fluent in another language, such as Hindi ?

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@inthegarden Actually, I am currently taking Spanish 2. I will be taking Spanish throughout high school (Spanish 3 in sophomore year, Spanish 4 in junior year, IB Spanish in senior year). I did not include it on the OP because I do not consider it an “advanced course”. Thanks for the feedback!

@mohammadmohd18 I agree. Columbia is just my ultimate dream school. It would be totally awesome if I got into some of the other schools you mentioned! Some other schools I’ve thought about are NYU, Duke, Vandy, Emory, etc. Honestly, I would be happy even going to a good state school.

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You’re the most woke freshman I’ve ever seen. (compliment) Please, please update me in 3 years when you’re receiving your college decisions.

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@mohammadmohd18 Thanks! We’ll see how I do :frowning: