<p>It's not all that bad. Sure you stay up a bit later and work a bit harder, but I think the education it provides is much better than comparative programs. There's definately time for fun. I went out a large portion of friday nights. Also, at least at my school, the atmosphere within each class is great! We have lots of, albeit accademic, fun.</p>
<p>LOL. Yeah my parents didn't go to college and my counsoler doesn't really care about us (she's retiring next year and is therefore a little preoccupied). I have really good mentors otherwise though, and I did a lot of research on my own (I watched Gilmore Girls and Rory went to college-that's how much tv can influence kids these days).
At least I can expect to work harder in Pre-IB now I guess ...=( thanks guys.</p>
<p>Yea, I wouldn't look at t.v. shows to influence your opinion. </p>
<p>My parents didn't go to college either, just focus on getting good grades for now, and if you want to go to Ivy league schools, probably do extra curriculars, although I hate people who do them just because they think it's good for college.</p>
<p>uh huh
I thought colleges wanted you to like extra curriculars??<br>
Eh I would perfer not to waste time doing things I don't like, especially if it is up to me to choose what that thing is.</p>
<p>That's what counselors want you to think. They want you to go participate in as many extra curriculars as you can. </p>
<p>Here's the scoop:</p>
<p>If you want to go to a top 20 school like Northwestern, Duke, Stanford, Ivy League Schools, etc.. you probably want to be involved in extra curriculars. </p>
<p>If you are content with going to a good state/public university, they don't look at extra curriculars as much and aren't really concerned with that. </p>
<p>You'll figure out in time where you would rather go, but it takes time. You can't figure out where you want to go when you're 14, it's just too hard. </p>
<p>If you have a curiosity with doing certain clubs or community service programs, go do it, but don't do it because it'll make your college application look better.</p>
<p>That's ok, I thought I could go to Harvard too</p>
<p>get good grades, get good test scores, but most of all, get involved with something you really have a passion for (be it inside or outside of school). if it's something like art or music, practice really hard and maybe submit stuff to competitions -- I'm nearing the end of my junior year in highschool and I really regret not submitting any of my artwork to the Scholastic and other competitions. If it's science or math or anything like that, I know there are a ton of programs (a lot of them state funded, like Virginia has governor's school, and I think other states have equivalents) that you can go to over the summer. If you're into a foreign language, see about state programs or even foreign exchange things over the summer. </p>
<p>also, like you, I wanted to go to the Ivies in the 8th grade -- specifically Columbia. I still want to go to the Ivies but I've completely changed where -- Brown instead of Columbia, whose open-curriculum is extremely different from Columbia's curriculum. Just keep in mind that during hs your interests are gonna change and what you want in a college will change along with it; also remember to research what colleges are like. The best thing about CC is going to the college boards and asking around what the atmosphere at the college is like.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars are critical, especially if you want to attend an Ivy. The truth is, everyone that applies to these schools have amazing academic transcripts, extracurriculars are what set you apart. I'm going to Princeton next fall, and I honestly didn't have the "Princeton" grades. It had to be my extracurriculars that set me apart.</p>
<p>I never said I wanted to go to Harvard. I definitely don't want to go to Princeton. That I know almost for sure, but then I'm too young to know for sure.</p>
<p>Read this board, especially the threads in the schools you are interested in.</p>
<p>what do you need to get into the ivy league?</p>
<p>-Luck</p>
<p>i don't exactly know the person who went to Harvard, but I know the person who almost got in...
my cousin got 2390 New SAT score (800cr, 800w, 790m) with cumulative GPA of 4.4. He applied to Harvard, but was rejected. The reason was the lack of extracurricular activities...</p>
<p>My neighbor applied and was accepted at 4 Ivy League schools (including Harvard). He is exceptional, with near perfect SATs, high GPA, very tough courses (All APs in jr/sr years). His ECs included state music recogntion, numerous science awards and volunteer leadership. He is a committed student - always working hard and reading and he LOVES it (doesn't just do it for the grades). I think this came through in the applications - and led to his success.</p>
<p>I highly disagree with all those who say your too young to be planning. I applaud your efforts, and I hope you continue to be determined. Aiming for Ivy leagues is great, I mean, if you can aim for them and get stats good enough for them, then you could be accepted almost anywhere else, should you decided that Ivy League might not be for you.</p>
<p>So aim high, and don't listen to anyone who tells you to "just relax." I will tell you one thing, don't obsess. Its one thing to be determined and persistent, but don't spend every night and day thinking about this, or else you won't accomplish anything. </p>
<p>Follow Marian's post, I wish I read it before I got into my freshmen year. Follow your interests. There's nothing wrong with thinking about your future, if your interested in being a doctor, then pursue topics in biology. However, that said, don't close out other topics either. Be open-minded, and accept the fact that you may find another subject thats more interested. Don't be close minded.</p>
<p>Anyways, finally, make a plan, do your research, find some schools and keep your eyes open. If you can make a plan, and follow it, then your set. High school is all a game, nothing more, nothing less - you just have to be a good player.</p>
<p>getting into an ivy league school is very simple. All you have to do is:</p>
<p>1) Find the cure for cancer</p>
<p>and/or</p>
<p>2) Solve the famine problem in Africa</p>
<p>hope that helps =p</p>
<p>Personally, and this is coming from some recent experiences. You don't need the 2400 or the 4.0 GPA just to get into the Ivy, when you're going for success at competitive colleges, they want to see well-rounded kids who are willing to take risks. Personally, I'm heavily involved in four clubs, work 15/20 hrs/wk, 3/200, 2000 SAT's, 3.78 UW, 4.545 W and from this I got into 5 Ivies and MIT, and I didn't even begin to think about applying to college until about last September when it hit me that I was a senior. So seriously, I admire the fact that you already have vision on what you want to do, but I say backdoor your plan and let life takes it way. I'm sure you'll end up where you should and want to be. So good luck in these next few years and live life to the fullest.</p>
<p>Cure for cancer-gotcha, thanks!
Gosh, why can't all of you be as helpful as wannabeazn, he obviously knows his stuff.</p>
<p>haha...thanks! I'm glad someone has recognized my immense amount of knowledge ;)</p>
<p>You aren't too young.</p>
<p>I didn't really think about the competitiveness of college until I got my PSAT scores back (which I bombed). Until then, I just got straight a's, took the most challenging courses, and did ec's that I enjoyed (that didn't change later). Looking back, I would've done a few more things, not just because of college, but because I was interested in them and the college thing would have made me do them.</p>
<p>Luck plays a role. No matter what people say, the mood of an adcom can change everything or what not.</p>
<p>People get into the Ivies for a wide array of things. The most important thing is you have to have your niche. Whether it's sports or a passion for aviation. There is no set formula. You can get in pretty much purely for academics, but you really have to be a genius, and even that is no guarantee.</p>
<p>I applied to two ivies (Penn-Wharton and Dartmouth) and was rejected. I was eventually accepted off the waitlist at Duke, where I'll be attending. Lately, I just feel fortunate to be going to Duke. Everyone has something they are really passionate about, not just good scores and grades. I thought I had these passions, but in the end I can understand why I was rejected from Dartmouth, Penn, and Stanford. Grades and scores don't really cut it anymore. It's the intangibles that some people have and some people don't. I think that's part of the luck factor.</p>
<p>For school: challenge yourself, get good grades, and get good test scores. That at least gives you a chance, but it isn't the deciding factor.</p>
<p>Finding the cure for cancer will get you in anywhere in the world!</p>
<p>"You aren't too young."
I'm NOT too young!<br>
Gcards is my new favorite person.<br>
And for those who still think I should stay young and have fun : I'm going to an amusement park with my friends (forget that my school's making me) and I will have fun. AMUSE is in the name of the place, is it not? I really hope I don't have to get on a ride though...or touch water...oh gawed...</p>