<p>Hi I'm an eight grader going into 9th next year (2014-2015) and I was wondering what academic classes and extra circular classes/activities I need to take to have the highest possible chance of getting into Yale or any other Ivy League school.</p>
<p>I know the earlier you start preparing for college, especially Yale, the better chance you have of getting in if you know what you have to do. </p>
<p>Right now I'm taking Spanish 3/4 (Year 2), Seminar English, Seminar History, Geometry, and Advance Science (it's just regular eighth grade science and science fair in one class). I got a 4.0 first semester and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a 4.0 at the end of this second semester too. </p>
<p>Next year (9th Grade) I'm taking Algebra II, Seminar English, Physics, Spanish 5/6 (Year 3), and AP Human Geo which is the only AP class I'm eligible to take this year. </p>
<p>I don't do any sports but I'll probable try out for JV volleyball or Freshman volleyball and the only thing I do outside of school is Girl Scouts which I've been doing since I was 5 and everything that comes along with it. </p>
<p>I'm an African American female with a single mom but I'm actually in a middle class/upper middle class household.</p>
<p>Back to my original question, is there anything I can do to improve my chance of getting into Yale?</p>
<p>Middle school courses/grades do not matter. Don’t obsess so much over them - let yourself relax for the rest of this year. And in general, just don’t stress out so much over getting into one school! By the time application time comes around, you may change your mind. Stay open to different ideas, classes, and colleges. It’s great that you have an idea of where you want to go, but I always get worried when I see young kids deciding on a school so early! Save yourself from the stress and worry about what specific schools you’ll apply to for late junior year and senior year.
You don’t really have to worry about it this year, but over the course of the rest of your high school career add a few more activities that you are really passionate about. Community service is good. Try some arts activities if that if what you like. Don’t do extracurrics just to put it on your resume; make sure you actually enjoy what you are doing. And be smart about the classes you take - you want to challenge yourself, but you also want don’t want to make yourself crazy. Take classes about subject matter that you’re interested in.
Just be the best YOU that you can be. Really. That’s all any college can ever ask for.
(I am a African-American female who has been accepted to Yale. You can contact me if you have more questions.)</p>
<p>@PurpleScholar thank you I appreciate this response so much. I’ve been really stressing out lately about mu grades this year and I do intend to join more extracurricular activities that I’m interested in by the time high school comes around. I do have one question though; about what type of grades do I need to get in high school to get into any Ivy League school? Thank you again for your response! </p>
<p>@T26E4 Well, what I gathered from reading that article was excellent grades are a dime a dozen and what’s really important is doing something you’re passionate about but do you really stand a chance if you don’t have the grades to match everybody and you’re not super passionate about some super unique activity.</p>
<p>@T26E4 great, thanks and how much of a role would you say does my eighth grade year play in my admission to a prestigious college like this one?</p>
<p>The only activities that matter prior to high school are those related to becoming one of the best in the country, or the world, at some specific activity. Let’s say you are one of the best trumpet players in the world by the age of 16. That wouldn’t or couldn’t happen without many years of commitment prior to high school. That would matter. Or maybe you became an Olympic female gymnast at 16. The level of sustained effort and excellence that would entail from a young age would interest an admissions committee. Otherwise, stop worrying about middle school and get outstanding grades in high school, take the most difficult courses offered at your high school, find a couple of EC’s that you are serious about and pursue them to excellence over an extended period of time - meaning years. Realize that no matter what you do, you may be rejected by your favorite school. There are many outstanding schools in this country - keep an open mind.</p>
<p>@akiddoc I know I should keep an open mind but if you have going to a certain school on your record, it looks better but I think NYU is a better school for me personally. I’m still young and have a bit of time to think about that but thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>@bweebler: been there done that. Accepted at multiple Ivies – graduated from the school you’re inquiring about. Worked in many fields. Among my peers, employees and superiors were many people from many backgrounds. Worked alongside ppl who barely had HS degrees when I worked in the NFP sector. NOthing wrong w/trying to go to an excellent school and I had a life-changing time – but don’t idealize it more than you should.</p>
<p>Hi there one thing I would suggest RIGHT NOW depending on your high school is make sure you are taking the base courses that will permit you take the high level courses in the senior years. For example at my son’s school he had to kill all the grade 8 9 10 etc. just to be allowed to take advanced courses (not regular) in the same subjects in the higher grades then the APs. You can’t coast then take on a hugely difficult course load in the higher grades unless you have the base or are prepared to work like a fiend and talk the teacher into believing you can do it or are a genius of some sort ala Dick Feynmann or Einstein or something. Of course this all depends on the high school. And keep an open mind about your path in terms of sciences versus arts.i.e. don’t close off math or sciences early - you will be hugely restricting yourself. good luck!</p>
<p>@T26E4 thank you and the statistics that came from the link really surprised me. I know it’s early on but I’m pretty sure I want to work in the psychology field. NYU is definitely a school I’m looking at and if I picked that school over Yale vice versa, could I switch if I’m not really interested in what they’re providing? </p>
<p>@bweebler You probably need grades that are mostly A’s, with some B’s. Some of these grades should come from honors or AP level courses (but don’t stress if you struggle a little with APs. A B in AP is better than an A in a regular level course). However, there are certainly people accepted who don’t fit this criteria. Such applicants are very strong in other areas, like maybe sports or music. Or maybe they are doing their own research. Again, I wouldn’t stress about it too much - you seem really smart and dedicated.</p>