What makes a top student? Research help

Applying to College
1

<p>After every semester I ususally do a good bit of reflecting on my successes and failures. This time however, I think it might be interesting to see what exactly CC students are doing to get the top grades/scores and so on. </p>

<p>I'm looking for correlations between success in school and lifestyle habits. If you can answer any of these questions I think we all may benefit!</p>

<p>GPA:
ACT/SAT:</p>

<h1>of AP classes this year:</h1>

<p>year in HS:</p>

<ol>
<li>on average how much do you study per night?</li>
<li>how many hours did you spend preparing for your SAT/ACT?</li>
<li>how many hours do you sleep per night?</li>
<li>how important is caffiene in your life?</li>
<li>how many absenses do you have per year?</li>
<li>are you physically active? If yes, what sport and how many hours/week? Is your sport associated with your school?</li>
<li>are you involved in an academic club? (math team, science fair, debate, ect) </li>
<li>how would you describe your social group?</li>
<li>how many nights per week do you spend socializing in person? (parties, social club events)</li>
<li>how many hours per day do you spend socialing online? (gaming, facebook, IM ) </li>
<li>Do your friends influence your schoolwork?</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your academics?</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your social life?</li>
<li>What do you think has the greatest influence on your academics?</li>
<li>What could you have done in the past to be more successful?</li>
<li>What are you doing now that is helping you become successful?</li>
<li>What do you plan to do in the future to improve?</li>
<li>What resources do you need to be more successful?</li>
<li>What resources would you recommend to other students? (study aides, tutors, coffee, anything)</li>
</ol>

<p>This is a pretty basic list. Ideas on things to add will be greatly appreciated :)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I’d be glad to help since school’s over for me, and I have nothing to do. Here goes.</p>

<p>GPA: (Overall) UW: 4.0 W: 4.08 (Just Sophomore year) UW: 4.0 W: 4.167
ACT/SAT: taking ACT tomorrow, SAT in October (will be retaking them throughout Jr. year)</p>

<h1>of AP classes this year: Just AP Chemistry and Alg2 Honors, I regret not taking more APs</h1>

<p>year in HS: Going to be a Junior</p>

<ol>
<li>on average how much do you study per night? Maybe 3 hours, depends really.</li>
<li>how many hours did you spend preparing for your SAT/ACT? ACT: probably logged 15 hrs or so, did a lot of practice and I hope it pays off!</li>
<li>how many hours do you sleep per night? 6-8 hrs lol, depends on workload.</li>
<li>how important is caffiene in your life? insignificant</li>
<li>how many absenses do you have per year? Usually 1 or none</li>
<li>are you physically active? If yes, what sport and how many hours/week? Is your sport associated with your school? I’m not on the team or anything, but I play sports with friends almost every weekend unless whether prohibits so. I also workout here and there.</li>
<li>are you involved in an academic club? (math team, science fair, debate, ect) I am not involved in any academic clubs, and do not plan to do so since I wouldn’t like to spend my free time studying :P</li>
<li>how would you describe your social group? Very well off.</li>
<li>how many nights per week do you spend socializing in person? (parties, social club events) I honestly don’t go out that much. Not that I’m antisocial or anything, but I prefer small things like dinner with friends once in a while.</li>
<li>how many hours per day do you spend socialing online? (gaming, facebook, IM ) 1-2, depends on workload.</li>
<li>Do your friends influence your schoolwork? Yes. It’s not that we compete against each other. It’s more like we push each other to try harder.</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your academics? Decently involved, but not like those strict asian parents, haha. They don’t want me to stress out too much about academics and would like me to enjoy my years in HS. I take advanced courses for myself, no pressure necessary.</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your social life? Not much, haha. They trust my decisions and the friends I make.</li>
<li>What do you think has the greatest influence on your academics? My dreams and goals for my future are what keep me studying hard in academics!</li>
<li>What could you have done in the past to be more successful? As of the end of sophomore year, I could have taken more advanced classes, lol. Also, I would have liked to get more positions in various clubs. I tried and ran for positions, I just didn’t get them.</li>
<li>What are you doing now that is helping you become successful? I’m taking summer school classes to accelerate in math (going to take AP Calculus AB instead of Precalc/calc A next year) and taking SAT classes.</li>
<li>What do you plan to do in the future to improve? As of now, I believe I had very decent work ethic. The only thing I could really work on improving is more involvement in extracurriculars.<br></li>
<li>What resources do you need to be more successful? Club positions, review books, you know, those kind of supplements.</li>
<li>What resources would you recommend to other students? (study aides, tutors, coffee, anything) For AP tests and SAT Subject tests, I’d recommend review books, instead of trying to wing the test. As for tutors, I wouldn’t recommend them, although my opinion isn’t justified since I’ve never had a tutor. My philosophy on tutors is that students will eventually become too dependent on the tutor’s help, and will be unable to help themselves wihtout one. I don’t drink coffee, either.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>One thing that wasn’t asked: I think what really gets most people into persevering in schooling is the desire to achieve their dreams. They have to realize that what they do is for themselves, for their own good, not because their parents force them too or anything like that. </p>

<p>there you go!</p>

3

<p>Interesting list. :)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW / School doesn’t have a weighted GPA
ACT/SAT: Haven’t taken it yet, but I got a 230 on my PSAT.</p>

<h1>of AP classes this year: School doesn’t have APs</h1>

<p>year in HS: Going into my second year :)</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>One to two hours.</p>

<p>

About 30 minutes a night since the beginning of Freshman year, and still going.

Seven :)</p>

<p>

I hate caffeine. XD</p>

<p>

My school is 1:1 so there isn’t really the notion of an “absence”…</p>

<p>

Yeah. Now all I do is go scootering across town for an hour because I had to quit Tae Kwon do for personal reasons.

Nope.</p>

<p>

My school just opened so it doesn’t have any; however, I’m in the process of setting up a school magazine.

Loveable bunch… there’s a lot of drama though.</p>

<p>

Well I hang out with people about two days a week [minus the weekends] but I don’t like to party, so… :confused:

Probably two. :)</p>

<p>

Nope.</p>

<p>

Not very involved at all.</p>

<p>

Same as above.</p>

<p>

My perfectionism and motivation to succeed.</p>

<p>

Not procrastinate. XD</p>

<p>

I’m putting effort into learning the material as opposed to just memorizing it. This helps me develop an interest in the material which boosts your score overall.</p>

<p>

Go beyond just the classwork.</p>

<p>

An awesome library. :)</p>

<p>

Everything has to do with the environment you’re in. If you’re distracted at home, go to a library. If the library doesn’t work, try a coffee shop (after you get some coffee first!).</p>

4

<p>GPA: 4.00
ACT/SAT: 33/2260 (superscore) 2200 (one sitting)</p>

<h1>of AP classes this year: Jr. Year: AP USH, AP English Lang, AP World (self study), Accel: (Math Analysis, Physics, Spanish 4)</h1>

<h1>of AP classes next year: Sr. Year: AP (Government, Physics, Calc BC, English Lit, Micro/Macro Econ)</h1>

<p>year in HS: Rising Senior (I LOVE saying that!!)</p>

<ol>
<li>on average how much do you study per night? 1</li>
<li>how many hours did you spend preparing for your SAT/ACT? 2/week for a few months</li>
<li>how many hours do you sleep per night? 4-5 hrs</li>
<li>how important is caffiene in your life? it doesn’t help me much</li>
<li>how many absenses do you have per year? usually none, only for overnight field trips</li>
<li>are you physically active? If yes, what sport and how many hours/week? Is your sport associated with your school? i work out, but don’t play a particular sport in a league. Summer unofficial softball league, running with friends, basketball with friends</li>
<li>are you involved in an academic club? (math team, science fair, debate, ect) DECA, Model UN, Student Council, Newspaper</li>
<li>how would you describe your social group? Really motivated kids who are basically going to be running the school next year</li>
<li>how many nights per week do you spend socializing in person? (parties, social club events) Usually never on weekdays. All of friday night, most of saturdays</li>
<li>how many hours per day do you spend socialing online? (gaming, facebook, IM ) 2 hrs/day =[</li>
<li>Do your friends influence your schoolwork? Yes, especially for physics</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your academics? They trust me to handle it myself</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your social life? They trust me to make decisions</li>
<li>What do you think has the greatest influence on your academics? Personal drive, my sister’s advice, desire to succeed, competitive spirit.</li>
<li>What could you have done in the past to be more successful? More ECs</li>
<li>What are you doing now that is helping you become successful? Don’t procrastinate, put effort in everything.</li>
<li>What do you plan to do in the future to improve? Develop more nonacademic skills (like I’m learning guitar this summer) </li>
<li>What resources do you need to be more successful? Continued sequence of awesome teachers, good friends, motivation</li>
<li>What resources would you recommend to other students? (study aides, tutors, coffee, anything) Find your own study program. I find most stuff doesn’t work at all for me, while other stuff works great. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and go from there.</li>
</ol>

5

<p>I’m actually a rising sophomore in college, but I’m out of school for the summer so I’ll throw my info in.</p>

<p>All this info will be for high school (senior year specifically).</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9/4.3
ACT/SAT: 2270</p>

<h1>of AP classes this year:5</h1>

<ol>
<li>on average how much do you study per night? 2</li>
<li>how many hours did you spend preparing for your SAT/ACT? 5 total</li>
<li>how many hours do you sleep per night? 6 to 7</li>
<li>how important is caffiene in your life? none</li>
<li>how many absenses do you have per year? 10-15? </li>
<li>are you physically active? If yes, what sport and how many hours/week? Is your sport associated with your school? yes, fencing 4-6 hrs/wk, not associated with school</li>
<li>are you involved in an academic club? (math team, science fair, debate, ect) It’s Academic & Science Bowl</li>
<li>how would you describe your social group? a nerdy bunch of drinkers and druggies, some of whom are at the top of the class</li>
<li>how many nights per week do you spend socializing in person? (parties, social club events) 2-3</li>
<li>how many hours per day do you spend socialing online? (gaming, facebook, IM ) 2-3</li>
<li>Do your friends influence your schoolwork? not really</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your academics? not really involved</li>
<li>How involved are your parents in your social life? not involved at all</li>
<li>What do you think has the greatest influence on your academics? my family background is very academically focused</li>
<li>What could you have done in the past to be more successful? studied a bit more, played fewer videogames- but it all worked out in the end</li>
<li>What are you doing now that is helping you become successful? studying more for final exams</li>
<li>What do you plan to do in the future to improve? (in college) I could manage my time better</li>
<li>What resources do you need to be more successful? no idea</li>
<li>What resources would you recommend to other students? (study aides, tutors, coffee, anything) no comment, didn’t really use any</li>
</ol>