@JoJoLi to help get us back to your original post, here are some steps -
-
It is great you have academic goals and intellectual curiosity, keep exploring your interests in the coming years. Volunteer and find research opportunities to test out your career interests, if possible. Ask those professionals where they went to college or where they think the best research is currently being done in the field, it may be NC State and not any of the Ivies, or it may be a small private school with a well funded program that they know about, but that did not come up in your searches. Document all of those experiences for your applications. They will help you with the “why” that college essays.
-
Find balance these next two years, you do not need 21 APs to get into top tier colleges. Enjoy high school and make time for outside interests and passions.
-
Do not get caught up in the hustle of applying to all Ivies and their stats equivalent peers as that rarely works out well - mass applications can equal mass rejections or worse, you end up at a “luxury brand” college that was not a good fit for you.
-
Genuinely take time to look for where you may fit well and where there are opportunities for you to thrive. Research which Ivy or other top tier college has programs or opportunities unique to your interests. Then spend more time finding matches and safeties with similar, if not better, programs. Some state flagships have very well funded research programs and facilities that may offer you more access.
-
What do you want your day to day college experience to look like? Urban or rural? Large city or moderate city with most buildings less than 4 or 5 stories? Where are the dorms and where do students live junior and senior year? What classes do first years have access to? When you go on yours ask a lot of questions while on campus.