I basically did NOTHING last year. I only took AP Calc AB and AP Chem. But that’s it. NO extracurriculars at all. Never took any standardized tests. I don’t know what I was thinking last year. Gladly, I went to Johns Hopkins for the Engineering Innovation program this summer and I’d like to share some of my thoughts if anyone wants to hear about it.
My schedule for this year would be something like:
AP Calc BC
AP Physics C Mechanics
AP Music Theory
*AP Computer Science A (self-study)
*MVC (self-study)
Honors Choir
French 2
English 3
US History
And I also need to prepare for my upcoming ACT test in Oct.
I really wanted to do some hands-on research or do my individual science projects since I’m not eligible for US Science/Math Olympiads. I did some research on that and it turned out that there’s basically NO opportunity for HS research internship during the school year. And it’s really hard to initiate a project idea that is creative and high-level.
Time management has been an issue for me also. Can someone PLS give me some advice? I would really appreciate that!!!
if you have a solid GPA and decent test scores, there are tons of colleges who would love to have you (and your tuition) if you don’t add a single EC to your schedule between now and the time you graduate.
@T26E4
Thx. Btw I had a GPA 4.00 (UW) / 4.31 (W) last year but haven’t taken any test yet.
But I know that many top universities would value students who have prior research experience (that have been into ISEF or something like that) or have been in the top places in science/math olympiads. Since I’m not a US citizen, I wouldn’t be eligible to apply those except for the regional contests.
Colleges will consider you in the context of your school and environment.
Top universities do value research but research is definitely not a necessity for top schools.
You’ll get into plenty of schools. You have absolutely no reason to worry.
There’s no advice we can give other than do what you like (and what you can with the opportunities available)There is no EC that will single handedly get you into a top school.
Are you a permanent resident, though? Well, you may not get into Harvard or MIT, but you could possibly get into schools like Tufts and the University of Miami?
@International95
No, I’m not. I’m just an int’l student studying in the US. So I wouldn’t be eligible for many things that are only open to US citizens or green-card holders.
Tbh, MIT is my dream school. But I assume I would not make the list. lol
I just show universities the best side of myself. So I initiated the idea of doing some sort of research/project, but I’ve got no idea where to start.
Also, I pretty much self-studies AP Chemistry last yr since my teacher isn’t that good. That’s probably why I spent so much time studying.
I don’t wanna be an average and I just wanna “reach out” and do something more meaningful rather than just piling up a bunch of APs - cuz that’s just normal.
I do know that colleges want to see who I really am and what I’m really passionate about.
But if I’m not given a wide range of opportunities, and I couldn’t reach some of the high-level ones, what should i do instead?
At this point, the only impressive thing you could do to get into MIT is probably win a big award. Unfortunately, because of your international status, even Tufts would be a reach. And if you are studying at a private or boarding school in the US, colleges like MIT would be reluctant to discount your lack of ECs because clearly you had access to opportunities – most college international students did not get to attend high school in the US, where the culture of EC exists.
That said, do you need financial aid to attend college?
