Brycet73

i love the advice, really true to heart haha. Canadian wilderness?...i never thought i would see it. But i am very good at lacrosse and football and was wondering if that could be also a means of getting into the college. Thanks

mike3yo

Ivy's have a reputation of being arbitrary, especially harvard. Your academic performance serves as a block of ice - so to say - and your motivation reflected in " digging up your true identity" serves as your intricate carvings on that block of ice. On top of that, the admissions officers are extremely good at noticing the fake smiles, hence you have to first establish a set of EA's that you enjoy( it wouldn't hurt if you were good at them).
As an example, I have a passion in hiphop: publishing my own songs, creating a club in school dedicated to this, and break dancing.
Now technically speaking, you need a 2200~2400 SAT I
3 or four SAT II subject tests 750+
GPA of 3.6(min) +
a good selection of AP courses with a 5 on the exam( harvard does not count Ap's if you get below a 5 on the ap exam)
EAs:depending on your major, interests .. as an example, SC council, math league, State chorus, school newspaper, volunteer, MUN, Boy Scouts, etc,

But the things that really count are the things that you like.
If you show an honest determination to reach your goal and to further dwelve into your interests, that will be a big +

Summer Ivy college programs, oversees volunteer UNICEF, any tournaments won may add the frostings.

Hope that gives you a basic idea..
OF course, by the time you graduate I don't know if Ap's will count as much as they do now as well as many other factors..

Brycet73

im seeing a good picture of what admissions merely "view" during the application. now it's even getting harder to be accepted with the outrageous number of applicants due to the new student aid funds. I greatly appreciate that some people actually took the time to write some well needed information. thanks again

piccolojunior

Depends, really. If you want to become an academic superstar, I have a suggested plan of action. If you want to be what most people call "normal and three-dimensional" (not that superstars aren't multi-faceted), there is a plan of action for that too. PM me depending on what you want.

StevenJPenny

From what I have seen, you need competitive scores and such, but what really gets you in is something that you do that is "sweet." Follow your interests and be a leader/think outside the box.

Also, college summer programs help.

Narcissa

puddly's list is not too far off btw.

ur lucky...wish i'd known about this as a prehighschooler.

check this out if u like math and would like to be really good at it: artofproblemsolving.com

pshan730

dude.. you're not even in high school. but here's what you need to do.

1) come back in two to three years
2) eat some ice cream, play outside, enjoy being young and stress-free
3) stop worrying. if you're this motivated already i'm sure you'll do fine, but don't ask what you "need" to do - it's up to you. find your interests, excel in them, and show the admissions people your heart.
4) don't start collecting a laundry list!
5) be a kid. you're not an overstressed junior (yet) -- enjoy it while you can.

compmom

I think you might want to talk to a therapist or counselor. If you spend 4 years of high school trying to be something you are not, just to get into Harvard, it will be very sad. Harvard does not accept people because of stats, or lists, anyway. And it may not be the best school for you (our daughter is still trying to decide whether to accept).

You can't find out what you are passionate about when none of your motivation is inner or genuine, but is just geared to the external, artificial goal of getting in schools. Try to explore who you are and what you like in high school, and the right things will happen at the end. Relax, have fun, let it all go for a couple of years.

ped-neurologist

Super warning kid from a Harvard pre-frosh: Don't look for what you "need" to do to get in. Harvard's a good school, one of many across the nation. K?


1) challenge yourself to do ***your best**** on whatever you try.
2) work passionately: find meaning in what you pursue.
3) start writing in a journal, at least once a week. (Not because you plan to take AP Lit, but because you'll learn so much about yourself.)
4) don't compete with others--it'll just make you sick.
5) HAVE FUN!

Look, life isn't worth living for admissions.

hockeychic15

Honestly, I think it's great that you're starting to think about this now! I agree with the others though, don't stress yourself out. My biggest piece of advice is to get involved with something, take a leadership position in it, and stick with it. Sure, you could join a ton of clubs and say that you're VP or President of them (when in reality, you do nothing). But if you distinguish yourself in one, and then make a difference in your community, you will stick out and you'll have a great topic for one of your college essays or short answers. This goes for getting into any school, not just Harvard.

The rest is obvious: get good grades, take the hardest classes you can (without killing yourself), do well on the SATs, get involved in your community...etc. Two of my friends who were competing with me for valedictorian (they're now #2 and #3) thought that their academics alone would allow them to get into the Ivies. One applied to 4 Ivies and was rejected from all 4, and the other applied to 3 and was rejected from all 3. Both are very good students, but weren't able to distinguish themselves in the applicant pools at the Ivies.

Also, and this is thinking ahead a little, think carefully about your college essays and **choose teachers to write recommendations you know you well and who are GOOD WRITERS** A teacher that can write an interesting and persuasive letter is going to help you get in.

For me, the college application process allowed me to get to know myself better. I actually enjoyed crafting my applications for each school. I ended up getting into Harvard (where I'm going), Princeton, Brown, Tufts, Georgetown, BU, Bentley, Fordham, and UMASS-Amherst. I got waitlisted at Columbia and George Washington University. It's a crapshoot, but the earlier you start thinking about it (not obsessing...there's a difference) the more options you'll have. Good luck!!!