The Revolution

I'm a freshman and have goals of oxford, harvard yale, and other top schools.

First quarter:
Gpa: 3.7(will improve)
class rank: about 20/200
Courses: English honors, 10th Math Honors, 10th Science Honors, History honors, fine arts, french 1, religion 9.
priciples list(all grades above 90, average 95+)

i do volunteer work at hospital and at tutor time, do tae kwon do and compete in competitions, in a travel soccer team.

i know this doesn't show much passion. these are the kinds of things i'm pasionate about:
medicine, doctors ect.
business
soccer
Volunteer work?
compuer/other science

what can i do to show passion in these areas and how am i doing?

201-pb

Im sorry to say this because I did the same thing you are doing (and i got this same answer)... but you are a freshman! enjoy high school for now. This year honestly doesnt matter very much at all. If you want to do well you will do well, but at the moment there is nothing to base any chances right now. You could develop a horrible drinking/drug problem and things can change. You can take the hardest courses available, study hard, have fun and do what you enjoy.

But yea I would say you are doing fine however its very hard to get into any of the good schools these days. (By the way, most colleges dont count freshman year GPA just to let ya know)

The Revolution

bump bump bump

The Revolution

i thought they did count it, i want to get involved in things i enjoy this year but how can i show passion? read first post.

poi

There are some colleges that do not count freshman year, but most of them do.

The Revolution

bump bump answer the first post

The Revolution

bump bump can i get some kind of response other than dont worry please?

skp

I was exactly like you freshman year. I wanted to go to Harvard, but I blew it with poor ECs. If you really want to attend top universities, my advice is find an EC you're passionate about, and try to gain leadership positions and awards, and take as many honors and AP courses as your school offers.

The Revolution

do you know any specific programs in the fields mentioned in the first post where i can get leadership positions ect.

.:Indian:.

Hey, I was exactly in your shoes when I was a freshman....

If you're really, really interested in these schools, here's my advice - print/download their applications - READ through them. See what they ask for - then pick an EC that you feel passionate about and DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

If you're into research - start thinking soon about projects like Intel Science and Engineering Fair, Siemens International, etc.
If it's medicine you're into - intern at a hospital/clinic/whatever you're interested in. Find out NOW. Don't wait. Many people, starting from sophomore year, begin to look through these activities - start earlier than them and look for some of these volunteering opportunities now/soon.

Starting your own business is also looked favorably upon - ONLY if you have a good/legitimate idea that can actually go somewhere.

Show leadership in something like soccer, if you're really into it - make varsity, be team captain, whatever.

Colleges don't like a "laundry list" of EC's - what they want is PASSION. They want to be able to read your essays/application and come away with someone that can make a difference on their campus. Honestly, Harvard gets so many applications from people with perfect GPA's and SAT's - do they take them all? Absolutely not! They choose people that are interesting, people that can be a unique part of their campus.

If you're passionate about something, show that you're passionate about it - the college applications/admissions process is not a time for modesty; it's a time for you to confidently (not arrogantly) portray WHO you are as an individual to the person reading your file.

ABOVE ALL: Enjoy life. Really. I'm not joking around here. I hear so many of my friends (I'm a senior) reminiscing about freshman year...Do you really want to mess up one of the best years of High school worrying so frantically about college? Just do what you're passionate about - college admissions will come.

And, worst case scenario, you don't get in. So what? This year (class of '12) will seem like a cakewalk when compared to the class of '16 (that's your year) - there will be even more people competing for almost the same number of spots. Just remember that if you're motivated and passionate, you can succeed anywhere.

Good luck. See you back on these forums in a couple of years

The Revolution

thanks

The Revolution

Do you think that people in their neighborhood would pay me to mow their lawn? i plan to price the job as far above he price of fuel as i decide but i am going to charge less than the mexicans hopefully people will start getting me to do it for less money. Do you think people will 1 not pay me a decent amount because of my age and 2 let me work at all because i am not as professional.

i dont want to go into the mowing business espcecially when i'm older but i want to perhaps put it on my app that i ran my own lawnmoving business, what do you think?

The Revolution

Bump Bump Bump Bump

The Revolution

Bumpity Bump Bump, Bumpity Bumpity Bump

greentopaz24

so i'm sorry to be repetitive but you're a freshman! you definitely haven't taken any sats yet. you just started high school and your gpa, your extra curriculars and especially your college list will change at least 20 times before you finally apply to college.

although its good that you're getting an early start, most people only truly finalize their college list the summer before their senior year.

you're supposed to enjoy high school- don't just worry about what will appeal to college adcoms.

i suggest that if you want to know your chances at the colleges you listed- come back as a junior and then you'll have a more defined idea as well as some test scores to base predictions on.

good luck!