<p>I’m a rising sophomore and I really want to get into Princeton. (My dream school…) I have excellent grades from the 9th grade and I plan on taking many extra curricular activities and do some community service in the 10th grade. I think my teachers think highly of me and we have good relations so I think they will write good letters for me. I get 1700-1800 on SAT practice tests without prep and barely any studying. My question is if having no awards or honors will hurt my chances. If they do, can doing well in mathematical competitions, such as USAMO, or writing contests help boost my chances? Also, provide me some ideas on how to get awards or honors that Ivy will be interested in looking at. My school doesn’t really give any awards. :P</p>
<p>Top colleges like Princeton say they can look over students they turned down and fill their class with kids just as good as the ones they accepted. They are simply deluged with top kids, many more than they can take. The top schools look for accomplishment as part of strong ECs. Applying without any ECs other than “member of this” or “participant in that” will make your chances almost zero. </p>
<p>Questions about ECs come up regularly; see what a Ivy alumni interviewer says at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html</a></p>
<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [How</a> Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]How”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) I don’t agree with all that’s in them, but take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some ideas.</p>
<p>Even though you didn’t really answer my question, those articles you posted were really helpful in clearing up a lot of questions about extra curricular activities. Thanks a lot :)</p>
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<p>yes it would, if you are the finalist(like 10) on a state or national level.</p>
<p>But EC’s are good only if you are on the boarderline, like being on the waitlist and you have some thing “extra” to report that is not on the original apps.</p>
<p>I do think that awards are helpful. Often, high schools are not that helpful in informing students of contests they might enter. But thanks to the magic of the Internet, there is lots of information available about all sorts of awards, contests, etc. in all sorts of subjects–writing, art, math, public speaking, essays, etc. In my opinion, if you’re interested in active in some area, why not enter some competitions?</p>
<p>There are a lot of awards out there that you’ll get. Taking rigorous courses might earn you an AP Scholar award down the road, competing in varsity sports at your school might earn you a regional or state title, and perhaps doing well on the PSAT might earn you a National Merit award of some sort. </p>
<p>Those awards present themselves to you. You just have to meet the qualifications.</p>
<p>There are certainly other awards that you have to go looking for. Applying and winning big scholarships or national competitions are also of great merit as well.</p>