<p>I’m a sophomore from Southern California, and I just wanted to know of my chances of getting into colleges such as Stanford, Cornell, BU, NYU, etc. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA for freshman year and I am REALLY HOPING (fingers crossed) that I can keep it. I attend a very academically competitive and rigorous high school, and it’s not as easy to maintain a 4.0, but I am an ambitious student and I believe I can keep my good grades up. I took the PSAT this year and got a 204, which I’m not particularly proud of but I have come to realize it’s due to my CR score, and I’m pretty confident in my ability to score a 2200-2300 by my junior year. I took AP Chinese in my freshman year and I plan on taking AP Human Geography and AP Psychology this year. Next year, I plan on taking AP Chem, APUSH, AP English Language, and maybe AP French. I know for certain I will be participating in Marching/Symphonic band for all 4 years of high school. I’m involved in a certain stereotypical and conventional high school activities (class activity planning, school dance logistics/planning, etc.) Nothing too special. </p>
<p>What I’m worried about now is my extracurricular activities…Like almost every other Asian kid I have taken the Certificate of Merit piano test and I have passed the Advanced Level. </p>
<p>Starting in freshman year, I began interning at a local adult school. The principal gave me a desk and computer to work at in the office and I have been a marketing intern there since freshman year. I come once a week. Last year, my job was to take on this project called “Changing Lives”, where I became the editor of a book of 70 or so adult school student essay entries. 100 books were printed and distributed throughout the district and I was able to present my book to the school district, and I wrote cover letters to various CA governors and government officials. The principal allowed me to become the face of this project, and I did make various presentations about it. I was interviewed by two Asian newspapers, regarding the project I was working on and representing. At the time, I was interested in marketing and business, as well as hotel administration, and I thought this internship was a great opportunity to experience these fields (somewhat) firsthand, and at the same time benefit the community. </p>
<p>This year, I am continuing this internship and I’m continuing to write press releases/superintendent messages like I did last year. My progress beginning this year seemed somewhat stagnant. As a marketing intern, I decided to initiate a new project: an adult school newsletter. I was able to discuss and share my ideas with the marketing team at the school and we decided it was a great way to promote new classes and use of the school website. Starting in November, I have started interviewing students each month so they can be featured in the “Student Spotlight”, and I add additional information such as new classes, monthly happenings, job/career opportunities from the job center, an online survey, etc. To bring in more feedback from students, I also started an email for the purpose of the newsletter. This project is only a couple of months in but I plan perfecting it :)…</p>
<p>Last summer (going into sophomore year), I went to Shanghai for a month to intern at two different offices- one was a fashion/luxury PR firm and the other was LA Tourism. The first internship at the PR firm honestly didn’t do much for me. However, it did open up my connections to two ambitious and kind young ladies that I have been keeping in contact with through the use of Chinese social media ever since. I’ve always been told that connections are extremely important. I guess this internship “cultured” me in a way, as I was exposed to luxury items I wouldn’t be able to see on a daily basis, and I got to speak to some extremely well traveled and knowledgeable people that basically inspired me to want to study in Shanghai in the future. I’m extremely thankful for these people. </p>
<p>My second internship was much more hands-on; I was able to put my proficient Chinese skills to work and I brought insight on LA to native Chinese who have never even been to the USA. I was able to write posts for Los Angeles Tourism’s Weibo (Chinese social media) account. It was really cool- my supervisor created a hashtag just for me and my posts. I did quite a bit of translating and editing English articles, and I did just average office work too (organizing business cards…etc.) Because I am a native English speaker, the LA Tourism office in Beijing contacted me too, for help researching. I was able to get to know LA Tourism and Convention Board staff in both Beijing and Shanghai, though I have only kept in contact with staff in Shanghai. I plan on continuing my internship with LA Tourism this summer, but it will obviously be at the offices in LA. </p>
<p>My main concern is, although I have amazing outside of school, I’m not involved in any school-wide organizations. My counselors always tell me that activities outside of school are better than those at school, but something in the back of my mind is telling me I need to be involved in a club or something. However, I don’t have an ardent passion for any clubs on campus and I’m not interested in starting my own.</p>
<p>In addition, I was interested in business/marketing/hotel administration but now I’m starting to see that optometry is another route for me. </p>
<p>Any opinions? THANKS! 
(thanks for sticking through such a long thread… :D)</p>