<p>Hello, I’m writing this thread to ask about a question many upcoming high schoolers might have and current undergraduates may have an answer to. I am curious as to what is the ideal track as to getting into an Ivy. I currently participate in the extracurriculars mock trial, brodcast team, debate, model UN, field hockey, crew, and school musical. Outside of school, I take cello and conversational French lessons (I currently take Spanish as a foreign language in school), as well as film and digital photography classes with a local artist. To give you an idea of my grades, I am co-valedictorian of a small class of only about 85-90 students, with a GPA of 3.96. In high school, I plan to continue with these extracurriculars and outside of school activities, except for the musical, which becomes far more time consuming and limiting. As far as classes, I was accepted into all of the highest level essential classes, as well as taking a top level optional biology lab, additional Spanish course, and a photography course. My problem is, I have the curse of the average-oversceduled-suburban-white-girl, with nothing setting me apart from any other applicants. I’m looking for opinions as to what classes/extracurriculars/outside of school activities that could make me more unique to an admissions advisor, before I begin high school. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Yeah, what you’re doing now will get you a decent chance at an Ivy, but not much more.</p>
<p>Choose something you’re really interested in to focus on and become actually amazing at it. Cut activities that prevent you from doing that. Colleges like well-lopsided kids, good at everything, but great/special at something else.</p>
<p>But if your school regularly sends kids to Ivies, then what you’re doing will probably be enough if you can learn how to write well.</p>
<p>What will set you apart from other applicants? If you stop caring about the social aspects of getting into an Ivy League college. That will help you immensely. You’re only in middle school, the fact that you’re already sniping for ivy leagues is insane. Enjoy all that high school has to offer, and good colleges will accept you. Become addicted with the hunt for an ivy league college, you will more than likely get rejected. Colleges can tell whether or not a student tried to emulate that “best track”, and aren’t fooled. If there was a “best high school track” to get into an ivy, everyone would go to an ivy league college.</p>
<p>^^Yes. In a nicer way, honestly getting into an Ivy doesn’t matter. Going to college matters. Getting a goodnights rest matters. Having fun in high school matters. In the grand scheme of things come to those who work for it doesn’t happen for the Ivy League. There are some kids who work their butts off and don’t get in. Just do what you care about, keep to the 4 english, 4 math, 3-4 science, 4 foreign language, and then find something you really like! Maybe you can turn t shirt printing into a business, maybe you can write a book, or maybe you’ll just be you and still get in. You’d be surprised. You have time. The name of the game is don’t slack off on school work, and do what you like otherwise.</p>
<p>Seriously, you’re in middle school. For your own sanity, get off this site and don’t come back until junior year. You don’t want to plan the next 4 years just for the sake of getting into an athletic conference. Think about it – the Ivies get thousands of applicants each year who try to “plan” out which ECs to do… and they all end up looking the same. Just pick some activities you enjoy doing and become more involved in them. That’s pretty much the most you can do to maximize your chances of getting into a selective school.</p>
<p>Why the obsession with an athletic conference?</p>
<p>Read this: [Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions).</p>
<p>I second that.</p>
This is truly cringeworthy! Coming back makes me appreciate all you lovely people who snapped by obnoxious middle school self into place 
Also, that regretful name cringes
Hahaha I’m extremely curious on your stats now. Can you please post?
I’m glad–your cringes are appropriate
@Focuce I have to say, I’m doing my middle school self pretty proud. You can check out my current chance post here (believe it or not, I just took the SATs for the first time and thought I’d revisit the old haunts)
I gave upon the cello and field hockey (shudder), but the French is still going strong. My new username is an outdated allusion to the precise color of sneaker Wendy Davis wore during her filibuster (but still preferable to the mess of “strivingforanivy”) http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1834047-chance-me-for-barnard-and-chances-are-ill-reciprocate.html#latest
EVERY TIME I LOOK AT I DIE THIS IS SO TERRIBLE
I WAS/AM THE WORST
Learn to throw a baseball 96 mph.
I definitely don’t do the sportsball beyond the tennis court, but thanks for the sound advice 
@okthenyeah
@imsobored Future @strivingforanivy coming to you from Junior year. Just to let you know, I took your advice. Thank you for typing some sense into me