<p>I’m almost a feeshman in high school and I would like to start studying and working towards Harvard and possibly other Ivy League schools. I have won 2 prestigious writing awards in grades 7&8, my GPA for grade 8 is 3.8, I sing in an internationally accredited choir, and I am involved with many sports. I am aspiring for an all-girl Catholic high school with 20 AP classes, 10 varsity teams, and 50 clubs. The high school in my public district has 10 clubs and 5 varsity teams. I would like to know how to
improve my GPA, clubs, and SAT score. If I start studying before high school, will I have a better score?</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter when you start studying. Just make sure your scores are within range by the time you submit your applications. Common sense dictates that the sooner and more you study the better your chances at a higher score. Try to get within the 2300 range for the SAT and 2 800s in two different SAT2 Subject tests as early as possible and score 220+ on your PSAT Junior year and keep doing what you’re doing so far and most importantly…enjoy high school.</p>
<p>-golden</p>
<p>Disgusting. I didn’t even know what SAT stood for in grade 8…actually I still don’t. And I had like 3 C’s and the rest Bs one quarter. Someone should tell these people that middle school is unimportant.</p>
<p>^agreed, like in grade 8 i didn’t even know what an ivy league was! rofl</p>
<p>yeah, this is sad. im going to give you some advice right now OP so you won’t ruin your whole life, so listen well.</p>
<p>you’re too methodic. chill. that kind of way you’re approaching high school will narrow down your creativity. why are you worrying about the number of clubs a school has? make your own.</p>
<p>Just a note: middle-school achievements largely don’t matter. That said, some substantial advice:</p>
<p>Don’t burn yourself out.</p>
<p>If you’re a good writer, investigate submitting your work to literary magazines (The Claremont Review is in my opinion one of the best teen litmags out there; incredible work from incredible writers) and applying to the Scholastic Art & Writing awards.</p>
<p>SAT scores you shouldn’t worry about until mid-sophomore year at the earliest…if you study seriously for several months before taking the test (try to schedule for early junior year so you won’t have to cram it in late junior year or senior year, when you’ll have an insane workload), you should be fine. I assume that if you’re a writer you’re also a reader and you have an excellent vocabulary. Keep on reading. Years of reading is far better prep than a Barron’s testprep book.</p>
<p>Caveat: SAT IIs. To cover all your bases you might want to do 3: one science, one math (Math II) and one of the humanities (literature if you are a naturally excellent analytical reader, US history if you’re not, languages only if you are fluent). If you can do one or two during your sophomore year it’ll make junior year much less stressful.</p>
<p>Extracurricular-wise: don’t feel the need to participate in everything and anything. As a freshman it’s nice to join 20 clubs and go to meetings once or twice, at least to get a feel of whether you’d like to participate. But you don’t need to sign away all your free time to be an accomplished and desirable applicant your senior year. Figure out what your core interests are and what gets you the most excited. Don’t go through the motions and do uninteresting things because you think they look good. (Caveat: homework. You might want to actually turn that stuff in.)</p>
<p>Consider researching other colleges. There’s more to the world than the Ivy League, and maybe your interests will lead you to other universities. Don’t think of them as inferior but rather better in different ways.</p>
<p>Know this: more is not better. Do what interests you. Find things you can throw yourself into. College is another step, not The Goal™. And whenever College Confidential makes you feel stressed-out and inferior, log out for a bit. Go on a run instead.</p>
<p>Keep grades up! Study for standardized tests at the beginning of freshmen year! Do as many sports and clubs as you possibly can, and be and officer in them as early as possible. Run for class president. Be the BEST, you are aspiring for the best civilian school and in order for you to reach your goals you need to BE that. Consider that everyone else applying to Harvard will be like you, so do many things no one else has.</p>
<p>oh remember that collegeconfidential is made up of the best of the best students. If you notice that your score isn’t up to par with the guys on here, you’re still probably in the top 75th percentile.</p>
<p>creativity is fostered by increased entropy.</p>
<p>It’s way too methodical. To foster creativity, you, as a grade 8, must not be so systematic to the extent of circumscribing imagination. Be more free, experience all; those are the students Harvard want: students with future aspirations of a wide gamut</p>
<p>Do something at a national/international level </p>
<p>doesn’t matter what. Couldbe an olympicsport or mun. Be passionate and whatever you do BE THE BEST.</p>
<p>Rofl at studying for the SAT before high school. I scanned the Sparknotes guide a couple hours before the test, first time I’d ever “studied” for it, and I did fine.</p>
<p>Chill out. Just do your homework, get good grades, and have fun. Come back in 3 years lol.</p>
<p>i only knew what SATs were in junior year and got 2110 and 2340 in two sittings. honestly, at some point there’s not much you can study for - either you can do it or you can’t. so stop stressing out about it, just get involved in your community and learn as much as you can, but do it for the sake of bettering yourself and expanding your horizons, not just to get into harvard.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Agreed. And the best way to do that is to do what you enjoy and leave CC until at least junior year</p>