Getting accepted into my "Dream College"

gomdorri
Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:03:31 +0000

Do what you want to do and pursue your interests to the best of your ability.
And don’t kill yourself during junior year. 6 APs is a lot of APs. I’m only taking 4, and my classes in combination with my ECs, varsity sport, job and need for a little free time leave me with <4 hours of sleep every day.

If you want to look good to the top colleges, stop caring so much about your academic achievements and pursuits. Focus more on your interests. Join ECs and sports that you find are fun. Volunteer at a nonprofit organization that supports something close to your heart. Start pursuing your future career plans by applying to summer programs/research internships/etc. Don’t deprive yourself of a life just for APs, because I can guarantee that enjoying life, getting involved in your community and taking a couple of APs is much better than taking as many AP classes as possible and participating in every single academic club that makes you seem erudite.

Seriously, do something fun with your life. The key to get into the top colleges is to show them that you aren’t a studying robot but an actual person who lives, breathes, and knows what it means to enjoy life (while still keeping up with other responsibilities of course).

My cousin (Asian) wasn’t valedictorian of his class, he didn’t take every single AP offered at his school, and he didn’t get a 4.0 GPA UW but he pursued what he loved (music, sports, and fundraising through and for his passions) and now he’s going to Stanford and loving every second of it.