Help for the Future?

[APUEducation]

Hi I am currently a Freshman and will be a Sophomore next Fall. These are my current and planned course load.

Freshman
Geometry
Pre Ap English
Psychical Science
Civics & Geography
Debate & Forensics
Spanish l
Leadership (Student Council)

Sophomore
Algebra ll
Pre Ap English
Pre Ap Biology
Pre Ap Chemistry
World History
Debate & Forensics
Spanish ll

Junior
Pre Calc
Ap Literature & Comp
Ap Biology
Physics
Ap U.S. History
Debate & Forensics
Spanish Ill

Senior
Calculus
Ap Language
Ap Chemistry
Ap Physics
Ap Gov. & Ap Stats
P.E.
Spanish IV

Extracurriculars
Swim Team (I will be on it the next 3 years)
Violin (Started 8th Grade)
Piano (Started 5th Grade)
Deca (Went to State and will be going to ICDC O also plan to go to the next 3 years)
Kay’s (Freshman Board Member)
Leadership (Stu Council) (I am planning to drop it, but I’ve had a spot since 4th Grade and was Treasurer in Elementary School and President in Middle School. This year I am Treasurer)
Debate (Went to State)
Forensics (I’m okay at this)
Work (I’ve had extensive work experience)
Garden (Can I put this on my application?)
I got a 149 on my PSAT and I plan to retake it my Sophomore and Junior year)
I’m also a First Generation College Student

So I have a few question. Will I be competetive for UCLA, but most importantly Harvard? Are my extracurriculars weak because I don’t feel busy enough? Should I take up another sport? What new activities should I take? Is my 4 year plan weak? Finally what can I do now that will benefit my future?

[gibby]

MIT has some great advice for your four year plan, and every bit of the advice applies to Harvard and UCLA: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

• Do well in school. Take tough classes. Interrogate your beliefs and presumptions. Pursue knowledge with dogged precision. Because it is better to be educated and intelligent than not.

• Be nice. This cannot be overstated. Don't be wanton or careless or cruel. Treat those around you with kindness. Help people. Contribute to your community.
• Pursue your passion. Find what you love, and do it. Maybe it's a sport. Maybe it's an instrument. Maybe it's research. Maybe it's being a leader in your community. Math. Baking. Napping. Hopscotch. Whatever it is, spend time on it. Immerse yourself in it. Enjoy it.

If you get into MIT it will be because you followed these steps. If you do well in school, you will be smart and prepared for an MIT education. If you are nice, then your letters of recommendation will convince us that MIT would be a wildly better place with you on campus. And if you pursue your passion, you will have developed a love for and skill at something that helps distinguish you from other applications - something that is your “hook.”