Help Me Get Into An Elite College <3

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>This is my first post on College Confidential. I’m an 14 year old student that is a freshman in high school. I’m here to ask you, what did you do to get into a good school? On top of that, I am hoping any of you kind strangers would be willing to give me tips and advice for how to improve my plan to get into a good school.</p>

<p>My name is Peter, I am a Korean American student, and I’d like to start by saying I stress extremely hard, and I over react often. I have white hairs from my stress, partly because of my mom passing away when I was in first grade. Enough of introducing myself, I would like to tell you what I’ve been doing right now, and what I have planned for the future.</p>

<p>My dream/goal college is an elite private university. I live in Oregon, and I would like to study out of state, so with my single dad’s income I’m not sure that studying in an out-of-state public university is really an option. Even so, I will include some public colleges to see what you guys think.</p>

<p>I would like to attend:
UC Irvine
UCLA
USC
Stanford University
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Oregon
Carnegie Melon </p>

<p>GPA:
I am currently sitting at a 4.0, which is nothing impressive because my year just started and I’m only in my first semester. I plan on keeping a 4.0 with higher level classes. I would like to ask you though, how can I manage my time? What classes should I focus on? I would like to include I’m taking Algebra 2 as a freshman, and it’s supposed to be ahead of the curve in the curricula in Oregon. I then plan on continuing to IB pre-calc, PSU calculus, and ??? Please give me your opinion. :)</p>

<p>IB/HONORS:
I have English next semester and I plan on taking Honors English for my four semesters of high school. I’m also taking chemistry and biology and I’m going to take IB chemistry next year. I would like to know what you guys think a full IB diploma would do. Do the benefits outweigh the harms?</p>

<p>Languages:
I don’t know if it’s possible with how late I’ve started, but I’d like to become multilingual in English, Spanish, and Korean. I’m not sure I can do it in Spanish since I just started, but I plan on doing Spanish up to Spanish 4/5 (IB testing). I’m not sure where the exact measurement of where you’re considered “proficient” in the language, but my dad is native to Korea, and although I can’t read or write Korean, I can understand just about everything, and can speak enough to communicate with people. I want to ask you guys if you think this is out of reach/not possible with where “proficiency” stands in a language. I’m beginning to learn to read and write Korean. Is this too much? Not enough time?</p>

<p>Sports:
I play basketball and golf. I just started basketball and managed to make the Freshman team during the Summer League with our competitive basketball program. I’m planning on quitting basketball and going to golf. I enjoy golf with a passion, and golf every time I have opportunity. I believe that as spring comes along, I will be able to make our high school’s varsity golf team. How good would I need to be to get a scholarship off of golf?</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:
I just started here. I’m in speech and debate and have made it to finals in After Dinner Speaking, and Parliamentary. Of course, this was only novice, and would be much harder to do in open, but I am doing very well as a freshman, but I’m not sure if I should continue. Speech and debate is EXTREMELY time consuming, and takes up my whole Saturday each week and even more. Is speech and debate worth keeping?
I’m also in two local groups which are ending youth slavery and a food project. The food project just being a basic community service group who brings all types of foods to shelter, etc. Since I live in Oregon, Portland has a very high rate of human trafficking and youth end slavery is just a group where we raise money to try and save people from it.
Of these three groups, I know officers/presidents of every group and many have guaranteed me a position at officer in my sophomore year. The question is, is my time worth it there for that?
What else should I add the my EC’s?</p>

<p>SAT/ACT (standardized tests):
I took the Plan Explorer test and scored about in the 90th percentile in every category. Among my group of smart friends, I was pretty below avg, as most of them got 95-99th percentile. My composite score was a mere 23 and the test estimated a measly 20-24 on my ACT. This is all an estimation of course, but it is still a little depressing to know my current test averages are telling me I’ll score this low when I’m trying to get into a very advanced college. I’m taking the PSAT this Saturday as a Freshman, and am not expecting much. I took a practice test and the vocabulary was extremely advanced. I am hoping for a mediocre score though. I am not studying much for it, because I want to see my weaknesses so I can improve in my sophomore year, and so that I can achieve National Merit Scholarship in my junior year. I want to ask you guys what I can study for these tests. It seems as if all the vocabulary I learned I cannot apply to the test. Help me improve study habits?</p>

<p>Internships:
I’ve been told it’s quite easy to get an internship even if its unpaid. I was told that there is a snowball effect. EX: I get unpaid internship freshman year, show it on resume, and get a paid, more advanced internship in my sophomore year and so on.
I want to know what you guys think about internships, if it’s worth it, and how much time I should be willing to commit to this.</p>

<p>Student Government:
My personality is very open minded, and very strong in leadership. I was not interested in any leadership options in middle school, because they all ended up being the teachers making the choices. The one thing I did different, was that I was on site council. I met with one other student and about 8 teachers and talked about problems and ways to increase test scores/get parents involved in foreign students. It turned out that my ideas and plan actually ended up being the structure of how my middle school got it working. I was accepted into freshman leadership, but decided I would wait til it was more serious in ASB (junior and senior year). I want to ask you guys how you feel about my choice, and maybe if I should do sophomore leadership still.</p>

<p>Summertime:
For summer, I’m willing to just about anything. Volunteer hours, summer school, sports, going abroad, basically anything. What is my best plan of action for summer courses?</p>

<p>Thank you guys. If can answer any of my questions, or give me any advice, I STRONGLY appreciate it. If I came off as egotistical or someone who wants to show off their prestige, I’m very sorry. I’m a lone student with a single dad and I’m looking for help to get into a good school. :)</p>

2

<p>Advice: Don’t do stuff for college. Just do what you enjoy because you enjoy it and you will end up at the perfect place for you. Push yourself, but not too much. Just enjoy high school and don’t stress about college. You should not center you high school life around going to one school, because your dream school will change. Your interests will change. What you enjoy will change. Life will change. Just enjoy yourself and it will all work out.</p>

3

<p>@picklechicken37
I really appreciate your advice and I understand that my interests in studies and schools will change, but my dream of getting into a prestigious college will not. Ever since seventh grade I’ve dreamed of it, and I’m just now applying it. Is it really worth it to just enjoy my high school year? When I don’t push myself a lot I feel like I’m wasting my time. I’m diamond (.1% of players) in a game called league of legends. But now that I’ve achieved it, I almost feel guilty for consuming so much time…</p>

4

<p>Are you an international student, and if you are, will you have a green card/citizenship by the time you apply? Because that changes everything.</p>

5

<p>@collegeboardjaja
Why does it change, and why does would it matter if I was an international student? (wow that came off really negative, but I’m honestly asking it as a question haha)
I’m not an international student though. My parents were both South Korean, so I’m American but have Korean blood.</p>

6

<p>What you’ve said makes sense. Talk to a guidance counselor for scheduling advice. To get recruited for golf is VERY time intensive and leaves little time for outside ECs. Also your schools are D1 so unless you’re a natural born golf prodigy, just play for fun and maybe you’ll end up on varsity or as a captain eventually. </p>

<p>As a freshman, try the ECs that seem interesting to you at all and stick with the ones you find a passion for. Leadership will come in time.</p>

<p>As for test scores, you definitely have not learned close to all of the material on the test so wait to take the ACT and SAT for real; SOME SCHOOLS REQUIRE YOU TO SEND ALL SCORES so if you take it too early and get a terrible score, that could hurt your chances. As a freshman, for studying for these tests, just to your best in the most challenging classes you can take and read a ton which will help with critical reading and vocab.</p>

<p>Don’t stress too much! Do what you like over the summer! Good luck!</p>

7

<p>@Rosa2014
Thank you, I really appreciate what you’ve told me! And I definitely understand that getting a golf scholarship is extremely hard, it is a far fetched dream haha.
But with the PSAT, so far, it seems that I know all the material aside from applying my skills in reading. Is there some sort of strategy for learning the roots of words, etc? I’m not really sure. But a lot of my graduated friends told me that I would know everything except for not knowing how to apply my vocabulary and using analysis.
Also, can colleges really see ALL your scores, including PSAT?? That is a big surprise to me! Thank you!</p>

8

<p>Your Type A personality (this is not meant to be taken offensively) will most likely lead to success no matter where you go. You have the right mindset already; you know you want to go places and are prepared to work for it. Test scores and community involvement will come with time.
I will say, though, that going to college is a two way street. It is not only important for the college to select you, but you select the college as well. This means that you have to pick a program that is good for you. When you do extra-curricular activities for the sake of doing extra-curricular activities, you’ve missed the point of getting into college [I think].
When a college accepts you, it is because it makes an investment in you. It thinks that you can not only succeed in its program but also contribute to the world around you and the environment at that college. This means that you have to get lost and follow what interests you. Doing things for the sake of a “checklist” to get into college is superficial not because you won’t be experienced by the end of your four years but because you will probably not have learned much from those four years.
So relax buddy. I think you have a great future ahead of you. Take life as it comes and just see what interests you. Do you have any inkling of what your career goals are? Try to see if you can get involved within your community based off what your interests are and go from there. I promise that you will find your community involvement more rewarding that way because it becomes your life; not just a checkbox on the Common App.</p>

<p>I thought I wanted to be a doctor for the longest time. Getting involved in my community made me realize that, above all things, I want to study economics and public policy and eventually go into academia. This was a sea change; a radical shift. But I am thankful for it because I learned from my experience when I was younger and now I have a greater understanding of what my niche (or desired niche, for that matter) is within the world. This is incredibly important. Find your niche. Find what makes you special. See what excites you intellectually. Then you’ll make strides in your community (and be personally satisfied while doing so!).
Feel free to personally message me if you want. I think you have a great future ahead of you. Just take things easy, don’t overthink things, and just follow what interests you for now.</p>

9

<p>I’m not saying don’t not work hard for a prestigious college. I’m saying be sure you still have balance in your life. Have fun socially with friends too. Don’t let your life be completely consumed with college preparation. I’m not saying don’t put a lot of time and effort into activities, I’m saying do things you care about, don’t do things to put them on your resume. I wouldn’t try to plan everything out for a “prestigious college”. Although that is nice, is is really necessary. I’m not saying you shouldn’t work towards your goal. Just don’t overly focus on it and let it consume some of the best years of your life.</p>

10

<p>Picklechicken37 is right! High school should be the best years of your life. Have fun buddy! You’re only young once haha.</p>

11

<p>Timberwolf articulated what I was trying to say much better than I did. I agree with him.</p>

12

<p>Great Washington kids think alike! Lol</p>

13

<p>@pbk1111, international status matters in the sense that there are such limited spots available, and many elite colleges are need-aware for int. students (i.e. Stanford).
But since you have an American citizenship, you’re fine.</p>

<p>For GPA: All you can do is take the hardest classes and try to get an A in all of them. Really, that’s all you can do. Don’t stockpile AP because it will be very difficult. However, if you can handle the workload, then why not take as many APs as possible? Also, the whole “getting a B in AP is better than getting an A in honors” is a fluke. Don’t think like that. Whatever classes you take, take as many APs as YOU CAN HANDLE, and try your absolute hardest to get an A.</p>

<p>IB: The trick is essentially the same as AP. IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE IT, DON’T TAKE IT. IB Diplomas look very impressive, but remember, only if it truly reflects your academic ability. Taking IB just so that colleges would be impressed is the wrong way to go.</p>

<p>SAT: Essentially same as GPA. A strong SAT I score for HYPSM and similar schools would be 2250-2400. ACT, 34-36. For SAT IIs, I’d recommend taking 3-4: Math 2C, 1-2 Sciences (if intended field), and 1 humanities (like USH). 750-800 is considered a strong score for “elite” colleges.</p>

<p>EC’s: Now, many people think that the more EC’s you have with leadership, the better. This is not necessarily true. In every club you join, in every internship you do, make sure they all relate back your PASSION. Colleges want to see that you pursued your dream and your intended field outside of school, not simply joining NHS or a few clubs.
If you want be a math/science major, enter competitions like AIME, USAMO/USABO and such, and apply to labs for internships/write research papers. If you want to be an arts major, put together a stunning portfolio. You see what I mean? Also, in every EC you do, show COMMITMENT. Join a sports team like track or swimming and do it for all four years. Found a club that reflects your passion and maintain it for all four years. Volunteer at where your concerns lie, and COMMIT. PASSION and COMMITMENT are key to having strong EC’s.</p>

<p>Essays/LoR: Don’t worry about these until senior year.</p>

<p>Even if you do ALL of this, there is still a very high chance you won’t get into top 10 schools like Ivies. That’s just the way life is. But I can guarantee you that you will have a GREAT shot at top 25, like Berkeley, CMU, and UCLA.</p>

14

<p>I thoroughly agree with picklechicken. You are still in a process of formation, and over the next 4 years you will grow and change a lot.</p>

<p>You say that your desire to go to an elite university won’t change, and maybe that is true. However, the kind of “elite” that matters to you will likely change significantly. You will learn that “elite” doesn’t always mean top of the USNWR rankings - for example, New College of Florida is a tiny public liberal-arts college that consistently produces more Fulbright scholars per capita than Harvard or Yale. </p>

<p>You will also learn that generic "elite"ness won’t matter nearly as much as going to a college that is elite in just the right way for you and what you want to study. You may prefer a school where undergraduates have ample opportunities to get research experience before graduate school. Or a school where the teaching in your preferred subject tends to be small intimate seminars right from freshman year onward. Or a school where both the academics and the golf program are rigorousness to challenge you.</p>

<p>It’s too soon to know for certain what you will want 2-3 years from now. So focus on the basics: </p>

<ul>
<li><p>Work hard and excel in your classes. </p></li>
<li><p>Choose ECs because of your passion for them, not because of how you think they will look on an application. Every interview with an admissions pro I have ever read says something to the effect of “the difference between true passion and ECs done to pad the resume is as apparent to us as night and day”. Follow your passion. The difference between someone who gets into Harvard and someone who didn’t is not that one did debate and the other did yearbook committee; the difference is usually which one of them did either EC with passion, drive, and significant commitment.</p></li>
<li><p>Gradual growth. CollegeBoardJaJa is giving you stellar advice here. The best way to grow is to always be slightly beyond your comfort zone. The emphasis is on slightly. Just like building muscles, building your mind is a constant process of strain and recovery, strain and recovery. Reach, master, recover, and repeat. Don’t overdo it…you have 4 years to build yourself to a magnificent crescendo of excellence. You do not have to rush to the finale.</p></li>
<li><p>Experience joy, and experience it fully. Work hard, and play hard. What worries me most is that your introduction is about how stressed you get. The best thing you can learn at your age is balance, and equanimity. “Keep Calm And Carry On,” as the poster says. Learn to stress <em>soft</em> when you are working <em>hard</em>, and you will have the most important skill you need to excel in college.</p></li>
</ul>