@neoking From what I can ascertain from “stalking” you, it seems all right. Although I don’t know if it’s your first year doing all those things. Also, you’ve got the whole URM thing going for you. No need to stress about the past when you can change the future.
@Frigidcold Thanks for the kind words. It isn’t my first year doing some of them, but unfortunately they’re just so bland and trite. URM will help, but it isn’t going to save me.
But you’re right. I can (and will) only focus on how I can develop myself in the near future.
@neoking I too wish I did more with ECs. I have like 4 and everyone has like 6 or 7. Plus, I haven’t won many awards so it seems kind of pathetic
I learned about doing too many extracurriculars the hard way. I stressed myself out way too much…I thought taking on a lot leadership positions would look good on college applications…I burned myself out from being VP of FCCLA (a family and consumer science club) which I had no interest in but I joined for friends (I don’t know how I got voted to VP…it just happened). I ended up having to quit. It was a burden having to spend two hours every other day working on it…I’m also spreading myself out too thin because in order to be part of NHS at my school, you have to do 100 hours of things per semester…which isn’t going to happen…oh well! I lost a lot of sleep and it was horrible…
It took me so long to figure out that I needed to do what I was passionate about. I found being president of HOSA, an officer for UNESCO, and VP of French National Honor Society, although those positions demand a lot of time after school, as fun and I’m more willing to put more effort in because I enjoy it.
So here are my two cents: don’t spread yourself too thin…you need your sleep. Don’t lose sleep over things you don’t care about.
@neoking I feel you on a deep level. I went to a music school freshman year and was the highest level piano player out of all the frosh and was promoted to highest level and got the opportunity to learn tenor sax and play varisity lacrosse…then I moved counties and I spent all of sophomore year upset and sulking and joined 1 activity which I quit. So now it’s junior year, no chance of a 4.0, only 2 meaningful ECs and a crappy ACT score. If you ever think you screwed up bad, just think of me lol. I don’t know why I am still dreaming of going to a top college. Big imagination I guess (too bad I can’t put that anywhere)
Can’t wait to complete like 10 applications for summer programs… Kill me now…
@Frigidcold What summer programs?
Hey guys! Anyone here understand physics circular motion? Please reply asap!
I’m doing applications for summer programs too! I’m applying for Summer science program (it’s so convenient since I live near CU Boulder), BU Research Internship, Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, Science Institute at MIT, HSHSP, and a local research internship at the Children’s hospital (this is my top choice because it is competitive and you get paid). It’s soooo much…I only problem I will have is recommendation letters because I’m scared that teachers don’t know me well enough except that I get good grades and I don’t think I’m competitive enough :(. Oh well, I could always hope…
If anyone needs help finding summer science and math programs, this is a good website: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer (It’s an MIT website so it talks about their programs first and then it talks about other competitive programs across the country).
@wanderlustgal I do, if it is algebra-based physics!
@wanderlustgal PM me if you still need help!
I can’t do ACT science to save my life! I got lucky once getting a 32 on a practice science test but my other scores are so low.
@athenanv13 i recommend prepscholar’s ultimate act science guide. it’s very helpful (:
Will probably throw apps at RSI, SIMR, and JAX even though I pretty much know I won’t be accepted. Simons, Rockerfeller, and NIH I feel I have a chance at. Couple of more local ones. And the obligatory Gov School one. Think my top choice is a paid research internship at a very good local university. Not sure how competitive it is though as I hadn’t heard about it until like a week ago when another Siemens competitor mentioned it to me. The app seems very informal, so wish me luck!
Might try the ROSS application just because I’m curious what type of questions they ask on it.
@athenanv13 The average score is like a 20-21, a lot of people would kill for a 32. 
Mainly just looking at graphs, besides the two perspective passages. What are you struggling with?
@Frigidcold that was the time I got lucky…my usually get in the 23-28 range :(( …I can manage to get in the 32-35 range for the other sections…science is just killing me…I hate how it is nothing like the science we learn in school
This will only probably be familiar to a handful of you, but have any of you guys looked at the back cover of the blue book and thought that all of the “Myths” are referred to are actually 100% true?
@Frigidcold the research summary questions…I’m getting a majority of those questions wrong. I’m good that the data representation and the conflicting viewpoints but the research summary ones are the end of me :((. Btw, good luck with the summer programs!
@joeweller I thought that was a given. Standardized testing is a business after all. Besides, I can’t take CollegeBoard seriously when they tell me colleges with an 80% acceptance rate are “competitive”.
@athenanv13 Good luck to you too! I wish I could help but I forgot all about the ACT when I left the testing room, haha.
I might apply to MITES but knowing myself, I’ll probably get too scared to ask for teacher recommendations and end up not applying. And MITES is mostly for low-income URMs, and I am a URM but I’m not low-income, which might make it hard to get in. So I’m leaning toward not applying but maybe I will.