How Can I Become More Competitive?

Applying to College
1

Apologies if this is in the wrong section :slight_smile: I’m a newbie. Right now I’m a junior in a very underperforming school e.g. no AP courses, low expectations for college that is if you get a high school diploma which most don’t. But I’ve always been a very competitive overachiever.
I want to be challenged and compete while also making my application look better. Most of the programs I’ve heard about on here are to math-heavy or I’ve missed the deadline. Any suggestions for competitive awards, competitions or programs?
And I’m also looking to do independent research as a professor’s intern. Does anyone know of colleges in New York that take high school interns?

2

Have you taken the ACT, SAT, or PSAT?

3

Doing well on the SAT/ACT, taking multiple SAT 2’s and doing well on those as well are your main priority. You need to do especially well on these tests because you come from an under-performing school.

You can email the professors at local colleges and see if they have openings for some high-school interns.

4

Yes, I took the PSAT and got a 1000 without any prior prep

5

Thank you. I’ve been studying like crazy. Do you think that will be enough though? I don’t want to have great test scores and get passed over because someone has better ECs

6

http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/garcia/applying/HS%20instruction.html
is a competitive application for a summer research program that will pair you with a professor. It may be a little pricey but it’s well run and I think offer some financial aid f you need it.
Stony Brook has numerous professors that would gladly research with you. I found a professor there to take me in over the summer.
At the super competitive places, there will be those with great ECs and test scores so it could happen. However, if you don’t have great test scores they won’t look at your ECs as carefully, meaning, it’s more valuable to have outstanding test scores than outstanding extracurricular. However, if you’re applying to the likes of HYPSM, you are expected to have both.

7

Awesome :slight_smile: I’m going to apply and email a couple professors by me just in case. I’m nervous though because my local college is Columbia :smiley: