Hi! I’ve always read on the forums here but this is my first time posting, so forgive me if I’ve posted in the wrong place.
So basically, I’m a junior right now, and college is constantly on my mind right now. Excuse my typos and grammar as well, I’m kind of stressed out lately.
Due to family and financial issues (my mom is in school finishing up her phd right now), my parents have paid less attention on me in terms of pushing me to my greatest. That sounds so bratty, I know, but hear me out. As a kid, I used to be the only child and my parents were pretty rich, so they pushed me to my greatest. Ever since I moved here around middle school, my family was going through a rough period, and I had to watch over my younger siblings all the time.
My extracurriculars as a kid was crazy. I got many awards for playing piano, and got many awards in playing Chess, even went to girl’s nationals for chess. but the problem is, is that this all happened when I was 7-12ish.
Right now, I guess I’m doing alright. My GPA is a 3.99 UW (some honors, some ap), I haven’t taken the SAT yet but I think I will get at least a 1400 this May. but I absolutely have no significant ECs. (One thing to note, my HS is pretty tiny, and the club selection here is garbage. I really love filmmaking and film and video editing however there’s no club like that) Especially nothing high in leadership position/rank. I’ve done tennis for a year, some clubs here and there (Key club, BSU, Spanish club, Chess club) but I was mainly just doing it for fun. I did an internship/job at WSU last summer dealing with learning the undergraduate research process and stuff like that, and I recently got accepted to an actual paid research internship at WSU this summer, of a branch in psychology. I’ve had a waitress job for 6 months. And heavy babysitting for my own sibling. Other than that, I honestly feel like I’m falling behind, while all my friends are exceeding in academics, sports, and ECs. I plan to take classes more orientated towards my expected major, like physics, calc, and comp sci. (comp sci or engineering or something like that, def STEM research)
I was just wondering, is it okay for me to put my awards and achievements from when I was a CHILD onto my college app?
Another question: under experience or ECs can you list any major academic conventions you have attended? Or any courses you have attended? For example, I’ve participated in a weeklong (or 3 day, dont remember) research skills short course up at WSU, and I’ve attended the AGU (giant convention where scientists share results/posters/whatever) conference down in SF.
Another thing, if there’s something you’re really good at, and there is no written or official information about it can you list it in your app? Like, I’m honestly really good at drawing (my art teach wanted me to take the AP art portfolio thing) but I don’t know how to translate or apply this skill somewhere. I was thinking about heading up to WSU’s art department and do something but… idk tbh.
If there is anything you guys can recommend to me I will be so happy! Any feedback is welcome.
Colleges I plan to apply to are NYU (dream school), UW, Mines, and UCBoulder. Probably some more “safer” colleges, too. Are my college choices pretty respectable for my stats…? lol