Taking Initiative Early

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello Collegeboard! My situation is quite a generic one. I’m not exactly trying to worry about my future, I’m trying to create my future, but you people seem to be the experts so I just want a quick evaluation. I want to know what you guys think I’m doing right, and what you guys think I’m doing wrong. </p>

<p>Here’s my situation. I’m a Freshmen currently, and have been challenging my comfort zone since college started. Regretful of doing nothing in High School, I finally want to change that. I wish to attend an Ivyleague school for Grad School for Philosophy(a major my school does not offer unfortunately, but it is offered as a minor).</p>

<p>I’m not entirely sure which Ivyleague I would like to go to, but I’m looking heavily at Dartmouth, Brown, and Princeton.</p>

<p>I’ll start with what I see as what I’m doing right…
I attend my top-choice school(It isn’t an ivyleague school, but it would be considered the level under it.) as a Communications major, Philosophy minor.
I am currently the President of the biggest Freshmen Class. I am a “Level-2” Member of the Student Activity Club(which is in charge of programming student events), and am currently the first Freshmen(along with my two hosts) to win an award for our radio show(only 5 shows in), and I am also in a community service club. </p>

<p>I plan on getting involved with one of the Fraternities on campus that is more focused on leadership, and I plan on becoming an Orientation Leader. I plan on getting an internship this summer. The next summer, I plan on studying abroad in South Africa, and the following summer I would like to get another Internship(This would mean 2 out of 3 summers I would be an orientation leader). For the next semester, I plan on being a voluntary tour guide on campus. I also plan on going to Alabama with Habitat for Humanity over Spring Break, and I plan on going to Nicaragua for the following spring break. I am in the process of considering going to Costa Rica for a small chunk of Winter Break, but am not sure(what do you guys think?).</p>

<p>In High School, I took a few college credits that automatically take down 4 of my requirements. Because I would like to change my focus in grad school, I would like to use these 4 free spots to rather than do nothing for extra time, I’d like to use the credits to take a couple of extra Philosophy classes.</p>

<p>Okay, that’s what I think I’m doing right. What I’m doing wrong now, at least I think.</p>

<p>My grades aren’t the greatest. They are above average(for me, at least.) in about the 3.3 area. I have just enough time to finish all my work despite being involved in everything above. I know 3.3ish isn’t really that good, though. Another problem seems to be arising in the fact that I don’t know if two internships are enough. Not to mention, these internships are simply planned, I’m not sure what the chance of getting two internships are. Another problem is I don’t feel confident that I have even the slightest chance to get accepted into an Ivy league grad school. I also have not a single clue what I want to do with my future, all I know is that the three fields that REALLY interest me, are Media Studies(which interests me the least of the three), Philosophy(which is the second place), and Architecture(Which I don’t possess the math skills to tackle).</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m ready for the roast now. What do you guys think I’m doing right? What do you think I should change in order to live my seemingly impossible dream? And please do not be nice about it! Thank you very much in advance for evaluating me!</p>

2

<p>I’m going to give you the advice that others will tell you anyway:</p>

<p>1) Read Grad Admissions 101, most of the basic questions are answered in there
2) Get your GPA up as much as you can, especially in classes that are relevant to what you want to study for graduate school
3) You cannot apply to Ivy solely because it’s an Ivy. Each department’s quality is different. You’ll also realize that there are lots of great schools out there besides the Ivies.
4) You’re only 8 weeks into college. You have 3 1/2 years ahead of you to enjoy and learn as much as you can through your classes, campus activities, and friends</p>

<p>More importantly, you cannot plan for every single thing in college and expect to stick with everything. Be flexible. I changed my plans many times through the beginning of my senior year. For example, I thought I’d study for a semester in Eastern Europe. Ah, that didn’t work out because my major department suddenly offered courses that I’d take there. So I switched to Middle East for study abroad. I thought I’d come back and do a summer internship. That didn’t work out and I decided that I would just stay another 2 months in that said country. Best. Decision. Ever.</p>

<p>I also thought I’d study Russian and French. That didn’t work out… Same thing happened with my younger brother who’s now a first semester junior. He had all these ideas as well when he was a freshman of what he’d like to do in college. They’ve all fallen through the cracks for one reason or another. Does he regret that? Not a bit. He’s happier as well.</p>

<p>So, your interests will evolve over time. Keep your mind and eyes wide open for opportunities and possibilities. It certainly doesn’t hurt to plan anything but the point is keep an open mind and don’t get frustrated if things don’t work out.</p>

3

<p>I’ll add one thing: leadership and extracurricular activities are generally not considered for admission into graduate school. The few exceptions are field-specific – and philosophy is not one of those fields. You should do those activities because they’re rewarding and fun, not because you think you need them for graduate school. </p>

<p>But, yes, read <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/348756-graduate-school-admissions-101-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/348756-graduate-school-admissions-101-a.html&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>If you really want to go to grad school in philsophy (which you don’t have to decide yet, but…)</p>

<p>(1) ECs DONT matter to grad school. Unless you count research as an EC. Focus on getting to know the profs in your department</p>

<p>(2) communications probably isn’t the ideal major. Grad schools tend to want academic majors. If you can’t major in philosophy, you should major in something related. Depending on your interests that could be english or history or something like that. Ideally you should take some graduate classes while you are still an undergrad.</p>

<p>(3) If you want a phD you have to do research as an undergrad. That could mean being a research assistant for a professor at your school, writing a thesis, etc.</p>