To learn out of school or waste my life in school?

<p>I’m a high school freshman now and unfortunately it’s time to start thinking about college. Let me tell you a little about myself: I’m a great student and I get all mid A’s at my private school. Unlike some other schools, it is near impossible to get grades of 98-100. I’m really into science, electronics, and computer programming - pretty much anything engineering. I’d really love to go to MIT but if I don’t make it I’m fine with that. Anyways, at school I sometimes find myself daydreaming about a project I’m working on at home and sometimes I skimp on my homework so I can do electronics or something. It’s not like I’m not finishing my homework or studying for a test, it’s just that I don’t give it my 100%. I know all the topics thoroughly, but I don’t feel like studying for 3 more hours to get 2 more points on a test. I’m fine getting a 95 in an easy class and a 90 in an especially hard class. I’m not really motivated to try for a 98 or something like that, because it would mean not doing any of my engineering projects. If the majority of my classes included some of my interests like programming or electronics, I would certainly give them my 100%, because I enjoy them. How will this mentality affect my choices of colleges? Do colleges even care what you do outside of school? I learn so much when I’m not in school that I don’t see why I should spend all my time getting the max grades. Also, I do fencing and community service if that matters.</p>

<p>I am not kidding when I say that I do programming and electronics in my spare time. Its something that I truly enjoy and I feel passionate about changing the world. Also, please only respond if you have something truly useful to say. I was reluctant to post in this category because it seemed like only 20% of the threads were about high school or college.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,
Cory</p>

<p>if you can build something interesting in your spare time and write about it in your essays or send them off to science fairs, you’ll be ten times more interesting to mit than kids with high grades and no passion. passion is exactly what these schools want.</p>