My current 4 year plan is…
Freshman
Geometry
Pre Ap English
Psychical Science
Civics & Geography
Debate & Forensics
Spanish l
Leadership (Student Council)
Sophomore
Algebra ll
Pre Ap English
Pre Ap Biology
Pre Ap Chemistry
World History
Debate & Forensics
Spanish ll
Junior
Pre Calc
Ap Literature & Comp
Ap Biology
Physics
Ap U.S. History
Debate & Forensics
Spanish Ill
Senior
Calculus
Ap Language
Ap Chemistry
Ap Physics
Ap Gov. & Ap Stats
P.E.
Spanish IV
I plan on being…
A 4 year Varsity Swimmer.
4 year Deca ICDC Qualifyer.
4 year State Debate and Forensics Qualifyer.
4 year Association of Youth Board Member.
Scholars Bowl.
Piano Player
Trilingual
Camps:
Debate Camp (Summer 2015)
Hooks:
First Generation College Student
However here are my questions…
Is my courses challenging enough?
What am I missing?
Am I a strong candidate for Harvard?
What else should I do during the summer?
I have taken violin lessons for about 3 years now, but due to my schedule my parents have cancelled the lessons. Can I still self teach myself and put it on my application?
Does gardening count as an extracurricular activity?
Thank You
GPA and SAT are both fairly important imo
- Your courses are challenging enough only if they're on-par with the course rigor of your peer or if you're taking the maximum (or near maximum) amount of AP's/Honors level classes possible. Impossible to say since I'm not at your school and don't know how many AP's your school offers.
- Missing: Uhh GPA and test scores. They're the first thing adcoms look at so make sure they're both top-notch.
- Nobody is a "strong" candidate for Harvard, especially if you're a freshman (which I am assuming you are)
- Do something related to what you're interested in (debate/piano/swimming), or apply for summer programs (the selective ones)
- You could, but it won't help much. Join your school orchestra if your school has one.
- Gardening counts as an EC if you do something with it, if you found some kind of gardening club or you raise awareness about gardening or something. Gardening by itself is not a really strong EC as you're not benefiting anyone else.
You’re a freshman, I understand you want to go to a good college and prepare early, but I think the people who specifically prepare for college by doing this and that are the ones that are usually rejected. Just enjoy high school life and don’t just look at Harvard. There are plenty of other good schools are out there.
“Is my courses challenging enough?”
Looks pretty good to me.
“What am I missing?”
SAT scores, LORs, an essay and senior standing.
“Am I a strong candidate for Harvard?”
We’ll see!
“What else should I do during the summer?”
If you could swing a nationally competitive summer program like Ross or TASP, that would be ideal.
“I have taken violin lessons for about 3 years now, but due to my schedule my parents have cancelled the lessons. Can I still self teach myself and put it on my application?”
Yes. That would show some initiative, too.
“Does gardening count as an extracurricular activity?”
I don’t see why not.
(Do work on your spelling though.) Good luck!
First generation is good. However you need to have some other hook to get the attention of Harvard admissions. Something of international or national prominence (athletic, academic, artistic, etc).
Find something that will get noticed.
What do you want to major in? Do for a career? What are you passionate about? That’s what I don’t see-a clear picture of what you’re genuinely into. Probably the most consistent thing I see is debate, but a lot of people enjoy debate… but that usually isn’t their passion. I’d say you’re lacking anything truly unique/interesting that will make for good essay/supplement fodder. You’re likely only 14 or 15, so that’s not terrible… you have four years to do more stuff and do interesting things. Join some clubs for fun. If you find a volunteer activity that you’d genuinely enjoy–not just for resume fodder!–do it. Seek out competitive summer programs that genuinely align with your interests.
You’re tri-lingual… have you considered an exchange program? I’d say the only ones that are genuinely impressive are year-long exchanges (and if that sounds up your alley, you actually have time to plan for it), but a summer or short stay program could regardless be beneficial. Honestly, there’s nothing you can add that would make you a lock for Harvard (b/c no one is a lock for Harvard), but exploring some more things that both reflect & shape your personality/interests can only make you a more well-rounded candidate for a number of schools.
Thank you guys you have really helped me so much. My current GPA is a 4.0. I plan on becoming a lawyer, however I’m still undecided. This advise will surely help me this summer. Thanks
Is there a particular kind of law that appeals to you? That may guide some of your EC choices… ie: technology vs. copyright vs. entertainment vs. “do gooder” law, etc 
Good luck!
I’m thinking about business law, but my school doesn’t offer any of those classes.