Hi All! I am a rising junior. I don’t have many test scores right now since I am going to take the SAT in October, and I already signed up for two more SATs in December and March to improve my score. Last year I took AP World and got a 5. However, that was my only ap for sophomore year. Next year, I am taking AP Computer Science A, AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based, AP US History, and I am self-studying for AP Psychology and AP Environmental Science. I am currently studying for SAT subject test in math 2 also. For my second subject test, I am not sure what subject I am going to do yet. For extracurriculars, I don’t have many. This is what I am nervous about. I do play the piano, I took some tests, and I am improving in them. I also am into filmmaking, I have a YouTube channel which is slowly growing. Junior year I plan on doing DECA, and National Honors Society. My GPA is around a 3.8. Also, I am pretty good at Spanish, so I am going to do Spanish Honors Society next year. I am taking Spanish all years of high school, and I am taking the AP test in senior year. Do you think I have a chance if I do well on my AP’s and subject tests to get into universities like UPenn, Cornell, USC, or Princeton? Should I do more to improve my tests and extracurriculars?
I also forgot to mention, I am volunteering. I will have about 100 hours when I apply to universities. I also have a part-time job I got in June 2018. I am going to try to maintain the job through high school.
I think that you are doing plenty. If anything you may be piling on too many APs for your junior year.
Don’t let your guess regarding what universities are looking for run your life.
Take APs in subjects where you are interested, where you are good at the subject, and you also want to take the AP. Participate in activities that you want to participate in. Have some fun and get some sleep. If you can afford it then a good university will be available to you at the end of your high school road (whether it be an Ivy or not).
The schools you mentioned will be major reaches no matter what you do. That will be the case for any unhooked applicant. There are simply more well qualified applicants than there is space available. With acceptance rates generally under 10%, students with perfect GPA, standardized tests and excellent ECs routinely get turned down.
Instead of focusing on a few “dream/prestige schools” you would be wiser to focus your attention on creating a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (find out your parents’ budget and run the net price calculator for each school) and that you would be happy to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on hyper-competitive schools and then don’t get in. Expand your horizons and recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
Why are you self studying AP Psych/Econ?
Self-studying APs does not help you with admissions. They don’t look at your AP test scores for admissions…seniors who take APs don’t get the scores back until after they are admitted.
So if you do it, you would be doing it for College credit. See if your colleges of choice would give you credit and if that credit would be useful.
Also realize that doing well in your HS courses is vastly more important than self studying…also would you have time to do ECs if you are self studying?
Top colleges look for leadership and/or achievement. Member of this or took part in that is less competitive. So take your interests and see how you can grow them. ECs don’t need to be supplied by your school to be valuable, and the best ones are probably things you come up with on your own. Using piano as an example you could try to enter contests or audition for a role in a regional orchestra. You could set up a music program for younger kids in your area. And so on…
The question about impressive EC’s comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. You can read thru it and decide where yours line up. The post is at [“Those ECs are weak…”- So what’s good?]("Those ECs are weak...."- So what's good? - #3 by Northstarmom - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums)
We’re putting the cart before horse at this point. It doesn’t hurt to apply to a few, but it’s not worth stressing over. Getting in is only the beginning. You still have to find a way to pay for it. I would just come up with a list of practical, affordable reach, match, and safety schools and throw in a few exotic schools to see what happens.