What Should I Work On?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay so I’m just a sophomore now, but I feel like I’d be a pretty average applicant who wants to get into top colleges. </p>

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>Race: White, Jewish</p>

<p>PSAT: 66 CR 67 M 55 W (ugh)</p>

<p>Rank: school doesn’t rank</p>

<p>GPA: not quite sure because school weights weirdly so I’ll just put down my grades classes
Frosh:
Honors English I: A
Honors Geometry: A+
Honors Biology: A
World History (no honors available): A-
Honors Latin II: A+
Theology: A+
Honors Wind and Percussion Ensemble: A+</p>

<p>Soph, not so good, midterms haven’t come out yet so it’s a rough estimation
Honors Alg II w/Trig: A+
Honors Chem: B+/A-
AP Euro: B+
AP Art History: B+
Honors English II: A-
Honors Latin III: A-
Theology: A</p>

<p>EC’s:
Swimming 9, 10: 2 hours daily year round. Qualified for state championship but I’m not great.
Science Olympiad 9, 10: state awards in a few events. Probably 1 hr weekly
Knitting Club 9
Chinese Club (I’m white) 10: learning a little bit of the language, customs, etc 1 hr bi weekly
Serve as member of student advisory committee for a school for disadvantaged middle-school girls 9, 10: about 1 -2 hours weekly
200+ service hours, nothing really special</p>

<p>Summer:
Pre Frosh: Johns Hopkins CTY Crafting the Essay; volunteered by teaching swimming lessons and working at the snack bar over the summer, basically a job but they couldn’t legally pay me</p>

<p>Pre Soph: Johns Hopkins CTY Writing Analysis and Persuasion; same job as above, still volunteer</p>

<p>This Summer: Johns Hopkins CTY The History of Disease; possibly governor’s school which in my state is not extremely competitive will probably have the same job as above on a volunteer basis </p>

<p>Other Random Things:
I really like math which shows in my math grades but I haven’t able to join Math League because of other activities and my school doesn’t offer the AMC test or anything like that. I guess I feel like I need a passion but I just don’t have it yet and I’m worried that will really hurt me. Also my grades aren’t exceptional but they’re not horrible.</p>

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<p>Depends on what you mean by top colleges, but a few things regardless</p>

<p>-take the most challenging courses your school has</p>

<p>-read a lot, it will help improve CR and writing scores</p>

<p>-look at doing activities that are not stereotypically Asian to differentiate yourself from the crowded Asian pool.</p>

3

<p>^well, believe it or not I’m in Chinese club but am not Asian, I’m Jewish</p>

4

<p>^^ LOL.</p>

<p>But if you would like to participate in AMC, perhaps talk to your school, set it up! It’ll show dedication, passion etc… all that stuff CC is requiring.
Do well in school, and don’t let a few bumps on the road scare you. It’s there for you to show how tough you are.
Here’s my theory: Don’t leave high school regretting the things you didn’t do (or did do) academically. Then, when you look back on it during application season, you’ll realize that there’s nothing you would have wanted to change.</p>

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<p>^^That was actually really good advice. Who should I approach if I want the AMC offered, is it too late?</p>

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<p>The PSAT you take at the beginning of your Junior year is the single most important test of your life! This is the only PSAT/NMSQT administration that is considered for National Merit.</p>

<p>It is your one and only chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.</p>

<p>If you screw up an SAT, you can repeat it (several times). The PSAT/NMSQT is your single shot at this program. Your sophomore scores indicate some chance if you put some effort into test prep.</p>

<p>If you have money for test prep programs, use it between your sophomore and junior years. If you do not, get some review materials at the library.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

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<p>hm… it might be here: [AMC</a> Registration](<a href=“http://www.unl.edu/amc/b-registration/registration.shtml]AMC”>http://www.unl.edu/amc/b-registration/registration.shtml)
i don’t know exactly, but I would definitely contact soon since the first round is in Feb or so.</p>

<p>but uhh… I don’t think the PSAT is “single most important test of your life!” if you really want to be a semifinalist/finalist it might be, but colleges don’t even look at those scores. I did terrible on my psat, but rocked on my act, and i got into really good schools. Oh, and if you really want some moolah, the PSAT might be important.</p>

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<p><the psat=“” you=“” take=“” at=“” the=“” beginning=“” of=“” your=“” junior=“” year=“” is=“” single=“” most=“” important=“” test=“” life!=“”></the></p>

<p>I agree. If you do not get all 80s you will not be accepted to any colleges. I know this from experience. Please, save yourself now, don’t end up at Dairy Queen with me!!</p>

<p>Jk. OP - being a NMSF is nice, but don’t freak out over the test.</p>

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<p>bumppppppppppppp</p>

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<p>Ah another freaked-out white jewish sophomore! we are kindred souls, you and i, so i cant really offer my advice from a place of experience but i hope it helps anyway. just make sure you really love your activities and continue them, because dedication/leadership is important. you don’t need to have a passion yet, thats ridic., just make sure you have interests and pursue them, and it looks like you do. </p>

<p>also, as a sidenote, how was your ap euro midterm? i have mine wednesday and am totally freaking out, this class is defenestrating me.</p>

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<p>^mine is on Thursday, I’m pretty worried I haven’t even started studying yet. My grade is predicted assuming I get around an 83-86 on my midterm.</p>

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<p>I would have to really disagree with BigG. Don’t sweat the PSAT. While it might be nice to get the couple of thousand each year from National Merit, if you’re aiming for top colleges it’s a drop in the bucket. No one cares about what you scored on the PSAT, it’s the actual SATs colleges look at. National Merit finalists are a dime a dozen at top colleges and they won’t even notice whether or not you were one if you ace the SATs.</p>

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<p>Ah, I am basically rereading my textbook because I have no study skills and its the only way I know how to study. It is the most boring thing ever but I’m sure the midterm will be fine for us both! :-)</p>

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<p>^The I’ve “studied” for every test my entire life is to read the chapter once and then take the test. I’m a horrible studier.</p>