What will it ultimately take to get in?

OnMyWay2013
Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:24:38 +0000

Test scores, subject tests, letters of recommendation, any special academic-related projects that you initiate.

Your attitude resonates with me because I too was an eager freshman who cared only about grades, getting into the Ivy League, and doing everything perfectly. To save you years of stress and disappointment, let me tell you that life is about more than getting to the next step. For the next four years, you have unlimited opportunities to strengthen your passions, learn things about yourself, and relax. You can shape yourself into whoever you want to be; please don’t waste that on trying to plan everything to a tee and be the ideal candidate.

I’ll let the prestige obsession linger, haha, because it’s good to dream big and give your 100% to everything you do. But listen to the people who tell you to cast a wide net. There will be a point in time where you’ll see how many other things go into choosing colleges beyond prestige.

Your courses are fine. A rigorous courseload will help you as long as you can maintain your good grades. I’m not telling you how I got into Hopkins, because 1. I’m not sure myself, haha, and 2. comparing yourself to other people isn’t useful or healthy. Being a human and living life isn’t like studying for the SAT; there aren’t any strategies that will help you do better in the eyes of admissions officers. Don’t worry about the inhuman people; you don’t have to break your back and do things you don’t want to do to be a strong candidate for college.

Whether Diff EQ and Advanced Calc will count depends on the school you apply to and where you take the course (it would have to be at a college). If you think it might count just because it’s “higher” than AP Calc (if you feel so confident about your math abilities, why not do BC?), that’s not how it works.

As for ECs, do what you want. If you like it, stick with it. If you don’t, or want to pursue something else, leave. I will say that sticking with activities you’re passionate about and “going deeper” (ex. you play cello in an orchestra, so you could also teach music classes to small children, be a peer tutor for the cello section to help them become stronger players, play at people’s weddings or parties, etc.). It shows passion and commitment, and it gives you a richer experience.

I hope this didn’t come off as disparaging; that wasn’t my intent. I think that this realization is something that every student will grow into at one point, but the sooner you do, the happier and more meaningful each day will become.