Thread: Ask Me About College Application/Life

If I wanted to get into a really good college, what are some important things I'd want to do?

I forgot to mention, I'm mainly talking about U.S. colleges, since I don't know anything about other countries. (Except East Asian countries because I took a class on it)

ataraxis: What grade are you in? And how good is really good? Top 20? Ivy?

There's only 3 things you really need to do in high school.

1. SAT/ACT
2. GPA/Rank
3. Extracurriculars

1. SAT/ACT - You'll be taking the new SATs, which has a maximum score of 2400, and an essay. If you're looking at a top school. I'd say to be safe score in the top 95-99 percentile. I'd say that anything above 2200 would be pretty good. If you're more into the analytical side, take the ACT. The test is out of 36 points and the time constraint is a lot harsher in my opinion, but the test is easier overall, and you don't get counted off for wrong answers. Unfortunately the ACT also has a harder curve, and you probably won't get a perfect score if you miss even one question. I'd say aim for a score of 32 or 33 or above in this case. Try out both tests on a practice exam and see which one you like more. Start practicing early.

2. GPA/Rank - To be honest GPA matters only because it gives you a rank in your school. Depending on the quality of your school, rank is weighed differently by application reviewers. If you go to an elite private school (which usually don't even rank) then ranking is considered not as important). But if you go to a public school in some small town in Arkansas with a class size of 50, then should make sure you're at the top.

3. Extracurriculars - Colleges will look at this to see that you can actually do things instead of just study. To them dedication to one or two activities, and holding positions of leadership over the course of high school is much much more important than just being involved as a member in every club in your school. Quality > Quantity. This is also a great starting point to look to for a subject for the essays you may have to write for your application forms.

Remember, colleges are looking for a well-rounded person more than anything. So unless you're world-class in one aspect like music or sports, try to focus on all these aspects. Of course, if you are world-class, it wouldn't hurt to have a decent SAT score either.

If you have any specific questions, just ask away. That was just a general guideline for what you should be paying attention to. There's a lot that I haven't said.

I'm in grade 10 in the US and I'm thinking that I would just like to be able to get into any college that I want, so yeah, ivy league and top 20 included. I hate the SAT idea... it is going to stress me out so much and I am going to make silly mistakes. However I am usually good at tests like that.

I was rank 4 in my class last year (I go to a really nice high school here in vermont...) and I get mostly As or A+s... and I am trying to do extracurriculars that are godo as well...

What is/are the most important thing(s) that colleges consider when looking at your high school transcript?

Originally Posted by ataraxis

I'm in grade 10 in the US and I'm thinking that I would just like to be able to get into any college that I want, so yeah, ivy league and top 20 included. I hate the SAT idea... it is going to stress me out so much and I am going to make silly mistakes. However I am usually good at tests like that.

I was rank 4 in my class last year (I go to a really nice high school here in vermont...) and I get mostly As or A+s... and I am trying to do extracurriculars that are godo as well...
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Sounds like you're in good shape! Have you taken a practice SAT yet? Our school had us take the PSATs for practice during our 10th grade year, and that usually gives you a pretty good estimate on your SAT scores as well. My best advice is to not push off the SAT thing, study for it this summer and get it over with, if you don't get the score you want at least you still have enough time versus if you prepared for it last minute and only had one chance to take it.

How are your extracurriculars looking?

Originally Posted by ataraxis

What is/are the most important thing(s) that colleges consider when looking at your high school transcript?
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See my list above Courtney. Those are probably the three most important things that you have reasonable personal control over. Excluding other stuff like legacy.

Specifically for the transcript, application reviewers like it if they see that you have been challenging yourself by taking the most challenging courses available (for example, AP/IB/honors classes). Of course you should do well in them as well. If you feel like you can't take 8 AP classes in one year and do well (Hardly anyone can), then don't overload yourself and take them in moderation.

For extra curriculars, I uh, go to the gym every day, I do fencing and I do the astronomy club (though we haven't done anything with that for a while because of the weather). But I plan to take all AP classes when I can

Sounds good. Going to the gym is good for you but won't count as an EC lol. How's your fencing? Go to competitions and stand out from the rest. Same with astronomy, try to go for leadership positions.

Otherwise just follow the points I listed above as a general guideline.

Anything else?

I kind of suck at fencing right now... my friend is in the junior olympics and he kicks my ass, hard. I'd like to get better, though.

To add to/reiterate what Squall has said, volunteer for things. It looks great on an application when you can list off things that you have done, and there are ways to make a small event sound important.

My other piece of advice, apply for scholarships! Unless you have a nice set of parents who are willing to fit the bill, it gets expensive (duh)! Often you can also find scholarships that will help cover books and supplies as well as tuition, so apply for as much as you can. It's free money and will allow you to keep more of what you work for. Even if you don't think you're super qualified, you could be surprised.

Originally Posted by Amethyst

My other piece of advice, apply for scholarships! Unless you have a nice set of parents who are willing to fit the bill, it gets expensive (duh)! Often you can also find scholarships that will help cover books and supplies as well as tuition, so apply for as much as you can. It's free money and will allow you to keep more of what you work for. Even if you don't think you're super qualified, you could be surprised.[/b]

http://www.fastweb.com/

^ is a good start.

A lot of great scholarships are local though, and a lot easier to get because you won't be competing with everyone who has Internet. Search around.