Everybody dreams of going to a top school. Yet only a few are willing to put in the real work.
Let’s look at some basic statistics first as a foundation for top school admissions.
First, your grades. For both Harvard and Stanford, you want to be taking the hardest classes offered at your school, such as advanced placement classes, and achieving high grades throughout your high school career. Your GPA is very important. Some top colleges even have a cutoff for a certain GPA, and this is reasonable. If you have a low GPA in high school, how would colleges expect you to handle the rigorous curriculum, especially in areas such as ivy league facilities?
Next, your test scores. Your SAT and ACT scores are significant to even consider getting admitted to a top school. Start preparing for your SAT and ACT tests as soon as possible, so that you have an advantage over other students, and you can maximize your results. A reasonable goal would be to aim above the 75th percentile - 1580 on SAT and 36 on ACT.
Remember, this is just the foundation. Just having great grades will not get you anywhere, because top schools look for students who have real passion for their cause.
Now, how do you express your passion for schools? Your passion and drive can be expressed in two main areas: places in extracurriculars and your overall college application. Let’s talk about the extracurriculars first. Start volunteering in your community for a cause you feel passionate about. Try to continue in that same area for as long as possible. There are awards available for volunteering achievements as well, such as the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Next, you want to spend your summers wisely. School has just let out and all you want to do is sleep. You aren’t alone. But the truly determined will find a way to make their summers count. This can be through internships, fellowships, jobs, or just spending time to do something related to your passions, such as passion projects. Passion projects are a huge standout to colleges. They show that you are ready to take initiative for your cause. For example, if you are interested in coding, you can build websites based on problems you find in your everyday life. Maybe you can even turn that website into something of a business to show your entrepreneurial spirit.
Lastly, your overall college application. Make sure you prepare by writing and preparing for your essays, and really be yourself to show the college admissions officers that you have the potential to be someone great. Make sure your overall application tells an inspiring story about who you are and the value that you bring. You can do it!
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