What can I do to improve my chances of getting into a selective university and am I on the right track?Answered
I'm currently a sophomore (class of '25) at a small school in West Virginia (~500 students). I have not taken the SAT or PSAT yet as I haven't had the opportunity to. That being said, I am taking the most rigorous classes available to me currently. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA as I was unable to take weighted classes last year due to county policy. This year I'm able to take a dual credit class for both college and high school credits, an AP course, three honors classes, and hopefully another AP if there is not any schedule conflicts. I start on our school's varsity softball team and play summer and fall travel softball (I don't have much interest to play on the colligate level, but I am willing if it's for one of the schools on my list). I am also in Student Council and FBLA in which I won first place at the state level and competed at nationals. Recently I joined the Boy Scouts and hope to devote myself enough to become an Eagle Scout before I graduate.
As I've asked previously asked, what can I do to improve my chances to de admitted to selective universities (Ivy's, top twenty, etc.)? Would summer programs or taking courses at a local university over summer break be recommended?
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2 answers
Besides doing your best to write stellar essays, extracurriculars are the main area you should focus on improving. Taking classes at a local university is certainly a good idea, though there are other extracurriculars you can pursue as well. You will want as many ECs as possible to be Tier 1 or 2 activities. Many of them should also relate to your major/career of interest. Hope this helps!
Hi Maranda! You should definitely take courses at your local university or do a summer program if there are any in your area. And also maybe get a few more extracurriculars over the summer too. Good luck!
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Wow, a 4.0 GPA with that course load is impressive! Considering your situation, how important do you think standardized test scores are for college admissions?
From my experience, they can still be helpful, especially if you're aiming for more competitive schools. Since you haven't taken them yet, focus on preparing thoroughly, but don't let it overshadow your excellent GPA and extracurriculars.