What Can I Do?
I am currently a junior in high school who is looking to do something related to criminology or forensic sciences in college. I also want to minor in Chinese to help get a job in the criminal justice system.
GPA: UW 4.0 W 4.75
I have done marching band for three years and I am going to be doing it my senior year too along with two seasons of winter guard. I am in my school's jazz band, brass choir, and their wind ensemble.
I have taken mandarin classes since kindergarten and am currently in the highest class that my school offers, Mandarin Capstone. I have done mandarin speeches since they started in first grade and have gotten first place in every individual competition. I completed last year in a state competition and I place 2nd. I ended up getting a free study abroad trip in China for a week over the summer.
I got a 4 on AP Seminar and AP Chinese but only a 3 on AP World. This year I am taking AP Lang, APUSH, and AP Biology. Next year I plan on taking AP Gov and econ, AP Environmental, AP Calc, and AP Psych.
I have 300+ volunteer hours and I volunteer at a resale shop where all the money goes to an animal shelter. I have also donated hygiene and food items to domestic abuse drives.
I also tutor during school and after school, totaling 60+ hours.
I am also in Mandarin National Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Global Studies (secretary), Ted Ed, Book club, and am getting the Certificate of Academic Distinction.
I guess I'm just wondering what more I have to do to get scholarships and out of state colleges (particularly UC schools). I want to do more with criminology and that kind of stuff but I don't know where to volunteer or how to do it.
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1 answer
This all sounds fantastic! When you’re talking to colleges about your experiences, try using the XYZ method to make your accomplishments stand out. In this method:
X = what you accomplished
Y = how you accomplished it
Z = the measurable result or impact
For example, instead of saying “I volunteered at a community event,” you could say “I organized a community safety fair (X) by coordinating with local law enforcement and student volunteers (Y), which helped over 200 residents learn about crime prevention (Z).” This approach makes your achievements sound more professional and results-driven.
To strengthen your resume even more, consider getting involved in activities that connect directly to criminology:
Volunteer or intern at a local police department, courthouse, or community outreach program.
Shadow a criminologist, detective, or forensic analyst for a few days to gain real-world insight.
Join or start a school club related to law, debate, or social justice.
Take relevant classes if your school offers them—courses like Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or Forensic Science are great foundations.
Participate in academic competitions such as mock trial, Model UN, or ethics bowl to build analytical and communication skills.
Engage in community service projects that focus on public safety, youth mentorship, or rehabilitation programs.
Since you’re already taking AP Psychology (which is excellent), you might also want to explore AP Sociology if available. Depending on your future goals within criminology—whether that’s forensic science, criminal profiling, or law enforcement—continuing with AP science courses like Chemistry would also be beneficial.
These experiences not only make your college applications stronger but also help you discover which area of criminology truly excites you. Hope this helps!
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