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4 hours agoAdmissions Advice
Admissions Advice
[edited]
Discussion
classof2029

I'm a ninth grader looking for advice!

Hi guys, I'm a ninth grader, who dreams of going to a t30 school (UPenn, Hopkins, etc.). I was looking for assistance in making some decisions regarding my extra curricular activities, as well as regarding my academic selections and test scores.

Here are my ECs currently:

Literary & Writing

Founded a literary magazine for high school students, providing a platform for scholarly works and promoting student engagement in research.

Staff writer for the school newspaper, producing articles on technology, science, and history.

Music

French Horn: First chair in youth and school orchestras, performing in concerts and competitions.

Selected for an all-region youth band as Fourth Chair Hornist.

STEM & Robotics

Head of CAD for a high school robotics team; led the team to be the only one in the state to successfully execute a complex competition task.

Mentored two middle school robotics teams, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Judged regional robotics competitions, supporting young STEM innovators while developing leadership and analytical skills.

Designed and built innovative robots independently, enhancing engineering skills and creativity.

Research & Academics

Collaborated on a two-week research project with a university professor; presented findings at an undergraduate-level research conference, improving analytical and presentation skills.

Conducted independent research on Chinese–Indian political relations and interdisciplinary topics in medicine, history, and policy.

Community Service

Mentored non-English-speaking students with autism, teaching English to improve language skills and integration.

Employment & Internships

Medical internship at a healthcare facility, gaining clinical experience and deepening passion for healthcare.

Sports & Athletics

Competed at a private tennis academy, developing skills, discipline, and a competitive mindset.

Member of the Academic Team, honing quick-thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills through competitions.

Leadership & Clubs

Founded and led a literary magazine, managing editorial and recruitment processes.

Mentored robotics teams and served in leadership roles in STEM competitions and events.

In addition, I have taken several CollegeBoard practice PSATs, and have scored a 1390 (perfect reading score), 3.9 GPA

How am I looking overall? Do I even have a shot at top schools? What activities do you guys think would be most valuable to continue/focus on?

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What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

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