What will help me get into college??

Question

I am a great student, with about a 3.75 gpa, at sophomore year, without the AP grade bump. I do Cross Country in the fall, and Track in the Spring. In the summer I spend my time working at a tech camp for kids all summer. And that's really about it. I want to go to a school like Stanford, what should I try to do to make my chances of getting in greater??? I like tech stuff, and sharing my thoughts, and sports (especially fantasy), so any ideas on what I can do to improve my chances.

Answer 1

Honestly, it sounds like you're on a wonderful track.  As long as you stay involved with extracurricular activities such as sports, they should easily accept you.  Stanford can be competitive, so if you can take on any leadership roles or want to take them on, that can only help you.  Otherwise, keep up what you're doing and you should be fine!

Answer 2

Colleges look at your high school attendance, the grade on your S.A.T, and the grade on your OGT. The OGT is the Ohio graduation test but if you don't live in Ohio like I do, your state should also have a graduation test that you have to take in order to pass the 12th grade. For me (as a sophomore), I have to take the OGT this school year, and those scores will determine my standing in college. Keep your grades up and be a good student! I hope I helped! :]

Answer 3

of course a extremely high SAT or ACT score, and the essay that you write when you apply to college will have to really show your personality, colleges look at that the most in those essays. You are on the right track doing AP and with the good gpa. Just keep what you doing.  Also, it would probably help you if you want to get into stanford is to somehow talk to someone that goes there or works there and give you some insight what they are looking for an incoming freshmen.  

Answer 4

it sure does sound like your on track.  Dont get off track is the most important thing here.  Give me a call after January in your senior year and we will see if your still dedicated.  Thats the hardest time of year to stay focused but if your going to a great school, you dont have the luxury of s******g around.  You have to stay focused for the next 2 to 3 years.

Things big schools look at and in no particular order or emphasis are:

1. GPA

2. courses taken (did you just take algebra or did you take trig, calculus as well as algebra and geometry)

2. extra curricular stuff like sports, school offices debate team and so on, the more the better

3. SAT or ACT scores as well as state test scores, some states use different tests but all count in one way or another.  Tests are becoming less and less important these days though and might not even be used by the time you get into college.

4. community activities like volunteer work at the homeless shelter

5. entrance essay.  Some school require, request or allow for entrance essays to be written by you explaining why you think you want to go to school at their school.

6. entrance interview.  Again some school request, require or allow for an entrance interview.  This interview would be a question answer period and would allow the interviewer time to get to know you and how you operate.  You would talk about why you want to be there, why you think you should be allowed to be there and what you have done to deserve being there.  Not only do they get you to spell out your history but they get a feel for how you carry yourself and act.  Saying things like "ya", "um" and "like you know" are all good ways to not get accepted.  Catch my drift?

7. race, creed and orgin sometimes come into play.  Depending on your heritage, orgin or race, it sometimes plays a factor that may or may not be of benefit to you.  Black woman for example are usually given a leg up in the process since they fill the criteria of two minorities and schools have to show the government that they are equal opportunity players when deciding who they will let in.  It looks bad for a school to only let white people in, so they sometimes use a quota system to ensure everyone is allowed through their front door.

8. references.  References can come from alumni from the school in question, teachers, counselors, principles, political officials such as the mayor or a congress person and so on.  Keep this in mind and think ahead on your references so that you dont suprise a teach that doesn't really like you for a reference.  You might inquire at your congressman's office if they provide references to individuals and how you go about obtaining them.  They often use a competition type selection process where by on a certain number are awarded.  These in particular are of extreme importance and of high priority for schools like the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.

GOOD LUCK