Question about college

[WDWKing]

I'm just asking a question about getting into colleges. although im only a sophomore in HS I still think about it. My guidance counseler tells me that it would look good on a college application if I joined a club/sport. I have good grades so I was wondering, If I didn't join a club/sport would I NOT get accepted to the college?

 

[The Mom]

It depends upon the college. If you're planning on a Community college, probably not. If you're looking at an Ivy, Little Ivy, National Private, top-ranked state (UVA, U of P) etc., definitely!

 

[Lhriangel]

Get involved. It looks great on college apps... although some college are still going to pass you by... I mean I had tons of extracurriculars.. and was in the top 10% and still didn't get into my first choice. But i'm at UCLA and everyone tells me I'm doing good so I'll stop .

If you are into the arts think about something more academic or artsy rather than a "club" club ... Band? Theatre? Newspaper? the possibilities are endless. And if all else fails see if you can start your own club on campus. I'm sure a college would love that cause it shows you took initiative.

 

[DMC-12]

I was a huge slacker in High School... hated it bigtime...well that and I like moved 3 times from like Milwaukee to Chicago and back...3 different high schools was not fun... anyway... My last year and a half of High school I started getting better... took alot of writing courses and stuff..Found my niche....but my grades and record was sooooooooooo bad...I thought I would never get into any decent school... long story short... I busted my but...got a few great letters of recommendation... got accepted into a hoighty toighty Private Liberal Arts College in Evanston, IL (admin is something like 800 students I think)

Who woulda thunk it....LOL.
I got lucky I suppose.....kids...dont try this at home...lol

 

[The Mom]

College Admission is a game where you (the student) aren't given the rules! Sometimes it's as simple as the orchestra needing a first clarinet...that musician might get in when someone with a "better" transcript is rejected, because the school doesn't need another journalism major! My daughter was accepted at schools that had rejected classmates with equal or better transcripts...perhaps because of her intended major, or they liked her essay, or who knows what!

And soph. year is not too early to start making a list of potential schools...looking at websites...taking tours...I wish we had started sooner!

 

[tmp]

It all the depends-I had a friend who was #1 in the class and very involved in both clubs and sports. He was put on a waiting list at a local college, but got accepted and went to an Ivy league school. Schools look at alot of different things. At one time SAT's were real important then they said where they were still important not as much emphasis was put on the score. It really depends on where you want to go.

 

[WDWKing]

I'm in the band Angelique.

 

[DisJosh]

I wouldn't worry King. I got accepted into 3 colleges this past winter and I did squat all through High School. Not because I'm not into participating but it's as simple as the fact that schools dont accomidate for everyone. Had all the hours I had spent after school working on art projects and doing extra work on play sets ect counted I would have a really full aplication but none of those are considered extra curicular activities. I did however join the FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America) which I had and still have no interest in just so I would have one thing on my application. All the FBLA requires is signing up paying the 10 dollar dues and thats it. Attending the meetings are not manditory they don't take attendance or anything of that sort.

 

[Coronado]

Your counselor is right.... get into things.... find something you like..... do some sort of service work.... BUT the cold hard facts are: can you answer the question: "Do you now have or are you able to get enough money to pay for school?" Most colleges are interested in "the green backs" not whether you were the quarterback..... consider this.... There are students who go to schools like the one I teach at.... A technical school.... Our graduates make some serious money.... Ask the parents how much they pay to get their car fixed, Air Conditioning Repaired, or how much a perm and hair cut costs.... We have Computer techs that earn an A++ license (eran big bucks)... Practical Nurse, Surgery Tech, Vet Tech.... they make more than a teacher with with a five year degree and ten years experience.... I teach because I love to teach....Bottom line................... Find a career that you love....and .... you will never work because ....every day will be like play.....cool question....PS... spend the rest of your youth having fun.... It will carry over into adult life.... When I am at Disney.... I am as 14 as my daughter :animwink:

 

[Lhriangel]

Look into schools that you are interested in then find out what THEY look for...

I think that's the best bet.

 

[howlin_mad]

I'd worry more about grades than extra activities. You first need a good GPA and good scores on the SAT and/or ACT before you find clubs and stuff to do in your free time. If you do join a club, try to find one where you can have a position and show that you have responsibility and leadership skills. Sure it's good to know how to be a team player, but the whole team doesn't get to go to college. You need to find stuff that puts you above and beyond the other students. Sometimes that means having a special skill or hobby instead of being in a sport or club.

 

[The Mom]

Don't forget Community Service! ALL of the colleges we looked at stressed the fact that their students are involved in Community Service projects, so I would assume that they would like applicants to have been, also. My daughter was an officer in a service club, was asst editor of an "underground" newspaper, dances, and participates in several "individual" sports(but only casually). I'm sure that all of that, along with a good GPA, SAT & ACT scores made it easier. But I've got to agree with Howlin'....a good academic transcript (or incredible test scores)is most important! Most schools want both...some want it all!

Unless you're going to a specialized school...ART, etc.

 

[FutureCEO]

My junior year is ended now and taken my SAT's in June. I have a 3.5 GPA and tons of Community Service and Extra activities but my SAT's will be the key. I'm taken an SAT course at CCRI (Community College of Rhode Island). Cost is $800 but i'm getting in for free! Getting back to the topic, the college will probably accept you but won't give you tons of money if you did bad on your SAT's. If you did good, a lot of money.
If you don't understand this post, my allergies are acted up wicked bad so i can't think straight.

 

[howlin_mad]

And here's another tip: take the SATs and/or the ACTs as often as you can. Don't waste your time on the PSAT. It doesnt count and you're just better off taking the real thing anyway. The cool thing about the SATs (I'm not sure about the ACTs because I never took them) is that most colleges allow you to take your best math and best verbal sessions, and they don't have to be from the same test. For example, you can go all out and get a 600 math 300 verbal (900 total) one time, and get a 250 math and 550 verbal (800 total) the second time, but your overall score would be an 1150 (600 math and 550 verbal). Some colleges are fusy, but most only want to know your best scores from any test session.

 

[The Mom]

Howlin, I have to respectfully disagree on the PSATs! They are needed to qualify for National Merit Scholarships, and even if you aren't a finalist, the colleges do take notice if you're a semi-finalist! My daughter was offered several MERIT (we don't qualify for need-based )scholarships based solely on that basis...they were offered BEFORE she took the ACT and SAT!

I also suggest taking BOTH ACT and SAT, if at all possible. My daughter is much better verbally, and her ACT score reflected that more accurately than her SATs and even SAT II. (not that her verbal scores weren't great, but her math tended to "drag" her down a little)

 

[DisJosh]

Originally posted by FutureCEO
My junior year is ended now and taken my SAT's in June. I have a 3.5 GPA and tons of Community Service and Extra activities but my SAT's will be the key. I'm taken an SAT course at CCRI (Community College of Rhode Island). Cost is $800 but i'm getting in for free! Getting back to the topic, the college will probably accept you but won't give you tons of money if you did bad on your SAT's. If you did good, a lot of money.
If you don't understand this post, my allergies are acted up wicked bad so i can't think straight.

Oy another one from Rhode Island and you say nothing to me? Am I that scary. :veryconfu

 

[ToTBellHop]

Let's see. College admissions....SUCK. It all depends on where you want to go, and keep in mind, you could do everything in the world and still not get into the school of your dreams. For example--Cornell. I have a 4.2 GPA, 1410 on the SATs, am an Eagle Scout, member of NHS, Yearbook Editor, member of two Explorers Posts, have won a ton of awards, and I'm in five AP courses. Yet they wait-listed me. Why? No clue...I like to think it's because they are arrogant, ivy-league peeps who can do anything they want. Anyway, if you are applying to an Ivy League school, I will be honest with you. Grades are nothing. Why? Because EVERYONE who is accepted naturally gets all A's. So, if you don't, you're out, but if you do, it doesn't get you much. So, assuming you get excellent grades and do well on the SATs, extracurricular activities and community service projects are VITAL. You cannot possibly do too much. You are trying to sell yourself to the schools and want to look as well-rounded as possible, so involve yourself in a lot of extracurricular activities. Not to scare you or anything, but this year, especially, college admissions have been a NIGHTMARE. More students are applying to colleges now than ever before. All of the schools I applied to saw acceptance rates plummet as MANY more students applied this year, so many of those schools dropped to acceptance ratings of about 10 to 15%, which is ABSURD. This also means it is tougher to get merit based scholarships, so you do have to work hard in high school. That said, you will get into a good school and they will give you a lot of money if you keep your grades up and get involved in the community...just might not be your top pick. I might add most schools will offer an essay explicitly asking about your extracurricular activities and when you ask teachers for letters of recommendation at the end of your junior year, they will want a listing of all your activities, awards, jobs, and "special experiences" (i.e. did you go to Europe? are you a student ambassador somewhere? etc). Oh...oh...oh...do you possibly want to major in...biology??? That is one of the most popular majors this year...therefore it's tougher to get into that program. By the way...smaller, private universities will treat you nicer than Ivies...like...St. Lawrence University is giving me $84000 is scholarship and will pay for me to study abroad in Australia...

Regardless, good luck sir! To answer your question simply...if you want to go to a really good school and have no extracurricular activities...odds are they won't accept you.

 

[The Mom]

Kyle is absolutely right! Straight A
valedictorians with 1400+ SATs are a dime a dozen at Ivies, and Little Ivies. You've got to have something "extra" that the school wants.

 

[NowInc]

I had a really high SAT score, a 4.0 average in high school, band, theater, etc....did I apply to a good college? Nope...went to art school where none of that mattered.

It all comes down to where you want to go. If you want to be a doctor, and go to a great school...go that extra mile. But if you want to be an "artist"...you dont have to try so hard.

 

[ToTBellHop]

So, uh...what do you want to study? That's the first step.