Can extracurricular activities save me?

[acri1]

Sure everything helps, you want to focus on things that show leadership, and you want your lor to come from community leaders not just your teachers, you did not mention your standardized test scores, your gpa is barely decent but a 90 percentile in standardized testing will definitely put you over the top

Reminds me of myself.

I only graduated HS with a 2.9 GPA (and no extracurriculars), but got a 29 on the ACT and 1300/1600 on the SAT (didn't study either). My lazy ass should really have been able to get a decent scholarship.

But, to threadstarter, try to get high test scores and sell yourself to the school. And if you don't get in, there are always other places.

 

[tmonster]

To Op

a few words I wish someone told me before I ever step foot on a college campus (Part 1)

1. You get ~four years to pickle your brain in all the information (and the best organized) the existentially orphaned human race has managed to collect for the past 3,000 years or so. So. Pickle. That. Bad. Boy!!!!

DO NOT GET A JOB DURING COLLEGE.
Your time off is for
a. extra reading beyond the scope of the course

b. socialize with professors in various colloquies: by entering college (especially pursuing such a competitive academic seat) you are implicitly claiming that you want academics as your colleagues for the rest of your life, so get to know the lay of their land (trust me, unless mama or papa was an academic, you ain't in Kansas anymore), get to know how their hierarchies and socio-political structure work. (This latter point is some big pimpin' shyt that you won't understand until years later, you will get so good at greasing the academic wheels and rubbing the elbow patches, that you won't even realize it until you see how klutsy your peers who don't engage their professors behave when the need arises. It's the type of maneuvering that leads to never having to actually apply for a job for the rest of your life. )

c. Sleep

d. Get laid (Get in and get out)

e. Do research (you should be seeking a research advisor your first year on campus, even if all you are qualified to do is wash the beakers or feed the rats, it's ok! shine those beakers and keep those rats fat)

2. Your job in college is to learn American ENGLISH and then the ENGLISH of your major. The average publication made for laymen are written in fifth grade level English.
NEVER FORGET THAT and so
a) Always read with a dictionary by your side
b) Always look up words that even look remotely unfamiliar
c) love words, love them, love them, love them, seek new ones, the more the merrier
d) hang around people who are not only unashamed to speak college level English but genuinely enjoy it, especially in your major. If you are a chemistry major then spend time daily speaking "chemistry" to someone
e) Show up to class ready to practice the language of that class, that's why you need time to read before class, that's why you can't be flipping burger at Wendy's. Yes you may sound stupid at first but you will grow by intellectual leaps and bounds over those who show up unprepared and stay silent.

3. All the books, old exams and syllaby for the classes you will take next semester are available now with a modicum of detective work, so what are you waiting for? Cheat legally and start studying today, take practice exams and all. the goal should always be to have the first two exams worth of material under your belt before you enter the classroom on day 1. Do this every semester and you may just be summa cum laude at graduation.

3a. Always scout professors before you take them. They may be crazy, needlessly harsh or maybe even racist. You won't know until you ask around. Doing a little homework can help you avoid the nutjobs and protect your transcript.

4. Prepare your four year class schedule today. Just grab a college bulletin (it will have the information you need) and organize all the classes you will need to graduate and in what sequence TODAY. This road map will let you see that college is a closed ended affair, it is not forever and you control your destiny and path through it. THIS IS VERY EMPOWERING. It will also save you money since you will have a list of needed classes to select from on the fly in case the classes you want to register for are closed, that situation often leads the unprepared student to take a filler class not needed for their graduation, but this won't happen to you ever, because of your preparation.

5. THE DICTA MAXIMA
When in doubt, defend your transcript

​

to be continued

 

[tmonster]

And im regretting my laziness because I havent really been trying to get a good GPA because my high school shyt was like at 1.5, so anything more than a 3.0 was great to me. Now im a lil older, and I wish I would have tried to get As in all my classes, I could have if I put the time in, but i've been doing the bare minimum. I will be ale to bring it up to a 3.6 maybe a 3.7 if I finish off the next year and a half with A's.

TO Op
a few words I wish someone told me before I ever step foot on a college campus (Part 2)

Regret is the worse thing to get in life, so heed this warning
Life, the comedian that she is, will give you a chance to fukk this up again (to spell it out: Once or twice more in your life, you will get the choice, your (academic) success will be in the balance against your "laziness")
the only question is will she get another laugh at your expense
or will your eyes be wide open the next time around and you seize the successive moments with energy and determination; and trust me THEY. WILL. BE. SUCCESSIVE! Nothing in life worth doing, beyond the satisfaction of your base instincts, can be accomplished with immediacy that matches the desire of the want. Instead success and accomplishment will yield itself only to the most persistent and patient of men/women; those willing to stick it out and progress, day by day, month by month, year by year. Personally I believe this is why success tend to follow people who can keep their fires deep in their bellies-hidden from those who would seek to squelch it- and allow it to burn slow, fueling them daily, raising them, when life throws them down. and if you are one of those and simply stick to your task, you will accumulate something greater than the invested time and sweat, and you will have a long lasting last laugh.

To leave the flowery language behind, here are some practical things to remember, specifically hen it comes to college

1. Always remember that you have a relatively great mind, especially when it comes to language and learning, but she won't communicate with you her machination of inspiration or intuition as they unwind, ie: YOU WON'T KNOW WHEN, OR THAT, YOU ARE LEARNING UNTIL THE LAST "AHA!, I GET IT" MOMENT.
That's why you have to stick to your studies even when you seem to be getting nowhere in learning a new concept or idea. Your mind would have been processing and making new neural connections the whole time without telling you and if you quit in before the "aha moment" you will have never known. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PERTINENT WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTIVE, AND EVEN CREATIVE, WRITING. The key is to keep exposing yourself to the difficult process, even when it won't give the immediate positive reinforcement and you feel a little inadequate. The whole idea is very much akin to lifting weights, the more you do it the better you get at it and the more of it you can do.

2. Sleep immediately after studying a difficult concept, Even if it is just a 30 minute nap in a quiet corner of the library. Sleeping is like digestive time for the mind, you will often find yourself dreaming about the subject. Research has proven the efficacy of doing this.

2b. When you wake up have a brief chat or correspondence with a professor about your questions, then return to your studies.

To be continued

 

[alybaba]

No, transferring to Stanford isn't going to happen and if it does, I don't think you're eligible for most financial aid as a transfer student. Go to a solid state school and graduate (relatively) debt-free instead.

 

[Richard Wright]

There are plenty of great schools in cali. Focus more on a plan of action in terms of getting to where you want be instead of focusing on one school. With a crazy essay you have a shot though

 

[Raiders]

No, transferring to Stanford isn't going to happen and if it does, I don't think you're eligible for most financial aid as a transfer student. Go to a solid state school and graduate (relatively) debt-free instead.

I know my chances of getting in are slim to none, but Im broker than broke, and so are my parents. I think if by some miracle I do get in that financial aid will cover me. It's another one of the reaso's I want to go because they have good financial resources for those in need.

But yeah that is my plan, to apply to a shyt tone of schols, and then see what is the best one I can go to for free pretty much.

There are plenty of great schools in cali. Focus more on a plan of action in terms of getting to where you want be instead of focusing on one school. With a crazy essay you have a shot though

I know, I have a long list of school I will apply to, but I do want to go to Stanford, and Im trying to see my chances, I dont want to tell everybody I want to go there if I really have no chance of getting in.

@tmonster on the advice keep it coming, your words are having a positive impact on me bruh

 

[tmonster]

I know my chances of getting in are slim to none, but Im broker than broke, and so are my parents. I think if by some miracle I do get in that financial aid will cover me. It's another one of the reaso's I want to go because they have good financial resources for those in need.

But yeah that is my plan, to apply to a shyt tone of schols, and then see what is the best one I can go to for free pretty much.

I know, I have a long list of school I will apply to, but I do want to go to Stanford, and Im trying to see my chances, I dont want to tell everybody I want to go there if I really have no chance of getting in.

Don't ever be afraid to stake your desired rank in matters you don't control if you lose in front of everyone, do so with grace, it will give you a reputation for having mythical courage and humility at the same time. You have Zero control over the process at this point, so relax. Off topic but related to college life, is my belief that a willingness to openly wear your heart on your sleeve is a very useful approach to women as well. In general you should always go after the girl you think is out of your league and don't worry about doing so in front of everyone, if she shoots you down, handle it with humor, in fact you may even want to feign a little vulnerability by telling her that "she broke your heart". Do this enough and public rejection will stop bothering you and every once in a while you will get exactly what you want out of life, just because you were willing to ask when the moment was there. If you succeed with 1 out of 10 dime pieces you speak to, you still have a dime piece and you really only need one. And you will have a reputation for being courageous and humble at the same time. Remember college is probably where you will find your wife, so hunt well and reach for the stars (#YOLO).

BUT

be afraid to stake your desired rank or claim in matters you do control, as you run the risk appearing unprepared if you do fail. what is the practical implication of this

-When you first enter an environment where your capabilities will be tested set the expectations low for yourself and then blow them out the water with solid work and make it all look effortless (don't complain about work load, always show up fresh and clean and with a good attitude). Again this will give you a reputation of legendary proportions

-Always let your professors speak uninterrupted, even when you feel like jumping in to show how smart you are, remember this is what they do for a living so unless you are sure you have a truly original thought or an informed question don't interrupt them. Besides you never know what gem they may have dropped on you right as you interrupted.

Lastly
Don't be afraid to pay more for an ivy league degree, it's a good investment if you bout that life

@tmonster on the advice keep it coming, your words are having a positive impact on me bruh

lol, no problem
the truth is that with the right guidance and a willingness to make college your only business you will have a lot of success.