my school hardly assigns papers, and the best/only one i have is from a history class of my junior year.
the actual analysis and independent writing is 1.5 pages, but requires the context of the brief source descriptions that were a required part of the assignment. all in all, without teacher comments, the paper is 9 pages.
should i rearrange it so that the writing is at the top, even without context? should i wait until my first timed essay in ap lit this coming year? any advice would be appreciated!!!

Give some advice

I’m applying for a course abroad, and the professor who taught me at my current college is a visiting professor. I worked under him for two years. Can he write my letter of recommendation?

Hey everyone,

I want to study in the US at a need-blind T10 school (with Harvard, MIT, Brown, Yale, and Princeton being my primary goals), and I’ve realized that there seems to be a huge emphasis on taking the most rigorous coursework available to you.

I was originally thinking about taking Further Mathematics A Level, but I changed my mind because I’d heard that US universities don’t care about it that much. But maybe they actually do?

For context, A Levels are a set of British standardized exams, with separate exams for different subjects. For students who want to take maths, the standard option is A Level Mathematics, but there is also Further Mathematics, which covers significantly more advanced and difficult topics.

I would appreciate it if an (former/current) admissions officer on here took their time to answer. (Or anyone who feels that they are knowledgeable on the topic)

Thank you in advance!

Hi, I’m posting to this subreddit because I don’t have enough karma for the premed one. I think this subreddit still counts, though.

I’m a first-gen college student who graduated high school a year early and ended up going to UCSB for one quarter. Unfortunately, I ended up in a horrible situation with a roommate who sexually harassed me. To put it simply, I ended up with an NP in one music class and a W from an intro chem class.

I feel like I fucked up horribly. I withdrew and left UCSB, and now I’m back home hoping to enroll at community college and eventually transfer to another university. But as a premed, I feel like this really ruined my chances of fulfilling my dream of going to medical school, and it honestly really hurts me.

Is this really going to affect me negatively? I’m still going to try, and I truly never had bad grades before this and don’t plan on failing anything else. It’s just that this one situation really messed me up.

Hi. I'm a california senior mainly applying ucs and a couple private in states like chapman, stanford, and usc. I have a moderate gpa (uc calculated is 4.11), normal unweighted is 3.8. I go to a highly competitive charter school and although my stats are good I'm slightly below average compared to my peers. I don't have a huge bulk of ecs, and I will definitely struggle to hit all 10 for the ucs. Do you think its worth it to try and join nhs and csf (both academic honors/community service clubs) at my school? Or do you think colleges will just see the only in 12th grade and immediately dismiss it.. lmk. I'm aware these aren't crazy ecs either, pretty average, but would it be beneficial at all or seem superficial? lmk

Hi everyone, I’m applying to Korean universities for Spring 2027 and I’m starting to overthink my application a little 😭
I’m applying to:
Yonsei UIC — Culture and Design Management
Korea University — International Studies (already submitted)
SKKU — Human Science and Society
Sejong — Media & Communication
My GPA is 3.6, I ranked 7/54 in my graduating class, and I have a 6.5 IELTS.
One of my biggest extracurriculars is an Instagram account that I co-manage. I started it as a hobby in Grade 9, and it eventually grew to 22K+ followers. I’ve worked with different brands, marketing agencies, media/entertainment companies, etc., and have done around 30–50 paid campaigns. I also edit content, manage the page, communicate with agencies, and have made some money from it.
The thing is, I didn’t mention the Instagram account at all in my Korea University application, which I’ve already submitted. I focused more on my academic interests, MUN, exchange experience, and other activities.
Do you think that was a mistake? Or is it okay to emphasize different experiences depending on the major?
I’m also about to start an internship at a marketing agency. They said they can give me a certificate after I finish. I’m wondering if this would actually help my applications, especially for Yonsei CDM and Sejong Media & Communication.
My biggest concern is SKKU. I chose Human Science and Society, but now I’m worried because a lot of my recent experience is related to content creation and marketing. I’m not sure if my profile will look disconnected from HSS.
I also have other ECs like MUN, graphic design, an exchange semester, football, volunteering, archery, ballet, etc.
So basically:
Was it a mistake not to mention my Instagram in my Korea University application?
Would a marketing internship actually add anything to my application?
Does my background make sense for SKKU HSS?
Should I present my ECs differently for each university/major?

Hi Reddit,
My daughter is a rising senior and getting ready to apply for college. Unlike many here I don't think she's pining for a top 20 school or Ivy League, but she's a good student and focused on doing well in school.

She took the SATs and I'd say she got an average score (about 1200). She's planning on taking again but not putting in a ton of work to improve. So I wouldn't expect much above a 1300.

She's a wonderful kid, has a 4.0 gpa (unweighted, as they don't do weighting), has taken a lot of AP classes, passed and got 4s on the exams. She's also been in a kind-of medical track throughout HS that will have her doing almost half her time her senior year in a rotating internship program, field work in various medical settings. She's works at a local childcare center 2 afternoons a week and is in advanced dance (ballet, jazz, contemporary, etc.,) which she's done for 13 years. Shes been very engaged in the community over the years and is a good leader.

She wants a mid-sized school that isn't our local state universities. So likely out of state. We live in the PNW. She is imagining she'll do a premed type track, with ambitions of going into pediatrics. But we will see.

Given her resume, grades, SAT and gpa, how aggressive should we be with applying to better schools? If SATs are "optional" in many places why do they seem so important to so many on this site?

She's well-rounded, and thoughtful, but she would likely also benefit from a school that challenges her to grow into herself--more of a liberal arts bent would probably be good--but she wants a larger or mid-dozed school with good school spirit. Any obvious good, but not elite schools come to mind that we should be looking at?

Money will be a factor, because we now earn too much to quality for a lot of financial aid scholarships but haven't saved sufficiently (or responsibly enough, maybe?) over the years, most of which we didn't earn a lot of money so saving was tough.

I realize a lot of this sub is kids applying to school, but if anyone has advice or universities that stand out it would be greatly appreciated. Love Reddit for that. Thanks!

I was recently selected as a finalist for this scholarship and I have my interview in less than A WEEK. I'm super nervous because I've never interviewed for something like this before--does anyone have any advice or insight into what kind of question they might ask?! And what I should focus on in my responses? I know that they're gonna be familiar with my application but I don't know what kind of questions they will ask or how I can add more value to my application. Thank you!

title

Throughout high school, I have conducted environmental microbiology research and have received several awards and publications for my work. I later used this research as the foundation for a startup, which allowed me to combine my interest in environmental science with my broader passion for business and economics.

I’m wondering how I can best connect these experiences in my college application. Would it make sense to frame my research and startup as part of a larger interest in the economic and business side of environmental solutions? Also, should I rank my environmental research highly on my extracurricular list because of its significance and recognition, or prioritize my more directly business- and economics-related activities?

I struggled a lot in college a few years ago and applied for academic renewal. I have been getting all A's but I still have 4 C's from a long time ago. I could apply for TAG at UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, or UC Merced for Fall 2027 now with my current GPA. I will have 72 credits by the end of Spring 2027 and 87 by the end of Summer 2027. I have spoken with a counselor. I am wondering if it is better to apply now for TAG Fall 2027 since the UC system only takes 70 credits.

The other option is to apply for TAG Fall 2028 or Winter/Spring 2028 General Admission, knowing many of my credits won't transfer, but my GPA would be higher so I would have more campus options. I also want to get a masters or PHD after graduation so this adds on more years of school.

Academically I am open to going to any of them but I am worried about the housing availability in Santa Cruz if I don't get a dorm after the guaranteed one year. I also want to major or double major in either Economics, History, or Political Science so I would rather be in a major city or state capital, which Merced isn't really. While I am open to the schools and campus life, I am worried about making a lot of connections or friends in a place I don't plan on living in long term. I'm not really worried these issues at Riverside.

I would rather apply to the UC system because of their focus on academic research. The positives of waiting would be more campus options and each campus has different proximity to different companies, cities, or internship opportunities. Davis is near the state capital. Berkeley is in the bay area near a lot of companies and federal buildings, and I am more of a city person in general. But for the campuses alone, I have heard great things about the academic quality from people who went to all of them, and they are ranked higher than most schools out of state.

Hi, I hope you’re all doing well. The title says it all. I’m expecting to see a rise to 3.5 by the end of the semester. It’s therefore not strategic to apply ED. I’m wondering: what’s possible? What’s likely? Straight A’s freshman year slumped through sophomore year and culminated in failing a couple STEM AP’s junior year. I’m on track for straight A’s this year with two AP’s.

The reason for this low GPA lies in my not doing homework, so I didn’t learn.

I have overall taken six AP’s, will end this schoolyear with 8– and presumably six 5’s. I’ve so far received four AP 5s and they’re all in the humanities, which is the half my planned major is in.

ECs are short but sweet. Leading a big club and being a four-year member of another. There’s always been a lot more in the works but nothing tangible.

Any advice? I know it’s highly variable. My strategy is really just to bank on a good college essay and shotgun-apply, but I’m wondering if I can squeeze anything else out or get into anything “above my league” in terms of GPA. Finances aren’t a concern. Admission into a prestigious school with great networks is priority #1.

when i was a senior in high school I only applied to one in state school because I was too scared to face rejection from other schools. i graduated with a 3.9 uw and 4.1 w grade point average and a 30 on the ACT and six 5s on the seven ap exams i took. im going to school for stuido art and the school i chose has 0 opportunities for me artistically. I havent made any friends and the program isn't rigorous and is in a nowhere city with 0 opportunities for art students. they continue to cut funding for the art programs and continously cut art scholarships. i feel so trapped here. i feel so insecure about my decision and I regret going here so much. If I transfer I'll be even more alone but if I stay here I'll be miserable. I dont even know where to transfer or go. everywhere is so expensive and I dont qualify for need based aid. i feel like i can't get into these difficult liberal arts colleges or art schools and even if I did magically get into one i wouldn't be able to afford it without serious loans. i feel so trapped and insecure and like ive hit a wall, i have no idea what to do or where to go or i feel like i cant do anything. ive been here 3 weeks and hate myself so much for going here. I hate greek life and how obsessed with partying everything is. i feel so trapped and alone and insecure and like i cant go anywhere

Hello everyone! I need some advice on classes I should be taking in high school that would look better on my college application. I’m currently thinking about majoring in finance, and I just wanted advice on classes I should take. I have the option to choose between Physics (with a lab period one day a week) or AP Macro and Microeconomics. The AP Macro and Micro classes are taken through Apex Online Learning, but they still count for credits at my school as the school pays for the classes. Macro and Micro are one semester each, while physics is a full year. So I can either take Macro and Micro or just regular Physics. I’m really debating it because I heard it’s good to take Physics in High School, but I could really benefit from taking Macro and Micro, especially since they are in an online format. I’m also debating Physics as my science classes have not been the best, and I want to show some rigor in my transcript. Any thoughts?

basically is it better to use numbers or descriptions or wtv to show ur club was real

My top college is currently SJSU because of how "close" it is to me, and also because of its proximity to Silicon Valley, which I think would open up a lot of job opportunities for me after college. However, I'm still exploring other options that aren't as local. I have SF State (because that's the school closest to me), East Bay, and Sac State as of rn, but I'm still trying to finalize my list.

(PS I don't want to go out of state)

Hi, so I'm on my country's debate team, and wanted to know what r some other extracurriculars I can do. I'm interested in public policy, philosophy, Econ & math

Is there actually no info on how ED went for umich last year? I'm in state and just know that almost everyone got deferred. I'm planning on doing it but cant find anything about acceptance rates or if they even rejected people.

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Tunnel vision? For the past week or so, I have had absolutely no idea what to write for my last PIQ. I’ve done prompt 3,5,6, proofread and everything. I’ve been focusing on school lately as a way to switch subjects and then go back in with a fresh mind. Still, nothing. My main problem is that the topics that came out when trying to write about other PIQ’s is the same one I’ve used to write my other three. Sure it’s ideas, but when I do write about it, it ends up being similar to one of the three I wrote. It just feels like I’m running in circles.

If you’ve gone through the same thing, what did you do?

So I posted a few days ago asking what I would need to be competitive for an OOS full ride. I added some context for why I wanted this, explaining some family-related issues and how they controlled my sibling by threatening to cut her tuition.

literally someone replied saying it's basically impossible, that there's no hope for me, and that they also didn't need to hear about my family issue. btw i didn't even give them my stats...

sure, it might be impossible for me to achieve my dreams, but what baffles me is the utter lack of empathy from some people. at least TRY to be nice.

please don't take whatever ppl say in the replies of your post on anything in reddit to heart. some ppl are just haters and i learned that when i made my post in this subreddit :)

Okie so I'm a senior and I got a 1450 (720RW/730M) and I'm really not wanting to take it again!! I've got mid ECs (mainly family responsibilities, part-time job, and STEM related ECs w/ no award or anything...) and a 3.98/4, 4.85/5 with all IB and doing the IBDP program. I really am looking towards BU, BC, UTAustin, Ohio State, Georgetown, and UVA.

I just wanna know if my stats match some other alumnus stats and if any anthro/socio/premed majors at these schools have any advice for applying there!

just wondering if its cheesy to drop an acknowledgment somewhere in a supp that you are aware another human is reading your application and speak directly to them. obviously this wouldn’t be the main premise of the essay but i feel like it wld make them remember u more and it would be a good way to show ur not a robot and u actually have a sense of humour

I do makeup for people a lot and have recently turned it into a "business" (i do a few people's makeup for cheap) and it's going well so far. Would people do this in college? Like can i expect broke college students to pay for makeup for... idek what? I need money