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Hey everyone...I'm curious as to see what else I could improve...with all this hearsay about what colleges look for, I think I've covered the whole spectrum of "good student qualities"...or maybe not? Let me know what you think...(btw, i'm a junior, so i haven't taken quite a few tests yet)

PSAT: 780 M, 740 V (1520 total, 221 index-- National Merit)

SAT(only taken once so far--plan to improve): 780 M, 690 V (1470 total)

GPA: about 4.5 cum. (4.0 scale w/ weighted honors/ap)

Class rank: 25 / 725 (thats what i get for not taking honors chemistry...my grad. class is WAY too competitive -- that rank should improve after this year tho, with my 5.0gpa this year)

APs taken (or to be taken) by high school completion:
-AP Stat
-AP Euro
-AP Econ
-AP Gov't
-AP French 5 (skipped 4)
-AP English 4
-AP Calculas
-AP Physics II (maybe, maybe not)

I want to go into business.

ECs:
-College business course over the summer at Ithaca (grade:A)
-Summer business program at Haverford College (1st place award for business plan)
-Treasurer (2 years) for Jewish youth group
-President of Junior Achievement club (entrepreneurship club, essentially)
-Math League member
-French club member
-National Honors society member
-FBLA member (submitted business plan for competition...probably win something or another)
-7+ years of piano lessons & composition
-enrolled in presidential classroom 1 week business program
-Tutor middle school students in various areas
-Work as computer technician at pediatric office

BIG things (i think, at least)
-started many companies (on and off internet)-- most recent, grossing $10,000 in first 12 months
-starting club to assist developmentally challenged at my high school and in my area -- so president of that

forecasted positions next year:
-president of junior achievement again
-president of jewish youth group
-treasurer of fbla
-treasurer of national honors society
-vice president of safe teen drivers club
-president of club im starting to help mentally challenged teens

By c on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 04:17 pm: Edit

do you can any sleep, that's an impossible load of work, man.

By Jason Toff on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 04:22 pm: Edit

actually the stuff listed sounds hard, but it has been a breeze so far. granted, many of my classes I have a 90.0 (which I plan and expect to maintain), i still get the 5.0 gpa -- which is one of my goals in taking so many AP/honors courses.

the thing is, i really enjoy the ECs im in. i get to sleep late (12-1am)...but that's because I'm online talking to friends starting at 11 -- or working on a new business.

and im not the typical 5.0gpa kid who sits at home studying...i cant remember the last time i started homework before 7pm on a sunday....i'm the quintessential procrastinator...but it has been working i guess? also, in my AP euro class, I haven't read one page of the textbook...then again, midterms next week will bring down my A avg...but I have a feeling in the end that I'll come out with an A

go jews

By . on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 05:16 pm: Edit

.

By a on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 07:51 pm: Edit

ap euro sux

By Jason Toff on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 10:50 pm: Edit

yeah it does


so what are my chances? anyone have any ideas?

By youknowwho on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:54 pm: Edit

Id say that you have a pretty good change of getting into the business areas of school. With the company you started grossing 10k, you must be a virtual business genius! How could any college not recognize that.

By hey on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 12:31 am: Edit

Your "resume" looks good. Beware of doing too much in everything though--a college would go, hmm, what are the possibilites that this student could be the president of 3 clubs and officer of 3 other clubs, get good grades, AND really devote a lot of time/attention into every single one of these extracurricular endeavors? Besides the possible need for more "focus," you should do fine (assuming you don't blow your essay/recommendations).

By Jason Toff on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 12:55 am: Edit

question tho -- for senior year, instead of 6 APs, I want to not take a science, and take a Music Listening and Literature Honors course instead. My GPA will be unchanged..but I won't have 4 years of science. I skipped a year of science freshman year so I've had Honors Bio, Gifted Chem, and Honors Physics 1. Do I need 4 years of science to get into good schools? I know that Harvard and MIT require 4 years of science...or is there any way to get around that requirement? What do you think?

By oneopinion on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 11:57 am: Edit

Most top schools want 4 years of a lab science. Exceptions might be made if you're applying to business school, but if you're applying to a liberal arts program or of course engineering, they'll note the absence - whether that's a killer is the question.

By Jason Toff on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 11:55 pm: Edit

"whether that's a killer is the question."

and what's the answer?- anyone know?

By bump on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 12:27 am: Edit

bump

By Jason Toff on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 11:56 am: Edit

So what are my chances? Is it really bad to do TOO much? Should I get out of some clubs to make it more, "believable." The thing is, I really AM dedicated to what I do...I have NO free time, but everything fits in my schedule completely and perfectly.

By Rachael on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 12:12 pm: Edit

woah

By anonymous on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 03:15 pm: Edit

How do did you start your own internet company?

By Jason Toff on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 03:48 pm: Edit

My friend made hemp necklaces and I suggested we sell them on the internet. I made a website, set up credit card processing, started advertising...and now I watch the money come in! The website is kinda trashy but it does the job: http://www.coolstrings.com

By lala on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 05:30 pm: Edit

well, if you're thinking of MIT, i would suggest you take more science courses than the minimum...you sound more like the perfect liberal arts candidate than anything else

By Jason Toff on Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 02:53 pm: Edit

I don't think I have a chance at MIT....or do I because of my business? Do you think starting a company helps much? Its not your typical EC but it shows that you are dedicated and such.

I'm interested to hear anyone elses views.

Anyone going to Stern, Wharton, Babson, etc who started businesses in high school? Let me know!

By bump on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit

bump

By Kels (Kels) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 11:17 pm: Edit

jason, you are already a huge overachiever. i would recommend sleeping. you are obviously skilled in both business and academics and any school would have to be blind to reject you with a list of credentials like that. you'll be absolutely fine and you should stop worrying about everything.