QUESTION: I'm a high school junior taking three AP classes. Is that enough compared to Ivy League applicants if I plan on taking five more in my senior year? I really want to get into Ivy League schools. I'm very active in several organizations but I'm not really a founder or a leader in any of them. Will that hurt my chances? Signed, Want to Do Enough

Dear Want to Do Enough: The comparison should really be between you and the other students at your school. How many APs are the top students at your school taking? To be competitive, keep pace with these students first. You don't have to match their numbers exactly but you should be close.

Having interests outside of class is important, but almost every student has interests and is involved with some activities. To make yourself stand out, you need to show some degree of leadership. This does not necessarily mean being president. You can also show leadership by organizing events and special projects. Take advantage of your involvement with the activities that you like to lead specific events. Think of new activities that your clubs can do.

In chapter three of Get Into Any College there is an entire section on how the strengthen your extracurricular activities. A key point to remember is that the admissions committee is relying on you to describe your involvement. We show you how to do this to maximize the effect. We also explain how you can be a leader without being in an officially elected position. If you are worried about your activities, pay special attention to this chapter.

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