I
IAmHellaChopped121
Iron
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2026
- Posts
- 23
- Reputation
- 36
Odds are most of us are trying to go to college after highschool, and there are 3 main parts of a college application that matter the most. Those are 1. GPA, 2. Test Scores(SAT and ACT) and 3. Extracurriculars and Summer Programs.
1. I am a loser academic-cell so I feel fairly qualified to write this. Mastering Efficient studying is a key part for Maintaining a high GPA in rigorous classes. The 3 best ways to study are(combine these for optimization):
The Feynman Technique (For Understanding):
CALC, CHEM, and STAT - Organic Chemistry Tutor on YT
ALL AP HISTORIES - Hiemlers History on YT
AP Physc - Tim Steadmen on YT
AP Physics - Professer Dave explains on YT
AP PreCalc - Flipped Math on YT
AP Bio - Bozeman Science on YT
2. Onto Test Scores(SAT). The best way to study for the SAT(in my opinion) is as follows: 1. Before starting any practice take a full length practice test, specifically test number 4, as it is the most realistic towards the actual test. After taking the test, analyze your weak points. Now go to the SAT question bank, turn off active questions, and do every problem that you are weak on(you know what you are weak on because of your practice test). Also, go back through your practice test that you took and redo every problem that you got wrong, and write on a piece of paper how to do it correctly. Once a week take a practice test and repeat the analysis of the problems and the question bank questions, and repeat this for about a 6 weeks. Then take your actual SAT and you should get around a 1500 if you are consistent with studying.
3. Extracurricular(ECs) - In this current college landscape ECs(imo) are more important than SAT and GPA as it shows that you are well rounded and can handle an intense work load. Some of the best ECs are highschool sports. Some of the best to do with extremely low barrier to entry are: Track and Cross Country. If you can achieve a team captain position in these(most likely around senior year) it shows to colleges that you are a leader, and that you can invest time into other things other than academics. In my honest opinion, Rowing is the best extracuricialr for highschoolers. Most top schools recruit for rowing(Every single Ivy and top 20 schools) and you can even get recruited and get scholarships. If you are a fat chud and sports aren't your thing, then definelty try to be in 2-3 clubs. Some of the best clubs for highschoolers are, Robotics, Stocks and Forex, Rocketry, Science and Math Olympiad, and participating in your Local Science fairs. Another aspects of ECs are summer programs. Most summer programs have application due dates around early Feb, and these show to colleges that you are not a fat fucking chud and that you are motivated to learn. The TOP summer programs are listed below:
5. Picking a College that is right for you: Picking a College is not just about the rankings or how good it is, it is also about what type of environment you like, and what resources they have to help you succeed. If you are an introverted person/ want a more intimate environment, then I highly reccomend going to a smaller school. If you are more extroverted/want to join a Frat, then go to a larger school. Also, knowing what the school offers you is very important. Many schools offer Coop programs in which you can work for companies that only recruit from your college. This can give you a head start on your job and some Coops even pay. Applying to scholarships and analyzing financial aid is also very important. I highly recommend that you apply to most of your schools scholarship programs, as well as applying to the honor colleges within the school. If you want to fuck hella bitches, then also analyze the woman to man ratio at said school. For example, Rochester Instutite of Technology has a 2.5:1 girl to guy ratio. This is not optimal for getting laid. Analyzing the amount of Greek life and sports atmospheres at schools is also important. If you are a huge partier and love sports, then going to a bigger school with good sports teams would be a good fit for you. If you don't know what type of college you want to apply to, then I always recommend a bigger school. This is you can make a big school feel small, but you cant make a small school feel big. At bigger schools you have a higher chance of finding people you want to connect with/be friends with. In summary, when picking a College it is important to understand what you want to get out of the school(academic wise), is it a good fit(small or big), and what is the environment(extro or more intra verted). USE NICHE to research colleges and all aspects of that college.
6. GLAZE YOUR TEACHERS: No matter what you do, if you have bad grades good grades etc, ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS, glaze your teachers. Buy them gifts when appropriate, like on teacher appreciation week or holidays(can be simple like gift cards). This is highly looked over in the realm of academics, but like it or not, teachers(especially in English/writing classes) grade on how well they like you as a person. If you are kind and a good student teachers will implicitly grade you better, be more lenient with classwork, and are more likely to give out extensions. An example of this coming in clutch was in my AP Calc BC class. I was 3 percent away from an A, and my teacher curved me up 3 percent on the last assignment, and the sole reason for this was because I was nice to her(when most of the class hated her).
7. DO NOT BE AN NPC: Dont have school and extracurriculars run your life, BE UNIQUE. Have hobbies that you can talk about, and BE DIFFERENT. For example, I am big into drawing, making music, and Sim Racing. These are my Unique Hobbies that many don't have. This sets me apart from many applicants.
8. Reccomendation Letters: Many colleges require Reccomendation Letters from teachers/people in your life. The best people to get Rec letters from are teachers in the field you want to pursue in college, Proffessers you have worked with(via summer programs) and sometimes even coaches can write good rec letters. Try to aim for all your rec letters to be from teachers that like you, and have a majority come from your JUNIOR year teachers.
9. TIME MANAGEMENT: Time management is probably the single most important thing in Highschool. You are now a grown ass man, and you need to act with Independence to achieve your goals. Be organized and make to do lists/agendas so you can prioritize assignments. If necessary, delete all forms of social media so you don't waste your precious study time scrolling reels. If your friends are asking to hang out, but you have a test the next day, DO NOT GO. Learn to say no, and prioritize your future. Also, utilizing dead time is very important. This means using time like, car rides, bus rides, waiting for events to start, to study/pursue academics. For example, I used the ride to rowing practice everyday to study. This gave me an extra hour to study, which proved necessary.
10. Last but not least is sleep. Sleep is very important for developing as a human. Odds are most highschoolers aren't getting the recommended amount of sleep(myself included). It is important to recognize this and if it is not possible to get your 8 hours in(which is the recommended amount), then prioritize your sleep quality. Establish a consistent sleep schedule, create a dark, quiet, and cool sleep environment, and avoid large meals, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime, and also take around 5g melatonin 1 hour before sleeping. This can help you not be groggy in the morning and have a good start to your day.
This is my first guide, if you want me to add smth lmk and happy studying!
1. I am a loser academic-cell so I feel fairly qualified to write this. Mastering Efficient studying is a key part for Maintaining a high GPA in rigorous classes. The 3 best ways to study are(combine these for optimization):
The Feynman Technique (For Understanding):
- Choose a concept, write the name at the top of a blank sheet, and explain it in your own words as if you are teaching it to someone else.
- Identify gaps in your knowledge when you get stuck and go back to the source material to fill them.
- Simplify your language further, using analogies to make it concrete.
- Close your book and force yourself to explain, write out, or sketch the information from memory.
- Create flashcards (e.g., using Quizlet) for key definitions, equations, and concepts.
- Work with intense focus for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle 4 times, then take a longer 15-30 minute break.
CALC, CHEM, and STAT - Organic Chemistry Tutor on YT
ALL AP HISTORIES - Hiemlers History on YT
AP Physc - Tim Steadmen on YT
AP Physics - Professer Dave explains on YT
AP PreCalc - Flipped Math on YT
AP Bio - Bozeman Science on YT
2. Onto Test Scores(SAT). The best way to study for the SAT(in my opinion) is as follows: 1. Before starting any practice take a full length practice test, specifically test number 4, as it is the most realistic towards the actual test. After taking the test, analyze your weak points. Now go to the SAT question bank, turn off active questions, and do every problem that you are weak on(you know what you are weak on because of your practice test). Also, go back through your practice test that you took and redo every problem that you got wrong, and write on a piece of paper how to do it correctly. Once a week take a practice test and repeat the analysis of the problems and the question bank questions, and repeat this for about a 6 weeks. Then take your actual SAT and you should get around a 1500 if you are consistent with studying.
3. Extracurricular(ECs) - In this current college landscape ECs(imo) are more important than SAT and GPA as it shows that you are well rounded and can handle an intense work load. Some of the best ECs are highschool sports. Some of the best to do with extremely low barrier to entry are: Track and Cross Country. If you can achieve a team captain position in these(most likely around senior year) it shows to colleges that you are a leader, and that you can invest time into other things other than academics. In my honest opinion, Rowing is the best extracuricialr for highschoolers. Most top schools recruit for rowing(Every single Ivy and top 20 schools) and you can even get recruited and get scholarships. If you are a fat chud and sports aren't your thing, then definelty try to be in 2-3 clubs. Some of the best clubs for highschoolers are, Robotics, Stocks and Forex, Rocketry, Science and Math Olympiad, and participating in your Local Science fairs. Another aspects of ECs are summer programs. Most summer programs have application due dates around early Feb, and these show to colleges that you are not a fat fucking chud and that you are motivated to learn. The TOP summer programs are listed below:
- YYGS
- Camp Rising Sun LAJF
- Civics Unplugged Fellowship
- Summer Engg. Seminar (Santa Clara University)
- School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology (SMTB) [Happens in Europe]
- LIYSF London
- Non-Trivial Fellowship
- Civics Innovation Summer Academy
- GHLC Johns Hopkins
- World Science Scholars (WSS)
- 4 Star Leaders
- Summer Science Program (SSP)
- Science Internship Program (SIP) UCSC
- Research Science Institute (RSI) MIT
- FABRIC Camps
- Research Mentorship Program (RMP) UCSB
- Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) UPenn
- Wolfram High School Summer Research Program
- Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
- PROMYS
- CCIR Future Scholar Programme
- MITES
- Math Roots
- BU RISE
- Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
- Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) Rockefeller
- Anson L Clarks Scholars Program TTU
- AwesomeMath
- TASS
- COSMOS UCs (Cal Residents Only)
- ASSIP George Mason University
- The Ross Program
- UIowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
- UChicago RIBS
5. Picking a College that is right for you: Picking a College is not just about the rankings or how good it is, it is also about what type of environment you like, and what resources they have to help you succeed. If you are an introverted person/ want a more intimate environment, then I highly reccomend going to a smaller school. If you are more extroverted/want to join a Frat, then go to a larger school. Also, knowing what the school offers you is very important. Many schools offer Coop programs in which you can work for companies that only recruit from your college. This can give you a head start on your job and some Coops even pay. Applying to scholarships and analyzing financial aid is also very important. I highly recommend that you apply to most of your schools scholarship programs, as well as applying to the honor colleges within the school. If you want to fuck hella bitches, then also analyze the woman to man ratio at said school. For example, Rochester Instutite of Technology has a 2.5:1 girl to guy ratio. This is not optimal for getting laid. Analyzing the amount of Greek life and sports atmospheres at schools is also important. If you are a huge partier and love sports, then going to a bigger school with good sports teams would be a good fit for you. If you don't know what type of college you want to apply to, then I always recommend a bigger school. This is you can make a big school feel small, but you cant make a small school feel big. At bigger schools you have a higher chance of finding people you want to connect with/be friends with. In summary, when picking a College it is important to understand what you want to get out of the school(academic wise), is it a good fit(small or big), and what is the environment(extro or more intra verted). USE NICHE to research colleges and all aspects of that college.
6. GLAZE YOUR TEACHERS: No matter what you do, if you have bad grades good grades etc, ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS, glaze your teachers. Buy them gifts when appropriate, like on teacher appreciation week or holidays(can be simple like gift cards). This is highly looked over in the realm of academics, but like it or not, teachers(especially in English/writing classes) grade on how well they like you as a person. If you are kind and a good student teachers will implicitly grade you better, be more lenient with classwork, and are more likely to give out extensions. An example of this coming in clutch was in my AP Calc BC class. I was 3 percent away from an A, and my teacher curved me up 3 percent on the last assignment, and the sole reason for this was because I was nice to her(when most of the class hated her).
7. DO NOT BE AN NPC: Dont have school and extracurriculars run your life, BE UNIQUE. Have hobbies that you can talk about, and BE DIFFERENT. For example, I am big into drawing, making music, and Sim Racing. These are my Unique Hobbies that many don't have. This sets me apart from many applicants.
8. Reccomendation Letters: Many colleges require Reccomendation Letters from teachers/people in your life. The best people to get Rec letters from are teachers in the field you want to pursue in college, Proffessers you have worked with(via summer programs) and sometimes even coaches can write good rec letters. Try to aim for all your rec letters to be from teachers that like you, and have a majority come from your JUNIOR year teachers.
9. TIME MANAGEMENT: Time management is probably the single most important thing in Highschool. You are now a grown ass man, and you need to act with Independence to achieve your goals. Be organized and make to do lists/agendas so you can prioritize assignments. If necessary, delete all forms of social media so you don't waste your precious study time scrolling reels. If your friends are asking to hang out, but you have a test the next day, DO NOT GO. Learn to say no, and prioritize your future. Also, utilizing dead time is very important. This means using time like, car rides, bus rides, waiting for events to start, to study/pursue academics. For example, I used the ride to rowing practice everyday to study. This gave me an extra hour to study, which proved necessary.
10. Last but not least is sleep. Sleep is very important for developing as a human. Odds are most highschoolers aren't getting the recommended amount of sleep(myself included). It is important to recognize this and if it is not possible to get your 8 hours in(which is the recommended amount), then prioritize your sleep quality. Establish a consistent sleep schedule, create a dark, quiet, and cool sleep environment, and avoid large meals, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime, and also take around 5g melatonin 1 hour before sleeping. This can help you not be groggy in the morning and have a good start to your day.
This is my first guide, if you want me to add smth lmk and happy studying!