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Our main focus at Hopeless to Harvard is to bring you information that will help you be accepted at an Ivy League school; however, there are broader issues involved in college attendance that many high school students find of great interest.

Naturally, the Ivy League schools differ from one another. Brown and Yale are very different schools, indeed. Bear in mind that, outside of the Ivy League world, there are even more options when it comes to choosing a college.

A reader who wanted to do some volunteer work in Africa before reapplying to an Ivy League school recently asked me this question. He wondered if the volunteer work would make him a more desirable candidate.

My response was, “Yes, perhaps.”

You may wonder why I said “it might” rather than “it will”.

Acceptance to an Ivy League school is dependent on a number of factors that must all be balanced, one against the other. Here are some things to think about when considering a gap year:

As you know, I usually focus on how to get admitted to an Ivy League college in these posts. However, once in a while, I address other issues regarding college life. Judging from the feedback I received on my articles about how to choose your college, I thought it would be a good idea to expand on these extra topics even further.

One topic that is of great concern to many freshmen is choice of major. Choosing your major course of study is extremely crucial. Your choice has implications that carry into your whole life. This is sometimes difficult for high school students to grasp.

We have discussed taking classes at a college to help you with your college admission. Today, we will specifically talk about a tremendous opportunity that you will also find at local universities.

Please understand that I am not talking about your local community college. I am specifically talking about a fully accredited, four-year university.

I am particularly addressing students who are focused on science, math, and academics; however, all students should work towards being well-rounded to achieve success with college admissions.

Would you like to get some more experience in an area you really love? What if you could get real knowledge and experience in technology, business, or internet skills and improve your chances of getting into the school of your dreams all at the same time? Well, guess what? You can!

Here’s a daring idea that is sure to help you on your path to Stanford. Make yourself available as an intern!