The main reason I was there was for this Kaplan SAT course. I did not do as well as I would have liked on the practice tests. Because the actual SAT was months away, I did not put as much focus into the program as I should have. Anyways, following the Summer Study, I knew that I had a ton of prepping to do before the “real” SAT. I do not do extraordinary on standardized tests. As a matter of fact, I very much dislike the ACT and SAT. You cannot fairly test one’s academic ability (or one’s chances of success in college) on this four-hour test. After months of prepping, I ended up taking the SAT. I took this test three times. To sum it up, I was not too excited for colleges to see my standardize test scores.

My high school grades are above average. My school does not rank, but I have an A average. Throughout high school, I did not take many advanced courses. I took a total of four advanced courses (one my sophomore year and three my senior year).

I would not be able to do what I am passionate about (tennis and entrepreneurship) if I were to take more advanced (or as admission directors like to call it, “challenging”) courses in high school. I had to make choices, and I was fully aware that these choices had consequences. If I could go back in time, I would not do anything differently.

I had a unique high school profile (average testing scores, good grades, and phenomenal extra-curriculars). That being said, I was not sure how college admission counselors would respond. So, I applied to MANY schools. I applied early decision to Stanford. I hosted a conference there in November, and a professor wrote a letter of recommendation for me…but that didn’t get me in. After Stanford, I had three top college choices – Duke, University of Texas, and University of Illinois. I did not get into Duke, but I was offered admission to the University of Texas and to the University of Illinois. For months, I was split 50/50 between the two schools. Within the next few days, I will make and announce my final decision.

A few teams dropped out and did not complete the project.  One very noticeable, constant problem was that students were afraid to execute. Ideas are cheap… implementation is not! The people that execute and actually make things happen are the ones who go far in the world. 

Here are what the teams did:

1) bought a pack of gum with their $5 and resold each piece

2) sewed/made and sold socks.  

3) sold personalized business cards

4) contacted the Astros foundation for two autographed baseballs to resell at a little league baseball game 

These teams did not move beyond the standard response and challenge traditional assumptions. I was hoping the teams would realize that the $5 was simply an unneeded resource.  Focusing on the money frames the problem too lightly.  

The most common lesson learned was that marketing is extremely important.  In order to sell a product, you need people not only present but also aware of what you are offering. 

Team 4 made the most money.  All of the money was donated to the Astros Foundation.

Next Wednesday is the day break starts, (I have 12 days off), so the teachers are cramming tests in this week.

Here is what Professor Carl Nordgren says about studying: “The more you study the more you know. The more you know, the more you forget. The more you forget the less you know. So why study? On the other hand, the less you study the less you know. The less you know the less you forget. The less you forget, the more you know. So why study? ”

Despite what Professor Nordgren believes, I am still going to be studying all this week .