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I'm going to be a bit contrarian here. I think if you are already burning out this early, it might be best to lighten your load. You might be surprised, but colleges don't just care about grades. They don't just care about the highest GPA or the courses you took. They care about character, what you do outside of the classroom, and if you're growing in your personal life.

Every year there are millions of people who graduate and apply to the same top colleges. Simply having good grades isn't enough to differentiate yourself from the pack anymore. In fact, since everyone is chasing the same thing (grades), just having good grades means you will be just like most everyone else. You need to find your something else. You must find the thing that will make you exceptional outside your grades. I encourage you to find that something as soon as possible.

I talk about this topic extensively in a recent book I published. I think it might be worth reading for you. It can give you a new view on what it takes to become successful. Not just in college, but in the real world. It can help you prepare for college in a way that other students are not. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5LFD3Q

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send me a message. I would be happy to help any way I can!

http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/its_more_than_a_job

Read that.

Now read it again, and focus on the significance of the essays.

Being well-read gives you a common connection or foundation with others who are similarly well-read.
Being well-read helps you develop stronger language context skills, and a more broad vocabulary which will be useful to you when you have to describe deeply meaningful topics about yourself and your dreams in 400 words or less.

Search A2C for how many interviewers or application essays asked the applicant to discuss their favorite book, or something they recently read. It's a common theme.

Ask Google how many books Bill Gates and James Mattis read in an average month.

You say you're interested in STEM. Ok, here are two books IMMENSLY popular with the nerd-crowd:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Dune

Please, don't say or think "But, I've already seen those movies..."
No movie has ever been as detailed in conveying a story as the book.

And if robots & robotics are seriously among your interests, Asimov is pretty much required reading.

I, Robot

Biology is nothing without chemistry so you need to know the basics of chemistry as well. My favourite book is the Color Atlas of Biochemistry by Jan Koolman, K. Rohm.

Another very useful book is Biochemistry (Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Series) by R. Harvey.

Many past participants recommend the Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, however, this book may be too detailed for olympiads.

GENETICS TEXTBOOKS|

Genetics: Analysis and Principles (WCB Cell & Molecular Biology) by Brooker presents an experimental approach to understanding genetics and what I like most is that there are plenty of problems with explanations and answers. Another good textbook for genetics is Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 5th edition by Hartwell. Genetics: From Genes to Genomes is a cutting-edge, introductory genetics text authored by an unparalleled author team, including Nobel Prize winner, Leland Hartwell.

GENERAL BIOLOGY TEXTBOOKS|

It is not a secret that the Bible of Biology is Campbell Biology (11th Edition). It is a good book and it covers all fundamental biology topics, nevertheless, some topics are discussed only concisely so some good books in addition to Campbell’s could come in handy.

HUMAN ANATOMY |TEXTBOOKS

For human body anatomy and physiology great books are Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (7th Edition) by Dee Unglaub Silverthorn or  Vander’s Human Physiology. 

MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY|TEXTBOOKS

My top choice for molecular biology is Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts, et al. This is book is a big one, a hard one, an interesting one, a useful one. From my point of view, current and upcoming IBOs are focusing on molecular and cell biology because these fields are developing so rapidly and thus these branches of biology are perfect source for olympiad problems. So try to read it and understand it. If you want something cheaper than Alberts but equally useful, try Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fifth Edition: The Problems Book

PLANT BIOLOGY|TEXTBOOKS

Many past biology olympiad questions contain quite a lot of problems about plant anatomy and physiology. Thus, I suggest to read Stern’s Introductory Plant Biology.  Another amazing book for plant biology is Biology of Plants by Peter H. Raven, Ray F. Evert, Susan E. Eichhorn.

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TEXTBOOKS FOR AND PROBLEM SOLVING|TECHNIQUES

Science competitions test a student’s level of knowledge, power of scientific reasoning, and analytical thinking outside of the regular school curriculum. A systematic approach and smart study regimen are both required to get good results in science competitions. This is where my book How To Prepare for the Biology Olympiad And Science Competitions by Martyna Petrulyte comes into the picture.

Read How to be a High School Superstar.

Other than managing your grades and standardized test scores, the majority of the book is about building achievement in your extracurricular activities. It's certainly not too late as a rising junior, but you do have limited time, so get started on this endeavor immediately.

This is all assuming your grades are good (3.8+). Take a practice ACT and new SAT this summer. Figure out which test you prefer, which should usually be the one you find easier and score higher on. Find suitable resources (college confidential, as hated as it is, has a lot of test prep advice) to raise your score as much as possible. Sign up for the October administration of your chosen test and make sure to take practice tests in the weeks leading up to it. If your score meets the threshold of the universities you wanna attend (assuming 34+ and 1500+ for top tier schools), you're done with testing. If not, keep studying and try to get that done by the end of the semester. Take your subject tests in June.

Wish me good luck as a rising senior!

SAT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective SAT Strategies Ever Published https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692916164/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bVjDDbJR0EVN4

Buy this book. It saved my life. It improved my score by 150 points, to 1490. (I have nothing to do with the book, so don’t accuse me of advertising lol). It has really great tricks on the English section.

If you were my kid, I'd encourage you to live on campus in the dorms for the first couple of years at least if you can afford it. Studies have shown that those who thrive in college tend to be those who live in traditional dorms for the first year or two and who build a strong, diverse social network. This, along with making a personal connection with one or more professors, appears to correlate strongly with having a positive collegiate outcome.

We plan to use some of the strategies in this book to help our kids get into the colleges if their choice. It might be helpful to you. This book says it’s not so much about the GPA and test scores, but how you market yourself and the activities you do. Good luck! How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0767932587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-OXwDbBD4B293

Hey!!

http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420515022&sr=8-1&keywords=act


http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-ACT-36-2nd-Perfect/dp/0764147056/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1420515022&sr=8-3&keywords=act

These two were my favorite. If she wants help + tips feel free to PM me.

It's always best to go with the official study books. Here's the SAT and the ACT

Princeton Review is known for test-prep, but I've never used them, so I can't attest for quality... I just know that the official guides from the people who make the test are always your best bet for prep.

I'd buy both real practice tests (which are offered in both official guides: http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425879363&sr=8-1&keywords=act+prep+book, http://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-Second/dp/0874478529/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425879392&sr=8-1&keywords=collegeboard+blue+book), sit down, and take the tests as if they're the real thing. That way, you'll know what you can expect on the SAT and the ACT with your current practice.

It sounds like the ACT is a better option for you, though you should check the standardized test requirements for the colleges you're applying to.

Frank Bruni has a great BOOK about this, it is totally just what so many kids need to read right now. My kids' high school counselors have it in their offices. It's called, Where You GO is Not Who You'll Be. https://www.amazon.com/Where-You-Not-Who-Youll/dp/1455532681

https://www.amazon.com/Where-You-Not-Who-Youll/dp/1455532681/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518755044&sr=8-1&keywords=where+you+go+is+not+who+you%27ll+be

please read this; it helped me last year when I felt a lot like you. it got me through it. im rooting for you.

Please read Where You Go is not Who You'll Be. By Frank Bruni. He provides lots of examples.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1455532681/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492628837&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=frank+bruni&dpPl=1&dpID=51JhDvxHPKL&ref=plSrch

You can find it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2016/dp/1457304309/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453503668&sr=1-1&keywords=sat+prep+2016

College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step is an all-encompassing guide. It'll answer your questions about the Common App, transcript, and letters of recommendation.

There's no way for anyone to give you a step-by-step tutorial without writing a novel.

Source

Rachel Toor, Admissions Confidential https://www.amazon.com/Admissions-Confidential-Insiders-Account-Selection/dp/0312302355

https://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Boy-Gary-Paulsen/dp/0553494651

Lawn Boy is that you?
https://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Boy-Gary-Paulsen/dp/0553494651

https://www.amazon.com/SAT-Prep-Black-Book-Strategies/dp/0692916164

I used this book to practice: https://www.amazon.com/AP-French-Preparing-Language-Examination/dp/0673218473

Gonna add some more potential benefits: you may get a lot more leeway to get your shit together and adjust to college life, along with the ability to explore more majors with less fear of wasting tuition.


Looking back, I’m gonna say this: College apps was a really competitive and low key toxic time for some people, and to be honest, with the exception of a few fields, Where you go is not who you’ll be.

Don't feel jealous, Actually feel bad for her. She will land up at the bottom on her cohort, will be forced to major in gender studies or some such dumb major and work as a barrista at Star bucks. This is a massive mismatch because that GPA means nothing if she went to a urban or ghetto school. She is going to struggle if she is foolish enough to go there to help UCB look good on it's diversity numbers. She's going to be roadkill so that UCB administrators can feel good about themselves

Read about the UC system in this book

https://www.amazon.com/Mismatch-Affirmative-Students-%C2%92s-Universities/dp/0465029965