Title: Freshman building long-term plan for Stanford — feedback on activities + looking for essay help (DM)
Hi! I’m currently a 9th grader trying to be really intentional about how I spend the next few years, not just for college but to build something meaningful.
A big part of my motivation comes from my own experience feeling academically misunderstood growing up, which pushed me to become more independent in how I learn and approach things.
Right now, I’m focusing on a few main areas:
• I’ve volunteered over 800 hours at my church working with kids, and I’m planning to turn that into a more structured program focused on helping younger students learn and feel supported
• I run a small content/design business and have earned over $2,000, which sparked my interest in business, economics, and finance
• I’m building a student initiative focused on helping students feel supported and heard, especially those who feel overlooked
• I’ve also been involved with a school my family established in Uganda, where I’ve helped with organizing resources, supporting students, and contributing to things like website design and logistics
• I’m planning to start a research project related to financial literacy and access, and eventually create a way for students to collaborate on projects like that
My long-term goal is schools like Stanford, but more importantly I want to build things that actually have real impact rather than just stacking activities.
I’d really appreciate advice on:
• How to deepen impact in what I’m already doing instead of adding more things
• What would make this stand out more at a high level
• Whether my overall direction feels cohesive
I’m also working on my personal statement, but I’d prefer to share it privately. If anyone has experience reviewing essays or would be willing to give thoughtful feedback, I’d really appreciate it if you could DM me.
Thank you so much!