7 or 8 classes. For argument's sake we will say you take 7 classes. Monthly tests are common. Let's just put the number at 35 for a year of school. Tests aren't always prompt and we will ignore quizzes.

Midterms - 7 tests

Finals - 7 tests

AP/IB exams - up to 7 tests

SAT + ACT - 2 tests at least once each

SAT subject tests - "optional" but usually at least 2

So far we've racked up 60+ tests in a year of school, probably a junior year of high school for a high-achieving hopeful. The material will span from a foreign language to Calculus. You better get good at everything. Quickly.

Now remember, the ivies and elites don't want "drones". You need to be unique and have hobbies. That means leadership positions in 3+ clubs, preferably 1 or 2 you have started yourself. A main hobby such as a sport or music is also preferred so you better be good at that too.

You also need to have top-notch writing skills in order to clinch the essay. I mean that's what you're best at, isn't it? Putting pencil to paper for an evaluation? Be sure to embody their ideal student. Oh you're not a legacy? Well that's OK there's still a chance. Oh what's that? You're Asian? You'll need to perform better than everyone else so we can maintain a diversity standard. It's important because it's incorporated in college rankings. So do better.

If you're lucky enough to figure out all of this bullshit before you start high school because your family knows how it works you still need to:

a) have the intelligence

b) have the focus/study capability

c) spread your intellectual resources very thin across every subject and get as many A's as possible. Losing 4.0 = losing everything you've invested so much time into, to an extent.