Decision: Accepted
Objective:
[ul]
[] SAT I (Comp, Essay, R/W, M ): highest single test: 1540 (770 R/W, 770 M), super score: 1560 (770 R/W, 790 M), essay: 18 (6 reading, 4 analysis, 8 writing)
[] ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci): N/A
[] SAT II (Type, Score): N/A
[] Weighted GPA (out of ??): school does not weight, but if it did ~4.75/5.00
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99/4.00
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank, but likely top 20%
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Human Geography (5), AP World History (5)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[li] Major Awards: 1st in Texas HOSA Medical Photography Competition, Tournament of Champions Qualifier for World Schools Debate, a few smaller awards, scholarships, and honors at my school[/li][/ul]
Subjective:
[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Poverty Alleviation Non-Profit (Director of Operations), English Second Language Tutor (Head Spanish Volunteer), Health Occupation Students of America (Underclassmen Representative), my school’s medical society (Medical Magazine Editor, Contributor, and Publishing Chair), Local Non-Profit Hospital (Volunteer and Lab Assistant), Speech and Debate (Lead World School’s Format)
[] Job/Work Experience: taught gymnastics at a local gym for around 6 months
[] Volunteer/Community service: I only listed and discussed the service-oriented extracurriculars above ^ most were volunteering organizations
[] Summer Activities: fairly respected research program at a state university
[] Essays: They were definitely not my best essays and short answers, but reading back on them, not completely trash either. For the short answers, I wrote about the political conflict in Venezuela (7/10), an experience at a homeless shelter that caused me to reevaluate my career path (8/10), and the beautiful community but poor education system in Houston (9/10). My personal essay was about growing up alone with a father who had PTSD. It was a total pity-party essay but I think, in a way, that is what QB wanted to hear (7/10)
[] Teacher Recommendations: I did not see my teacher’s rec for QB, but I have seen this teacher’s rec for another program. He is my research professor and chemistry professor and stressed my academic performance as well as leadership abilities, but his writing style is very cut and dry (8/10)
[li] Counselor Rec: I don’t think that there was a counselor rec for QB? N/A[/li][/ul]
Other
[ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): Texas - rural
[] School Type: Public and Residential
[] Ethnicity: Racially White, ethnically Jewish and Hispanic (Sephardi - Jews native to the Iberian Peninsula)
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket: 65,000, including child support, for a family of 4 - borderline too high for QB applicants
[] Assets: Normal, I think? My family has around $10,000 in savings - no debt.
[] Property: We do not own our $36,000 (yes $36,000) in full, but we make our mortgage payments.
[] Extenuating Circumstances: I have a single mom, I did not list my father as I haven’t had contact with him (court ordered) in over 5 years, 3/4 people in my family are in school (mom, me, and my sister), 1/4 people in my family has substantial medical expenses, we lost our home in Harvey, I put myself through my school (public but residential, so there are still expenses)
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): possibly my ethnicity - I very clearly stated that I was White and Jewish, but I am Spanish. Other than that, nothing. My mother has a masters degree. My sister is in college. Our income is not THAT low. I almost did not apply due to my lack of hooks.[/li][/ul]
Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments: I am not too sure. Given that 3,100/10,000 students were selected (31%), it is not that impossible to get into. My test scores, grades, essays, and rec letters were all good, but probably nothing special. I am still surprised I was accepted though, given my lack of substantial hooks and relatively high income.
What were you awarded: I was awarded the Fein Fellows Excellence Award for Jewish students, was invited to the National College Admissions Conference at Pomona with a $500 travel fund, and invited to expense paid visits to QB’s college partners. I think most, if not all, recipients were awarded the latter 2 awards.
