Decision: Accepted
SAT Scores (and # of sittings): Only once, and I received a 2200 (700 M, 710 CR, and 790 W)
ACT Scores (and # of sittings): Only once, and I received a 34 (35 E, 31 M, 34 R, 36 S)
SAT II Scores (and # of sittings): I’ve taken three tests, each only once, and I received a 710 on Literature, a 740 on Spanish Reading, and an 800 on US History.
School Profile (Brief): My high school (a large, public high school with approximately 600 students in the Graduating Class) is ranked among the highest in the city and 1591 nationally.
GPA (Unweighted/Weighted): My unweighted GPA is unknown, but I did the calculations and I think I have a 3.99 (4.6 weighted), but I’m not sure because, though I have received As in every class, two of those throughout HS have been 92s. My official GPA, of which I’ve recently been made aware, is 102.47.
Rank: 3/584
Course Rigour: Most demanding, according to GC (~11 Honours Classes and 17 AP Classes)
AP/IB Scores: US (5), WH (5), L&C (5), Span. L (5), Comp. Gov. (5), US Gov (5), Macro (5), Physics 1 (3), Micro (5), and Human Geo (5)
The six to follow are Env Sci, Bio, Euro H, Span Lit, French L., Eng Lit; The one exam I did not take: Psych
Notable Honours/Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): NHS Member in Grades 11, 12 - contributed much to Service Projects/dissemination of info, National Merit Semifinalist (Final Status Pending, Grade 12), Academic Achievement Award (top 5 by GPA, non-cumulative, Grade 10), National AP Scholar, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, AP Scholar w/ Honour (Grades 10, 11, 12), and Le Grand Concours (National French Competition) District Winner and National Top Ten Finalist
Notable Extra-Curricular Activities: Fencing (Several Years, have competed in multiple regional tournaments, after my coaches - former Olympic Alternates, retired, the club disbanded, but I study under another former student of theirs), Voice (2 1/2 years, perform Italian, German, and French Classical Music), UIL Social Studies and Current Events (3 Years) District Winner/Regional Competitor in CE and SS in 10th/11th grade, respectively, Spanish Language Club Member, Peer Tutor, and Creative Writing (For fun and have had a couple of poems published)
Work Experience: None
Non-Consistent Extra-Curricular Activities (Volunteering, Summer Activities, etc.): Counselor in Training at a Summer Camp in California (1 week) - will probably return after Senior Year, Administrator/Volunteer for Local County Judge’s reelection campaign (ran a Phone Bank, poll-sitting excursions, etc.), active in local Mayoral Campaign, thinking of starting a Bernie Sanders for President Club at my High School - this would be sent in an update to Dartmouth, included in regular activities for colleges I haven’t applied to yet
Passions: Language (I speak Spanish nearly fluently, took 6 weeks one summer to study French at a local Language Academy, have taken German classes in school and online, and am currently studying basic Russian), Politics
Recommendations: One from my APUSH teacher (9/10?), one from my APWH and AP Macro/Micro teacher (10/10), one from my GC who also taught me APHG Freshman Year (10/10), and one from my best friend (10/10)
Essays (and content, if you like): The best part of my application, by far. Common App - My unique family history and how it contributed to my identity; Dartmouth Supplement: My academic and extracurricular trajectory
Interview: Very well, what was designed to be a 30-45 minute discussion lasted over an hour-and-a-half; we discussed everything from our mutual love of languages to my strongly held beliefs and how I hoped to change the world. Several times, he indicated that I was one of the best candidates he’d ever interviewed.
Your Prospective Major: History
State/Country: Texas, USA
Ethnicity/Gender: Asian (Indian-American), Male
Hooks: None that I can think of except for the fact that I overcame a very troublesome ordeal that afflicted me (and nearly crippled me) throughout Sophomore and Junior Years.
Strengths: Essays, Writing is my strong suit - I’d say they were good, and my English teacher reviewed them, so :), my Letters of Recommendation (which I did not read but expect, from what the teachers have told me, were great), and my Course Rigour/subsequent performance on the AP Exams
Weaknesses: I don’t have any leadership positions in school clubs, and I’ve not much to show for my commitment to fencing and to singing (no major awards or national ratings). Many of my ECs are informal (Peer Tutoring, Creative Writing, and ever since my Fencing Club disbanded, that too) and so calculating hours when they’ve varied so much throughout the years is hard, and the hours I listed were probably not very impressive, all things considered.
Your Assessment: Ecstatic! I can’t wait to matriculate, to meet my new classmates, and to begin my Dartmouth Education. Congratulations to all others accepted and my condolences to those who were deferred/rejected. Please know that you are fantastic people that will go on to accomplish in life whatever it is you set your mind to.
Other Acceptances/Rejections/Waitlists/Whither you plan(ned) to apply:
Accepted to UT Austin, History, Liberal Arts Honours Program (am I obligated to decline their offer now or keep them on just in case something terrible happens?)
Withdrew EA Applications to Fordham and Case Western
Was going to apply to Amherst, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Harvard, Pomona, Stanford, Rice, University of Chicago, Williams, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Washington University in Saint Louis.
congratulations to everyone.