a curious high school junior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>i posted on here awhile back with some info, but i just feel like posting everything about me on here, and seeing what you guys think my chances are at schools ill list later....bear with me, this could take awhile</p>

<p>i go to a very competitive public school in the northeast that sends tons of kids to the ivies every year (maybe 15 out of 300...i know its a lot)..no important legacy to speak of..school does not rank</p>

<p>ACADEMICS
First 3 years- 3.539 academic GPA with a huge upward trend (hoping for 3.65 after first semester senior year)
FRESH- 5.5 academic credits- 3.067 GPA
SOPH- 5 academic credits- 3.467 GPA
JR- 7.5 academic credits- 3.933 GPA
SR-signed up for 6 academic credits including 4 APs
If French is taken out of the GPA picture, it jumps by about .2 to a 3.72 academic after 3 years.</p>

<p>ACT Composite- 34
SAT Reasoning Test- 2300 (740 M, 780 CR, 780 W)
SAT II's-signed up for Physics Math II and US History, hoping for 750+ in all of them (I'm good at standardized tests)</p>

<p>AP Courses taken
JR- AP Gov--hoping for 4/5 on test
AP Econ--hoping for 4/5 on micro and 5 on macro test
SR- signed up for AP Calc AB, AP English Lit, AP Physics C, AP Stat</p>

<p>I have taken a very demanding course load throughout high school, however, the main reason my GPA is lower than my scores is that I don't believe in doing work for the sake of work. I don't let school control my life. To me, school is about the mastery of concepts, and amassing knowledge and wisdom. When subjects interest me, I study them a lot outside of class, but I just don't do busy work, even if it hurts my grade (as in Freshman year). I love to learn, I just hate how mechanical school becomes. I think I'm going to write my essay on this. Also, I did badly freshman year because of family issues that occurred with my brother graduating high school and going through the college process, because it forced my divorced parents to interact a lot, which created a really bad environment for me. I'll try to work this into my essay as well.</p>

<p>I've taken 4 French courses, 4 science courses (1 AP, 1 honors), 5 math courses (2 APs, 1 honors), 4.5 SS courses (2 AP), 7.5 English courses (1 AP, others highest possible)</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULARS
Volunteering-
Senior Center--been called the "best volunteer ever" by the person who runs all the programs--done this for two years on occasional weekends, lots of hours
Public Library--I taught a chess workshop to kindergarten and first graders for a year (I was a chess champion when I was younger)
Local Beach Playground--worked in rebuilding the playground area at my local beach over one summer
ABC Foundation--volunteered by waitering for two years during fund raisers for a local organization that brings students from lower income families across America to my high school</p>

<p>Jobs-
Basketball referee for Parks and Rec (9,10,11,12)
Babysitting (9,10,11,12)
Teaching tennis (11 summer,12 will do)</p>

<p>Sports-
Tennis- JV as Freshman, Varsity (10,11,12)- possible captain--team is the 4 time defending state champs
Basketball Association Rec League (9,10,11,12)</p>

<p>Summers-
Took an accelerated English course over one summer
Attended Johns Hopkins Camp one summer
Attended Camp Encore-Coda for piano and guitar
Attended local volleyball camps
Took a trip to China with my dad and brother
Attended Kent Writing Camp for two years</p>

<p>Music-
Jazz piano (will send CD to schools)
Guitar</p>

<p>Arts-
Photographer (will send pics)
Cartoonist (will send)
Photoshop editor (will send a portfolio)</p>

<p>In school-
Jazz Band (11,12)--winner of many awards
Badminton Team (9,10)
Creator and President of the Sports Analysis Club (10,11,12)
School newspaper--won the Columbia gold medal for excellence every year I've worked their--Staff Writer (9,10,11,12), Cartoons Editor (10,11), Possible Editor in Chief or Features/Opinions Editor (12)</p>

<p>Other-
Winner of the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards for three essays--regional award for a personal narrative, national awards for a humor piece and a journalism article
Working on a novel (100+ pages complete)
Organized and ran a basketball tournament that raised money for MS research
Organized and ran a Summer Basketball League
Will try to organize and run AP Assassination as a senior (school tradition)</p>

<p>RECOMMENDATIONS-
Guidance Counselor
Senior Center Advisor
English Teacher who loves me
Physics teacher who loves me
I like to think of myself as a very good writer, so I hope my essays will be unique and insightful</p>

<p>Thats about it....its pretty thorough i think...if i left anything out please let me know</p>

<p>What are your thoughts on the following schools for me, or any others that you can come up with?
-Ivies (especially Cornell, Brown, and UPenn)
-Schools like UVA, Duke, UNC, Wash U, William and Mary, etc.
-Schools like Macalester, Carleton, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.
-Schools like Berkley, Pomona, Claremont-McKenna, UCLA, etc.
-Schools like Hamilton, Syracuse, Rochetser, Wesleyan
-Schools like BU, BC, Tufts, Amherst, Williams, etc.
-Schools like GW, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Villanova, UToronto etc.</p>

<p>As you can see, I'm all over the place.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this!</p>

2

<p>bump...........</p>

3

<p>Cornell - Chance
Brown - Chance
UPenn - Chance
ULCA - Safety
BU - Safety
Syracuse - Safety</p>

<p>Like you said, it's just your GPA that needs a little work since Ivies like 3.75+ (UW).</p>

4

<p>You may want to increase your GPA just a tad.</p>

<p>Try not to emphasize that school has demanded a lot from you in your essay. Clearly show an interest in a particular area, such as science and math, or gov't and eco.</p>

<p>You have the dedication, grades, scores, and potentially the essay (you mentioned you wrote incredible articles for the school paper).</p>

<p>Write about positive experiences in your essay. They don't want to see anything too depressing, even if you would think it's a moving rags to riches story.</p>

5

<p>If I were you, then I would stay away from the fact that you don't believe in busy work, because colleges may see that as code for a lack of a work ethic. I don't think that you have a lack of work ethic, but that is a way that such a statement may be misconstrued. I would recommend stressing the high scores in your interest classes, and showing the dedication in those classes, and your improvement over high school (since colleges like improvement).</p>

6

<p>thanks...anyone else?</p>

7

<p>bump..so many views, yet so few responses</p>

8

<p>i know its long, but if anyone gets through my post and responds, it will be greatly appreciated</p>

9

<p>heraclitus when people come to tell you your chances you can't give them 30 colleges to give you chances on. narrow it down to top 10 at the MOST and then people will give u chances.</p>

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<p>haha i was just throwing out some names because i have no idea what to look for...but a top 10 (actually 11)</p>

<p>Cornell, Brown, UPenn, UVA, Duke, UNC, Macalester, Northwestern, Michigan, Pomona, Georgetown</p>

11

<p>Cornell SLIGHT REACH(GPA)
Brown SLIGHT REACH(GPA)
UPenn SLIGHT REACH(GPA)
UVA MATCH
Duke REACH(GPA)
UNC MATCH
Macalester MATCH
Northwestern SLIGHT REACH(GPA)
Michigan MATCH
Pomona MATCH
Georgetown MATCH</p>

12

<p>You have a chance at any of these schools ,and seem very talented I would focus in on one or two things that you are passionate ! about.</p>

13

<p>i had thought that northwestern was easier than pomona and georgetown...am i wrong?</p>

14

<p>Some people are mistaken on this board...</p>

<p>First of all, I am kind of torn about your GPA because I understand that you don't like busy work (who does?), but your low GPA and obvious intelligence gives off the essence of a lazy genius..which isn't good. Your GPA is probably the largest obstacle you have to overcome. Considering that Pomona's average GPA is around a 3.9 (I think), then you are very weak in this area...</p>

<p>Standardized testing: Great, this does keep you in the running. However it does show ADCom's that you are smart, but didn't necessarily apply yourself in High School. What comes to mind is a job after College (you might go to grad school, but whatev.), are you going to not go to work if you aren't intellectually challenged? Maybe we just have different philosophies...</p>

<p>Essay Advice: I wouldn't mention any of the busy work/divorce stuff in your essay because you want colleges to be able to know you. I don't think that you are defined by disliking busy work or your parents divorce, so you might want to write a letter or include a supplement instead.</p>

<p>Good Volunteering, Good jobs, it seems like all of your EC's are overly balanced, almost like you have no passion for one certain activity, which isn't bad, but it seems like that is the trend in Admission these days.</p>

<p>Two things that I would emphasize that I think you aren't emphasizing enough: Tennis (You need to contact Coaches if you want to get in/play in college especially at Pomona/Mac) and Writing/Newspaper. These are interests that you pursue and could develop as a focus. I would also think about choosing what you care about most. If you haven't seen an Application you have about 6 slots for EC's and no other room besides that.</p>

<p>Cornell: Slight Reach</p>

<p>Brown: Reach - High Reach (you are qualified, but Brown gets tougher every year and unless you apply ED you will have harder chances)</p>

<p>UPenn: (Depends on the school you apply to) but i would say - Slight Reach to Reach.. Very possible for you to get in.</p>

<p>UVA: Match - you're in.
Duke: Reach
UNC: High Match - Slight Reach
Macalester: A bit higher than a Match
Northwestern: Slight Reach - Reach
Michigan: High Match (although I'm not that sure of how they admit people, I've heard it is very stats based, but you would prob. get in)</p>

<p>Pomona: Reach to High Reach (Pomona is only accepting 15.8% which is just a bit higher than Brown..NOT a match. Tennis would change things though..)</p>

<p>Georgetown: Match - Slight Reach</p>

<p>PM me if you have any questions..</p>

15

<p>Lots of EC's but hardly any show any leadership and that might hurt you when it gets down to the wire...</p>

16

<p>thanks a ton skyhawk--thats the kind of constructive stuff i like to read</p>

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<p>What exactly counts as leadership, because I created the Sports Analysis Club and have been president for 3 years. Also, I'm an editor on the paper, might be a tennis captain, and organized and ran many benefit programs (as mentioned above). Do these not count as leadership?</p>

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<p>Other leadership,Officer in NHS,Class pres.,Boys /Girls state, spend time on additional community service as you have & show a passion for 1 or 2 you enjoy</p>

19

<p>What's the best way to show passion for something--time, a good letter of rec from someone involved...how's the best way to show it?</p>

20

<p>Is your GPA weighted?</p>