a good student, but great? Chances, if you please...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am a junior at a public school which presides in the second highest ranked district in CA. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.89 UW/ 3.98 W</p>

<p>SAT: 2120 (700 CR, 660 M, 760 W)</p>

<p>-have not taken SAT IIs</p>

<p>ACT: 32</p>

<p>AP: Euro 5, US ~4/5</p>

<p>-will be taking AP Comp. Government, AP Stat, Honors French, AP English next year</p>

<p>EC: 2 years JV Water Polo; 2 years Varsity Water Polo
3 years JV Swimming (our varsity team was the state champion last year); 1 year Varsity Swimming</p>

<pre><code> 9 years of playing trumpet; 4 years in school symphonic band, 3 years in school jazz band, intermittent participation in school pepband; Performed at community events; 4-year class represantive on student band council

Active participation in church; Urban ministry projects; Freshman year spring break Mexico trip; Summer after sophomore year - 2 weeklong volunteer work at a middleschool camp in Washington

Summers after Freshman/Sophomore year: worked extensively (5hrs/day) at rec swim club coaching young swimmers; Head coach of 3-5 year old program (My school counselor is good friends with the mother of one of the swimmers = golden snapshot of my coaching work in letter of rec); Cleaned pool (4 hrs/week, 3 years)
</code></pre>

<p>** Taking a summer course in Modern Standard Arabic this summer (3 hrs/day, 3 months); Equates to a year-long college course. I traveled to Egypt in 5th grade and I have a unique interest in the Middle East which surpasses the job opportunities provided by the Justice Dept. This would be the topic of an application essay.</p>

<p>Schools:</p>

<p>Tufts
UT-Austin
Middlebury
Macalaster
Princeton - (don't bother chancing, they arguably have the best Near East studies in the nation)
UChicago
Stanford
Duke</p>

2

<p>Tufts - likely
UT-Austin - likely
Middlebury - likely
Macalaster - likely
Princeton - high reach
UChicago - match
Stanford - high reach
Duke - match</p>

<p>Seems like you have a solid list. You seem to be fairly strong and well-rounded. Overall impressive, but nothing that truly stands out.</p>

3

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

4

<p>Well, I don't think that Tufts and Middlebury are 'likely's', don't get me wrong, you have a decent shot at them, and are probably above the average applicant, but they're still extremely competitive schools, I'd say that they're reasonable reaches, perhaps UChicago as well.</p>

5

<p>Oh, and add Duke to that list above, again you have some great stats, but those schools aren't too far below ivy's, so I don't think that they're match-worthy</p>

6

<p>does anybody think I could play the arabic card at some of these selective schools? is that a unique enough interest to help me in admissions?</p>