Am I on the right track?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok, so I'm only a sophomore, but I would really like some suggestions on how to improve my application.</p>

<p>Ethnicity/Gender: Vietnamese American/Male
Income: < $17,000
Location: Mississippi
Other: 1st generation to attend college</p>

<p>BLANKS = HAVE NOT OR WILL BE COMPLETING</p>

<p>ACT: 30 (27,32,32,27 Essay: )
PSAT:
SAT:
SAT II Math II:
SAT II US History:
SAT II Biology:
SAT II World History:
SAT II Spanish:
SAT II Physics:</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1/327
GPA: 4.00 (max)</p>

<p>Freshmen:
-Accelerated English - 100
-Accelerated Geometry - 100
-Accelerated Biology - 100
-Spanish I - 99
-STEM - 100
-Art I - 100
-P.E. - 100
-World Geography - 100
-Mississippi Studies - 99
-Health - 99</p>

<p>Sophomore:
-AP World History 100
-Algebra II 100
-Chemistry 100
-Spanish II 100
-Spanish III
-Accelerated English II
-Marine Aquatics
-Zoology </p>

<p>Junior:
-AP US History
-AP Biology
-AP Language III
-Trigonometry
-Pre-Calculus
-Spanish IV</p>

<p>Senior:
-AP US Government
-AP Language IV
-AP Calculus BC
-Physics
-Human Anatomy Physiology
-Economics
-Advanced Algebra</p>

<p>AP Self-studies:
-AP Psychology
-AP Human Geography
-AP European History
-AP Physics B</p>

<p>Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program (This is SATP2, not College Board's SAT II):
-Algebra: Perfect Score
-Biology: Perfect Score
-English II:
-U.S. History: </p>

<p>Extra curricular:
-Student Council (9th-Representative, 10th-President, running for president next year)
-Key Club (9th-Member, 10th- Editor, running for president or Lieutenant Governor next year)
-Art Club (10th)
-Junior Leadership (10th-President; Can only be in once.)
-Science Olympiad (10th)
-Math and Science Club (10th)
-Student Against Violence Everywhere (10th)
-Beta Club (10th, running for presidency next year)</p>

<p>Sports:
-None, due to severe myopia (-12.00)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
-None yet</p>

<p>Community Service:
-Carolling for cans annually
-Elementary art camp annually
-Nursery homes (which I absolutely love!)</p>

<p>Activites:
-MC'ed a trash fashion show to encourage recycling and creativity
-Directed a blood drive at school campus as chairman
-Will have attended a state HOBY Leadership seminar (1 sophomore from each school chosen)</p>

<p>Awards:
-President's Education Award
-American History Award
-Letters About Literature Semifinalist
-High Honor Roll (2008-present)
-Who's Who – Most Likely to Succeed (9th, 10th)
-Wise and Worthy Student of the Month</p>

<p>Other:
-Trilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese, English)
-Sufficient with Word, Powerpoint, and teaching myself Excel
-Will teach myself how to code
-Will work during summer
-Will intern during summer
-Will be awared AP National Scholar (hoping so)
-Will be awarded PSAT NMF (hoping so)
-Will perform in community theatre
-Will join acting class
-Will join Mu Alpha Theta next year
-Will join dancing class
-Will organize community projects
-Will study to compete in AMC10 and AMC12
-Will swim junior and senior years </p>

<p>I think I'm going to be extremely productive this summer. I understand that my ACT score is still low, and that my community service and ECs are weak as well. I'm going to hit the ground running this year!</p>

2

<p>Depending on what you want to go into, I would say research (if Bio, Chem, Comp Sci inclined) would help you get that bump. As a Sophomore, you’re doing very well, especially given the income bracket you’re a part of. Try to (and I know it’s pretty difficult) find a “passion,” over the next two years. Something that both SOUNDS impressive, as well as gives you something to write about in essays. </p>

<p>As for studying… Try to really load up your Junior year. The fact that you’re getting 100’s in every class means you should probably be challenging yourself a little more with a heavier workload (or are, at the very least, capable of doing so). Seek out college classes from a local community college, for summer courses. Taking Pre-Calc, for example, over this coming summer would allow you to take AP Calc your Junior Year and do something like a Multivariable/Linear Algebra sequence your senior year, which indicates some pretty raw potential if you’re able to succeed, as you have done so far. </p>

<p>Aside from that, work on that ACT score. You always want an edge and a 33+ is definitely going to double or triple your chances at some of the top schools, so that’s worth a summer in itself, if you can spare some time to improve that. If you get a good ACT, you also still NEED to take SAT II’s! These are your opportunities to shine, and if you’re getting 100’s in classes, the coveted triple 8’s (800, 800, 800, on three SAT II’s) shouldn’t be difficult to do. </p>

<p>In a nutshell: research (contacting professors/labs), AMC10/12, College Classes, a higher ACT, and maybe even a national Spanish exam, if there is one. Oh, and passion… definitely very important to actively seek out.</p>

3

<p>Passion is so out there for me. It’s like college admission adcoms expect me to KNOW what I want to be when I send in that application, and that’s pretty sad.</p>

<p>As for my courses, my junior year is actually the most rigorous that my school offers. We go by 4 terms and 4 blocks per term. Those 3 AP classes already occupies 3/4 of my whole junior year. The other courses, Trig, precal, and Spanish IV, all contribute to my rank, GPA, and QPA as they are weighted, so I would like to keep them. And Advanced Algebra is suppose to be college algebra for my senior year.</p>

<p>My test scores will be improved, or at least I hope so. Definitely aiming for 33+ and 800’s on SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Do you know if I’m able to report any community college class taken on my application?</p>

<p>Again, thanks for your post. It was well written and information. I appreciate people like you! @kmcprfam</p>

4

<p>Hi! I’m a freshman, so I’m kinda in the same position.
You have really impressive ECs, and I don’t think it matters whether you have an intended profession or not so long as you display passion for a certain area (say humanities). Try to up the community service and leadership, but only if you find causes you really love.
Definitely take the national Spanish exam - I’m in Spanish III this year and will do it in a couple months.
Don’t stress about standardized test scores, since from what I’ve heard around here, they don’t matter AS MUCH AS other facets of your application.
In short: yes, you are on the right track! (and congrats on LAL - it’s an awesome competition, glad to know someone else on CC took part in it)</p>

<p>Chance me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597739-new-to-this-please-chance-me-for-ivy-leagues-plus-mit-stanford-caltech.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597739-new-to-this-please-chance-me-for-ivy-leagues-plus-mit-stanford-caltech.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>you’re valedictorian, cmon mate you’re obviously on the right track!</p>

6

<p>If you actually fulfill everything you said, you’re easily on the right track to Ivys. That said, don’t feel pressured to find a passion. Colleges actually know most 17 year olds do not have passions, and to say you do have one can seem really fake. Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me? (Also a Sophomore)
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Right now it seems really good because your a Valedictorian.
chance me please
<a href=“What are my chances of getting in to these institutions (UNC Chapel Hill, U Mich Ann-Arbor, U Pitt)? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>What are my chances of getting in to these institutions (UNC Chapel Hill, U Mich Ann-Arbor, U Pitt)? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;

8

<p>@TommyD36</p>

<p>Yes, you can report College Classes. I took 8 over the last 4 years: Anthropology, Communication, Art, Business, Microbiology, Multivariable Calc, Human Genetics, and Biotechnology (all in that order). </p>

<p>As you can see, I started to shift towards science/math (those last three I took alongside 5 AP classes and a Varsity sport just a few months ago during first semester, senior year… nottttttt fun) and I think that kinda gave me things to talk about in interviews and essays and such. For example, my Microbio class (2013 summer) helped me learn about research. I was also one of only two people in that class to get an A so my professor ended up writing me one of my teacher recs and gave me “one of my best students ever” in a few categories. Since then, I’ve gotten to do a lot of research because of that class and so that kind of helped me discover my “passion” and it really made my essays legit. Also helped me study for a Bio SAT two years after AP Bio and I still somehow ended up with a 780. </p>

<p>In essence, college classes can be a really cool way to explore what you want to do (and I was able to talk about that in interviews). I didn’t apply early anywhere so I’m not sure where I’m going yet, but they SHOULD really spiff up an application because it indicates success on the college level with empirical proof.</p>

9

<p>First -you’re on track. Relax!</p>

<p>As I mentioned in the other thread, I recommend you to get involved with Questbridge -a program for high-achieving low-income students. :)</p>

<p>I personally think that, if you’re taking the most rigorous course load available, self-studying APs and taking college classes aren’t necessary. Colleges will look at the context of your school & see that you’ve taken the toughest load possible. However, if the subjects really interest you -go for it. Do it for your own pleasure/sake of learning, not to impress colleges; when you can talk about a subject (even one taught in school) in the “What concept intellectually excites you?” Questbridge essay, they will be impressed! You don’t have to be terribly passionate about them/turn them into a career -just enjoy them. :)</p>

<p>Same concept for ECs: Do what you love! It seems to me like you’ve found a passion -community service. Try building up on that with those new projects. :slight_smile: And if the thought of dance, performance, and swimming has captivated you -well, dive right in! You don’t need to be a music virtuoso or a professional swimmer to show passion. Truly enjoying ECs leads to investing a good deal of time in them, which in turn shows dedication. This is passionate in its own way.</p>

<p>PS: “Ooooh, Chester have you heard about Hoby, I just got back from HOBY. I hear they know how to wear their tags, hip hip hooray for Hoby!” -Couldn’t resist myself -you’ll learn this soon enough. :D</p>

10

<p>I will certainly look into Questbridge. </p>

<p>Yeah, I wanted to edit this post, but I couldn’t. I decided to drop some AP self-studies that were initially for padding purposes. I want to take college classes, specifically advanced mathematics because math is one of my favorite subjects. And as far as the “will” statements, it might’ve looked like I wanted to impress colleges like the swimming, music, dancing, and acting… those are actually things I find interesting but have never had the opportunity to study when I was a child. Getting a car during the summer will enable me to finally do things I longed for. :slight_smile: @Lilliana330 </p>

<p>Please keep me updated with Questbridge or anything that you deem necessary for me. Thanks!</p>

11

<p>@TommyD96 I had a feeling that was the case with the ECs, since you said you hadn’t been able to do sports before & etc. which is why I encouraged you to do them. :slight_smile: Just keep working hard, with a little bit of fun every now and then. You’ll do great.</p>