<p>So after being pleasantly surprised by my ACT score, I am still unsure as to whether I stand a reasonable chance at being admitted to HYS, which are my high reaches.</p>
<p>ACT: 34
SAT II: Math II - US History - 700 / English Lit -730
GPA: 3.9 UW (2 B+'s in second semester of Jr year)
Rank: Top 2% out of around 400</p>
<p>ECs: Founder + President of Environmental Action Club (connected with local university and organized volunteering and participation in city-wide projects) , interned at a national park, organized volunteering at local park and at organic community garden, volunteered at environmental wing of tribe, 3-year editor of school newspaper
Awards: 2 articles featured in national newspaper</p>
<p>Recommendations: probably average
State: CA
School type: Large public school in small city
Ethnicity: Native American
Major: Environmental Studies
Hooks: URM</p>
<p>Yeah ur stats and test scores aren’t too bad. i’d suggest getting involved in some native american ‘recognition’ type thing and flow it into ur essay about how u truly define urself as a native american and how u perhaps live on the earth and want to sustain it.
u guys (no offense with that) are reeeaally underrepresented even more than african americans. u have a good shot just on that</p>
<p>Your scores and grades are quite good, but you might need to give a little more info. Native American heritage is a big plus although being from California might wash out your application. How hard is your course load? What is your passion? Have you won any awards of sorts? How prestigious is your school? Is there any leadership you’ve done besides editor? I’d personally say you don’t have too much of a shot because your EC’s don’t seem to show much focus or interesting aspects and you don’t have any awards (Although the published articles are cool). However, you never know the power of a well written essay and a good recommendation. If you’ve got the money, go for it. - BW</p>
<p>Thanks! I forgot to mention that I did a journalism project with my tribe and that I also portrayed a major role in a Native American play.</p>
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<p>Ouch, buzzkill.</p>
<p>I’ve taken 14 semesters of AP classes and 16 semesters of honors courses. My passion is my heritage and sustainability (I was hoping that my ECs would show that but they must not have, all but one of my ECs revolves around one of those though). My school is slightly above average. I’m the founder and 3-year president of the environmental club and have organized a lot of participation in the community through that. Like, A LOT.</p>
<p>That’s great, especially the honors and AP courses. I do somewhat see your focus on on the enviro and stuff, but I don’t see how much that translates into a career so colleges might not think it too hot from their perceptive, so it might hurt a little. As long as you followed your passions and you write good essays you’ve got as much of a chance as the rest of us. Although, again, being from California can only hurt. (didn’t mean to be a buzzkill, just trying to be down to earth:)</p>
<p>The way ECs are written up there don’t really mean crap. You could list on and on about all sorts of good stuff you’ve done to save the world, but they won’t mean a thing. </p>
<p>ECs are not what shows your passion – they are mere covers. You need to prove that with your essay(s).</p>
<p>Thank you! I’m going to update and reorganize this a little bit.</p>
<p>ACT: 34
SAT II: US History - 760 / English Lit -730 / Math II - 710
GPA: 3.9 UW (2 B+'s in second semester of Jr year)
Rank: Top 2% out of around 450</p>
<p>ECs:
3-year Founder + President of Environmental Club (I connect with the head of sustainability at the local state university and organize volunteering and participation in region-wide projects)
Interned at a national park (120 hours in total)
Volunteered at local municipal park and at organic community garden (3 hours weekly, every other week)
Volunteered in environmental wing of tribe (estimated 50 hours in total)
4-year member, 3-year editor of school newspaper (5 hours a week, every week of the school year)
Held a significant role in a Native American play (community play, not school) (110 hours in total)
4-year member of Key Club</p>
<p>Awards: 2 articles featured (on front page!) in national newspaper</p>
<p>Recommendations: 2 teachers = probably average, counselor rec = good, extra rec (from tribal environmental project leader) = very good
State: CA
School type: Large public school in small city
Ethnicity: Native American
Major: Environmental Studies
Hooks: URM</p>
<p>Tentative list of reaches (will be removing several of these over the summer, already have some targets and safeties picked out that aren’t listed here):
Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Amherst, Rice (last two are kind of small, but ehhhh)</p>
<p>^sorry honesto, i was mistaken. she got into ypsc but not H or M. i dont think she applied to M. but still, she got into 2/3 of those schools. i think you’re solid. </p>
<p>what are your essays going to be about? you should really emphasize the community work you’ve done for your tribe/how much you’ve learned about your heritage.</p>
<p>You have a great shot at all of those schools. I think people are underestimating the weight being Native American holds. Your GPA and test scores are fantastic-- go for it :)</p>