<p>Sorry for making another one of these “What are my chances?” posts. If you guys could gauge my chances for RD at Bowdoin, it would be great :)</p>
<p>I live in California and I’m a Korean female. I attend a large public high school in the SF Bay Area but only 25% of graduates attend a 4 year college. Most of our students marticulate at UCs and CSUs; people rarely venture outside the state save the occasional Ivy Leaguer. I like rainboots, history and the color green. I don’t like birds, vomit or running. I really like the movie “A Knight’s Tale”. I am sure none of you care about anything that was said in the past three sentences. Anyways. I became interested in Bowdoin because I like the Civil War and there’s the whole Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain connection. Hoorah.</p>
<p>Here are my stats:
GPA: 4.00 Unweighted, 4.45 weighted
Class rank: 1/471 (both weighted and unweighted)
Senior year courses: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP English Literature, AP French 5, AP Studio Art, Physics, Civics
AP Courses taken: (see above) AP US History, AP English Language, AP French 4, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology (Our school offers 13 APs and I have taken 10 of them - I didn’t take Spanish, Chem, or Environmental Sci)
SAT: V730/M660/W710, Combined 2100 (I already sent the scores via College Board, hopefully they are bordering on decentish enough - except for math - that it was okay for me to send them?)
SAT II: USH 780, French 700
AP Exam scores: USH - 5, French - 4, English Lang. - 4, Biology - 4</p>
<p>ECs</p>
<p>(WARNING: I have not cured cancer, climbed Mt. Kilamajaro, been an ISEF finalist, won the Boston Marathon or written a book. That said…)
-I’m very interested in history - I have been president of my school’s History Club and we do Civil War living history presentations to elementary school students. I have over 400 hrs of community service through the presentations and daylong living history “Education Days”
-Recipient of the Michael Shaara Memorial Scholarship, the highest merit award for the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. Attended said program last June-July.
-National History Day California state finalist, 2004
-History Day In California regional finalist, 2004
-Swimming: 1 year JV, 3 years varsity (qualified for North Coast Section Championships, pretty much the California equivalent of a state meet); received “Coaches’ Award” blah blah blah
-Water polo: 3 years JV (captain), 1 year varsity; named “Most Improved” for varsity squad 2005
-Band: Participated in grades 9, 10, played flute and French horn</p>
<p>AWARDS/RECOGNITION
-AP Scholar with Honor
-the scholarship thingy (mentioned above) for CWI
-Civil War Preservation Trust Photography Contest, 3rd Place
-a few awards from the County fair for artwork (I’m sending in an art supplement if I can get the slide film back)
-North Coast Section Scholar Athlete
-AATF National French Exam “Grands Concours” - Laureat (ranked 8th nationally, whatever that means, I just got some certificate)
-Published work in local Teen Anthology </p>
<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
-Living hist. presentations, as mentioned above
History Day:
-Judged regional History Day competition (the middle school division) in 11th, 12th grade
-Helped coordinate History Day entries for Livermore middle schools (12) 2005-2006 (ongoing)
-Gave presentations to area middle schools about conducting historical research (12) 2005-2006 (ongoing)
Swimming:
-Volunteer swim aide for my summer rec swim team
Tutoring:
-Volunteer tutor to high school French students (10, 11) 2004-2005
-Volunteer tutor to high school Calculus students (12) 2005-2006 (ongoing)
-Paid tutor to 7th grade Algebra student (12) 2005-2006 (ongoing)
Other:
-Local Measure D Campaign 2004
Worked as a precinct caller in the (successful) campaign to pass a parcel tax to support Livermore schools</p>
<p>I also have worked as a lifeguard/swim instructor for the past 2 summers.
I think my essay is okay; it explores my identity as a Korean adoptee and my love for history. The recommendations should be good.
I was just deferred from Yale, but Bowdoin and Brown (and Yale) remain as my top 3 schools.
I’ve been in touch with the Bowdoin swim coach for awhile. I’m not fast enough to get recruited, though.
Sorry for the lengthy/annoying “tell me whether I can get in or not” post. Best of luck to the rest of you in your college search and Happy Holidays.</p>