<p>Long-time lurker. It took a lot of nerve for me to post this. </p>
<p>Planning to apply/applied to: Columbia, Cornell, Duke, University of Chicago, Rice, Brown, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, University of Notre Dame, Harvard (my physics teacher convinced me to try), and Baylor University (as a safety). </p>
<p>Intended Area of Study: Biological sciences.</p>
<p>SAT I: 2060 <a href="taken%20once,%20no%20opportunity%20to%20retest">740 CR, 690 W, 630 M</a>
SAT II: Math II: [Oct: 610, Nov: 640]; Chemistry [Oct: 520, Nov: 570]; Planning to take the Physics test in January. (Sigh. They're low, but I did take a year off of chemistry because of scheduling issues and barely got into AP Chem this year.)
GPA: 4.0
Rank: 1/487
AP Scores: English Comp [4]; US History [4]
Currently in: AP English Lit, AP Chem, AP Physics, AB Calculus, AP Macroeconomics/AP Government (both are half a semester and grouped together).
Most likely self-studying for the AP Biology test (unable to take AP Biology because of scheduling).
Other: NHS Member, Questbridge Finalist.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars/Volunteer Work:
- Contest Choir (9th - 12th; Superior Rating at Solo & Ensemble Contest [Individual, 10th]) I've been in choir since third grade, and I have no plans to stop anytime soon. :)
- Interact Club President (12th) [This club was barely brought back this year.]
- Tennis (9th - 12th; Varsity: 11th & 12th)
- UIL Spelling and Vocab Team <a href="It's%20a%20Texas%20thing.">10th - 12th</a>
- Class Office [Treasurer: 10th; President: 11th & 12th]
- Theater (9th - 12th; President: 11th; International Thespian Society Member since 10th.) [Crew, Stage Manager, Dramaturge, Lead Roles (won a gold medal at One Act Play Contest in 11th), Minor Roles, Major Role in Musical] I've also been volunteering at a community theater since January 2009. Usually as a crew member or stage manager for 60+ hours per show. So far, I've worked 5 shows.
- National Art Honor Society (11th & 12th)
- Hospital Volunteer [I visit young patients]. (60 Hours)
- Summer Park Program Volunteer [worked with kids 6 - 13]. (50 Hours)</p>
<p>Essays: My reaction to my abusive grandmother having a stroke, smile/optimism essay, somewhat dark essay on volunteering at the hospital with sick children, my fascination with the human body. Extracurricular short answer on the common app was a why-I-enjoy-performing-music sort of thing.</p>
<p>Teacher Recommendations:
- English Teacher: Great!
- Math Teacher: Good.
- Physics Teacher: Great!
- Choral Director: Great!
(I've known each teacher for at least two years. Submitted English and Physics/Math recs for most colleges and added the others whenever I could.)</p>
<p>Counselor Recommendation: Most likely generic. She doesn't know me too well.</p>
<p>State: Texas
School: Non-competitive public. Many low income students. Majority (about 95%) of students are Hispanic.
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income: < $50000, although it could be considered < $20000 now that my dad's not working or receiving government aid anymore. :/
Hooks: Out-of-place Asian (1 out of 5 in the entire school), uneducated parents, laid-off father, abusive grandmother/bad childhood, naturalized immigrant?</p>
<p>Strengths: Teacher Recs. Essays and EC's maybe?
Weaknesses: ORM and test scores, especially SAT II. :(</p>
<p>They're intimidating schools, but I'm lucky to be able to apply with fees waived thanks to Questbridge and CollegeBoard, so might as well try? (If you managed to get this far, thanks for reading. :) )</p>
