<p>i'm a senior from public high school in massachusetts.
SATI: 640M, 680CR, 800W
SATII: 690 US History, 800 Hebrew
ACT: 28
top 5%
approx. 3.9 GPA unweighted</p>
<p>EC:
youth group president (member/ on board since 7th grade)
NHS officer (11,12)
Yearbook, ad. editor (12)
ski club (11,12)
humanities scholars program (11)
dance (9,10)
varsity crew (10,11)
varsity swimming (10,11,12)
ER volunteer 5hrs/week (12)
lifeguard at local community center pool year-round (10,11,12)</p>
<p>Other Stuff:
born and raised in Israel (6th year in US)
attended private Jewish day schools and public schools
AP Student (English Lang., English Lit, US History, World History, Spanish)
Fluent in Hebrew, almost fluent in spanish</p>
<p>Applied to Tufts RD and interviewed (and as far as i could tell it went well)</p>
<p>Your SATs and ACT aren't great; but you already know that. Nevertheless, you are in the top 5% of your class, and I hope that the adcom will see that as more important than some bad standardized test scores. You have a chance, but it's a reach, though not an impossible one. </p>
<p>Do you have a hook? Something that sets you apart? Perhaps it's something in communtiy service, or an art project, etc. etc. That could clinch it for you.</p>
<p>well i dont really have anything "solid" as a hook, simply because i havent had the chance to do anything that majorly special in my life (which isnt my fault... :-/)</p>
<p>BUT i am a good writer (if i may say so myself...) and my essay is about moving from israel to here and then from private to public school and how thats shaped me as a person, and i think that in a way is my hook (not JUST being from israel -- i know thats not good enough -- its the way i explained in my essay about who i am as a result, i think i did a good job with it).</p>
<p>Yeah, problem is, the writing section is the one that's least important in college admissions... so in the old SAT, she would have a 1320 which is not stellar but not terrible either. Just average. And below average for Tufts, as all SAT I scores' averages are 700+. That's what I meant.</p>
<p>yea, but Harvard's ivy and you never know with those, they must have had an amazing essay or some other special hook. </p>
<p>and about the SAT, i know that the writing isnt as important and that my math and reading is a little low for tufts, but is it possible that the adcom would weigh in the 800 to balance out the other two? i mean, tufts does look at the writing (as opposed to other colleges that completely dont count it) and i did get an 800.</p>
<p>I don't know if your 800 in writing will overshadow your lower SAT scores in math & CR, but you don' thave to worry about the adcom looking at your application in a standardized test scores vacuum. They will look at the whole picture. You have a good class rank and if you wrote good essays, those will help you too. Is Tufts your first-choice? (Just asking in order to understand why you didn't/or won't apply ED II)</p>
<p>I'd recommend not putting the Israel factor on your application. You never know, one of the AdComs might be fanatical about trivial things like, oh I don't know, basic human rights and reject you based on that criteria alone. Personaly I wouldn't risk it. I mean obviously, put it down because of your address and whatnot but just to be safe I wouldn't play that up even though. My Aunt live in Eilat actually, say word.</p>
<p>As for everything else I'd say you're a border student. Why on earth you would rather student in Medford, Massachusetts as oppossed to one of the oldest centers of civilization on the planet I cannot even begin to understand. I'd lay my body on train tracks to have the opportunity you have right outside your front door. </p>
<p>But then again that's just me. Much luck to you Ruthie, I really hope things turn out terrific for you :)</p>
<p>Need any extra help, please PM me. Really don't hesitate...s'all love yo.</p>
<p>"I'd recommend not putting the Israel factor on your application. You never know, one of the AdComs might be fanatical about trivial things like, oh I don't know, basic human rights and reject you based on that criteria alone."</p>
<p>"Why on earth you would rather student in Medford, Massachusetts as oppossed to one of the oldest centers of civilization on the planet I cannot even begin to understand."</p>
<p>Let me take a stab: no suicide bombers in Medford. Close?</p>
<p>So, what's your point? Am I supposed to be impressed or sympathetic to other Jewish students’ b/c of your representation of the culture/religion? Jews by all measurements consistently rank in the upper percentiles for verbal, writing, etc., skills. You prove the old adage there’s an exception to every rule. ;)</p>
<p>i completely disagree with what you said. how could i possibly NOT put the fact that i lived in israel for more than half my life on my application (and to whoever asked before, i'm a dual citizen)?? in fact, that is something that I am stressing on my app, not on its own merit, but more as the biggest factor in shaping who i am today, as a mass. high school senior.. i can't believe you'd even consider not putting that on an application, its a HUGE part of who i am.</p>
<p>Ruthie - Yes, you should discuss your experiences living in Israel since it is a huge part of your identity. Tufts is hardly antisemetic. There are many Jewish students at Tufts and Hillel is extremely active. You'll fit right in. :-)</p>