Hi everyone,
Just a regular day for a high school Senior during the first semester: studying for standardized tests, starting/finishing college apps, getting teacher rec. letters, etc. I have a huge problem like many, and that is that my self-esteem is very low. Even though some are envious of my impeccable record, I still don’t think any colleges will accept me; I always assume the worst. Here is my CV:
-Grades: All A’s (never a single B or below).
-Classes: As many APs and Honors available (except for Junior year’s APUSH/HUSH; I took regular U.S. History). Summer accelerated and honors courses were taken Freshman and Sophomore year summers (both science classes).
-GPA: Unweighted - 4.00 and Weighted - ~4.50-4.70 (I really don’t know b/c the school’s registrar miscalculated my weighted GPA, but she is fixing it; all I know is that the weighted GPA is higher than 4.50).
-Awards: Spanish for Heritage Department Award, Adv. Algebra/Trig Class Award, AP Chemistry Award, National Hispanic Recognition Finalist (received a diploma in the mail like a week ago), AP Scholar w/ Honors (this one doesn’t count in my book, haha, but it’s still something).
-Class rank: Tied for 1st with 2 other people (1st/~333).
-School Activities: Block Club, in 4 choirs (Jubilee, Concert, Chamber (advanced Choir), and Testostertones (male A Capella group)), Lacrosse (Freshman-Sophomore year), film TEDx Youth every year (co-creator of Film Crew; first official/professional film group), CSF (California Scholarship Foundation), School Newspaper (The Emerald), I2 Scholar (Innovation and Inquiry scholar program; for students passionate about science/math), Student Ambassador (for shadow visits), leader/admin of Digital Storytelling Club, going to do swimming (second semester Senior year), and possible leader for the Senior “Kairos” retreat (applying soon).
-SAT (new version): 1300 and 1330 (super score: 1350)
-ACT (I’m not going to submit this one b/c I ate dirt): 25
-SAT 2: Math II - 650, Spanish - 800, Chemistry - 720
-AP Scores: AP Euro - 3, AP English Language/Comp. - 3, AP Chemistry - 4 (only did 4/7 FRQs, so I must’ve gotten everything else correct), and AP Spanish Language/Culture - 5
-Extracurricular Activities: trap and skeet team, rifle shooting, building computers (sometimes for fun), learning to play the electric guitar, making music with friends (I mostly do vocals, but I’m working on learning instruments), making movies with friends (we submit videos to local film festivals all the time, and studying chemistry/conducting experiments (on my own time because I love chemistry; father was a chemist, so I guess it runs in the family).
-Extras: currently enlisted in the Nuclear Navy (recruited for Navy Nukes last summer but with a nonbinding contract b/c I am not 18 yet; if I choose not to go to college, the Nuclear Navy is my back-up…after all, it is the most prestigious job given to only the best, according to both Naval officers and enlisted), and I attended National Student Leadership Conference at UC Berkeley (last summer) for Biotechnology.
-Race/Ethnicity/Nationality: Mexican (Hispanic/Latino)/U.S. (dual-citizenship)
-Parents: both are immigrants from Mexico (my father got his Bachelor’s in Science (B.S.) for Chemistry, while my mother dropped out in High School to work and help my grandmother with her restaurant).
-Interests/Majors: I plan to major in Chemistry or Engineering and become a Nuclear Chemist/Engineer (hence I fell in love with the Navy Nuke program).
-First Language: Spanish, but I caught onto my English-speaking friends in Preschool and Kindergarten.
That’s pretty much it, but, if I find anything else, I will include edits at the very bottom. I just want to know a general opinion on what schools I have a really good chance of getting into; sometimes, people just need a confidence boost. I really want to apply to prestigious universities like the Ivy Leagues, Stanford, Rice, CalTech, etc. Nevertheless, I will still apply to the Universities of California, specifically Berkeley, L.A., and Davis (these would be my top choice if I go scholarships). I understand that sometimes the admission decisions come to chance, and, essentially, lotteries are made in order to select one out of the two good candidates; that’s not important for this discussion. Thank you all who respond with their opinion; I respect everyone’s response and appreciate serious responses (please…please, serious posts only). Thanks, again, and have a very nice day!