<p>Hello Everyone,
I have no business posting yet, but I need some help on things. First of all, I am 15 and an incoming freshman at one of the top Catholic high schools in the nation. The name of the school is St. Ignatius, a large school (about 1500 students), located in a poor neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, and run by the JESUITS. 100% of graduates attend college. The football team contends for the division 1 Ohio state title on a yearly basis. About 40 seniors are national merit finalists every year.
Now to my story…My whole family strongly believes in the Jesuit education. One of my two brothers attends BC, and the other graduated this past year from BC. My mother will likely be working at John Carrol University ( a JESUIT college in Cleveland). She also atteneded John Carrol. My sister also attended John Carrol
I have just completed a summer computer class, and received a 92%, (a B+). So I will start off with a 3.3 GPA. I will not be taking any honors classes this coming year.(I think that will kill me) I have never really been known to try my hardest in school. But I intend to work my butt off these next four years to get into BC. From the first time I stepped foot onto the the campus 5 years ago until now I love it.</p>
<p>Will my family status with Jesuit schools and BC help me in any way? And what should I be involved in to separate myself from the rest of the field?
I know I shouldn’t be posting yet.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>P.S. I’m sure you can all tell I’m a freshman because of my horrible grammar.</p>
<p>Welcome to CC! You certainly are welcome to post as a freshmen; it shows some initiative and you can learn a lot here. Just don't start obsessing about college admissions now and forget to enjoy high school!</p>
<p>You have lots of time to make yourself a strong candidate for BC. Really focus on your academics as they are, by far, the most important factors in college admissions. Your GPA, rigor of classes, and class rank will count the most, and standardized test scores are only slightly less important. Do not be afraid of honors and AP classes; go ahead and really challenge yourself. BC wants to know that you are capable of handling the work load.</p>
<p>Also participate in extracurricular activities (sports, band, drama club, whatever you are genuinely interested in) and community service work. BC wants students who are more than bookworms; they want students who will contribute.</p>
<p>You really have to get into BC on your own merit. The fact that your brothers attended BC will give you only a slight (if any) "boost" in admissions. However, all the family connections/history with the Jesuits could make a very interesting essay with your application, particularly if you focus on how the Jesuit philosophy of education has affected you personally and then tie that into your desire to attend BC. </p>
<p>If your mother works at John Carroll, you might be eligible for free or reduced tuition at BC through FACHEX (the Faculty and Staff Child Exchange program, which offers Jesuit-to-Jesuit school reciprocity for tuition). She should look into that possibility as you get closer to the time to apply.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks a lot worriedmom..anyone else?</p>
<p>I think worried_mom about covered it. My daughter going into high school established a goal to attend a select school like BC. She researched what it would currently take and asked for advice from her teachers who provided encouragement. She focused on grades her freshman year, adding athletics (track) in the spring. She kept herself busy with academics, the high school experience, and healthy life activities. To demonstrate she could do the work she took honors and several AP courses that she was interested in (worked hard). To demonstrate she was well rounded she participated in a few clubs, a sport each season, and a competitive summer ball team. She took a part time job when she turned 16. Its more important to participate in activities that are fun for you than every activity available. You need to be enjoying high school. Your junior year is the most important, I think. By the way you won’t see an elective office or national honor society in her experience. I think being a team captain demonstrated just enough leadership.</p>
<p>She had some success and failures, earned good grades but had just average standardized test scores for BC candidates. She finished 8th in her class of 400, was captain of two varsity teams and her summer ball team, and received a couple coach awards as well as one or two game MVPs. She was certainly not a star athlete, not the #1 student, but showed she was motivated and could handle demanding academic work while living the high school experience. She is a good intuitive writer and probably wrote a essay that the reviewer at BC liked (most select schools use current students to identify applicants they would like to be part of their student community). </p>
<p>She was accepted by a couple Ivy league schools and BC but rejected by some less select schools. Three of her friends with similar backgrounds were not accepted by BC, while a much poorer student was accepted. So you can work to increase you chances, but it does not guarantee a thing. The friends were accepted by other very selective schools, however.</p>
<p>So it may be somewhat of a crap shoot in the end, and schools like BC are getting more and more selective. Many BC students of 10 years ago would not be accepted today. But if you are not going to take the chance, you will not get into any competitive school. If you do well in high school, there will be a select school that would have you. There are a lot of good ones. Enjoy a healthy and full life. Learn to express yourself well in writing.</p>
<p>Thanks coldcase..I plan on working my butt off the next four years.</p>
<p>Plans on what to be involved in:
Soccer and basketball freshman year (Definitly basketball all four years)
St. Benedict Labre Project (deliver food and conversation to homeless people in my school's neighborhood and the rest of Cleveland)
Joseph of Aramathea Pallbearers Society ( carry the caskets of those who have no family left to carry the casket)
Student Senate
Hopefully NHS
Ignatians for Life (anti-abortion group who attend rallys all over the country)
Plan to write for student newspaper
Plan to spearhead a mission trip to Detroit or another poor city in US
Eucharistic Minister
Soccer Referee
Latin Club
Lector at Mass
Part time job in the summers
What else should I be involved in to be more well-rounded??
Will hopefully take toughest courseload possible sophmore-senior years</p>