<p>I figured I'd post this for a few of the schools I'm looking at, because I succumb easily to peer pressure and because I'm curious what others might predict. But, mainly because of the peer pressure thing.</p>
<p>SAT: 2320 (Math 790, Critical Reading 760, Writing 770)
SAT IIs: Math IIc 800, Physics 730, U.S. History 760
10th: AP World History 5
11th: AP Calculus AB 5, AP Computer Science A 5, AP English Language and Composition 5, AP Physics B 5, AP U.S. History 5
Weighted GPA 98.125
Rank: 18 of 330</p>
<p>This year, taking AP Chemistry, English Literature, Physics C, Spanish Language, and U.S. Government.</p>
<p>In terms of what my school offers, that's pretty much the top, by the way. Courses like Calc BC and Comp Sci AB weren't available to me...</p>
<p>My application focused heavily on my passion for astronomy, and research in that field. I have been working with a post-doc at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC for a bit over a year and have done two projects with her which I'm currently working on writing up for submission to two of the top astronomy journals (for the astronomers here, one will be to PASP and one to ApJ, which is probably the most prestigious astro journal out there). I'll be first author on both. The first project won me highest honors at the Long Island Science Congress and NY State Science Congress, and the second project has won me 1st place at the Middle States Regional Finals and 3rd place at the National Finals of the Siemens Westinghouse Competition. I would say that's probably my bigger award though....</p>
<p>Other awards/ECs include...</p>
<p>Newspaper - Assistant News Editor (11th grade), regular contributor (all four years)
Winter + Spring Track - Ran all three years, although not...you know...well
Wrestling: 9th grade</p>
<p>AP Scholar with Distinction
National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, NYS Science Honor Society
National Merit Commended Student
Science Olympiad - 1st place in Western L.I. in Astronomy, 1st place in NYS in Compute This, Events Coordinator (12th grade)
AATSP National Spanish Exam - 3rd in Nassau County (9th), 2nd in Nassau County + 3rd on Long Island (10th), 5th in Nassau County (11th)</p>
<p>They're decent, I guess.</p>
<p>Only paid employment was $2700 for my research this summer.</p>
<p>No community service, sadly. My motto has always been, "Ask not what you can do for your community, ask what your community can do for you." Ironic considering I go to John F. Kennedy High School. :p Fine, kidding, but research has taken up most of my time and I just never really thought about community service...I spent my time doing what I really love.</p>
<p>Both recommendations (+ guidance counselor's) were excellent and my science research teacher said she wrote (for colleges and Intel) one of the best letters she's ever written. Ah, and my mentor at the AMNH wrote me a letter too which I would imagine is glowing?</p>
<p>Essays are probably pretty good too. Most of them have been checked over, revised, and approved by the English teacher (who wrote rec. #2). Did a great job, I think (hope?) of conveying my passion for astronomy--how it came about, what it means today (with my research), and what it will mean in the future (my near-definite plans to continue with astro in undergrad and grad school, get a Ph.D., and become a professor of astrophysics, teaching/researching).</p>
<p>So my rank probably hurts me a bit (my freshman year grades were subpar relative to the rest of my class, I did great in 10th grade and then in 11th, my being the only junior taking 5 APs set me back a good deal as well...), but otherwise I think everything else is at least in the range. Any thoughts? </p>
<p>Thanks for actually reading all of this (or at least just skipping straight to the bottom)!! :D</p>
<p>Adam</p>