My application was, in a word, odd. It has some great gaping weaknesses, but also some fairly impressive strengths. It would be great if you could evaluate where I stand and what Brown might make of this unbalanced application.
GPA: 3.67 UW, 3.89 W (weak)
SAT: 1460 (780 Reading, 680 Math) (Obviously Math is looooow)
Subject tests: 780 Literature (I’ve heard that this is really good), 710 US History
AP Scores: 5’s on English Language, US History, Psychology (junior year), 4 in Literature (self-studied in sophomore year)
Senior year: AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Computer Science, AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, Choir, Journalism, online course for AP Stats
No lab science junior or senior year
Got a C in Chemistry and AP Calculus
No STEM teacher recs
Extracurriculars: (this part is my real strength)
-Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper (real passion for this, wrote my Common app about it)
-African Library Project: (local organization: lasting commitment, started a youth chapter of it, spoke at their fundraiser, interned with them to do organizational research)
-Youth Advisory Commission (been on it since Grade 7, rose to Chairwoman, led many new events/projects)
-Mock Trial team: Team captain, first place team award, MVP individual award, competed all 4 years
-After-school job
This is not a lot of activities but they all really mean a lot to me. I went into detail and really emphasized the depth of my commitment to all of them.
Awards:
5 major writing awards (Scholastic Gold medals, awards with $1000 prize money, etc.)
Harvard Model Congress–Outstanding Delegate
Mock Trial awards
Global Literacy Champion award for my work with African Library Project
Essays/supplementals:
Not trying to brag, but I am really, really proud of all of them Writing is my strength, and I really think each of those essays shines and reflects me really honestly, especially the Brown supplementals.
My Common App was about an ethical dilemma I faced as an editor.
upper-middle class, Linguistics major, female, Over-represented race, California
Recommendations:
I got one from an English teacher who literally changed my life and who is an incredible writer, and another from a Spanish teacher who knows me really well and understands that my grades don’t always reflect my learning. I also got an “other” recommendation from the founder of African Library Project, who knows me really well.
In general, I think my application really reflects who I am. My essays, recs, and ECs and are really strong and I have a clear demonstrated strength in English. But my grades (especially in math and science, but also in Humanities subjects) leave much to be desired, as does my SAT.
One of the main themes of my app was intellectual vitality and how I showed it despite my grades. I even took a slight risk and discussed (tactfully) how I learned to maintain my motivation when I found the school system stifling, which is very true. Will it seem like a cheap excuse? What do you guys think? SORRY FOR THE LONG AND SELF-INDULGENT POST Thank you!
