Can I Get Into Emory (Hint: Say Yes, Please!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>I'm a rising senior who goes to a no-name, class AA high school in a tiny Georgia town; the colleges I am most seriously considering as of now are Mercer University, College of Charleston, SCAD, and Emory/ Oxford (trying to stay at least a little bit local!). I plan to major in English/ Creative Writing. </p>

<p>Oh, and a little extra background: I'm a Caucasian, Methodist girl from a family of seven kids- all the same parents. I moved in the middle of my high school career because life just sucks in that way. </p>

<p>My Info:</p>

<p>ACT: (N/A) Frankly, I don't want to take it. Is that bad? Should I? </p>

<p>SAT: 1890. HOWEVER! This is from the first time I took it, no preparation whatsoever. While my writing and verbal scores are relatively high (690 and 670), my math was not. I'm dedicating a big chunk of this summer to studying though, and I plan to raise each of my scores at least 100 points, if possible. </p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted. Weighted, I'm not sure. </p>

<p>Course load: Podunk High School only offers 5 AP classes, which is terrible because I was planning on taking so many more than that at my old high school. I had to transfer before senior year because my dad got a new job. Will that affect my chances of getting in? Anyway, senior year, I will be taking AP Biology A and B, AP Lang, and AP Lit (I'm just listing AP, not everything). I have already taken APUSH A and B (I haven't gotten my scores yet, but I'm almost positive I made a 5). I have three foreign language credits (I made a 100 in all three of them), all honors classes, and I also took Advanced Composition, a class allowing only upperclassmen, my sophomore year and made the highest grade.</p>

<p>Class Rank - I was number one until I switched schools; it gives me no pleasure to say that I have been demoted to number 3. ):</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:</p>

<p>Marching band, jazz band, concert band, symphonic band (this was at my old school; we had a VERY prestigious band program, prestigious as in Dr. Long- most famous band director in our country as of now- came to our spring concerts. To be in symphonic band- especially as a sophomore- was a real honor), drama (I have been in A LOT of plays, with both major and minor roles), Leadership Team, and my school's very successful literary team (guess my AA school is good for something after all). </p>

<p>Clubs: Inducted into Spanish Honor Society 9th grade, Thespian society (11-12; we didn't have a drama department at my old school), Beta Club (11-12; once again, new school only), National Honor Society (10; only at old school), and Spanish Club (10; I think you're seeing the pattern here by now). I honestly just don't see much point in clubs, and I didn't want to pay the tuition for a whole bunch of them just so I could write them on college applications. I'd rather be honest and rejected than dishonest and accepted. </p>

<p>Leadership: Leadership team, flute section leader, thespian troupe historian</p>

<p>Volunteering: Vacation Bible School- 7th through 11th grade.
Made some shweet brownies for old people with my church!
Helped pack "shoe-boxes" full of supplies for needy children in Mexico
AA literary regionals- time keeper
9th grade advisement mentor 2012-2013</p>

<p>Academic Honors: Number one in sophomore class, highest average in Pre-AP American Lit 10th grade, highest average in biology I 10th grade, Number three in junior class, Highest average in Honors British Literature 11th grade, Highest average in Chemistry I 11th grade.</p>

<p>Other Achievements: National Merit Commended Student, State interviewee for Georgia's Governor's Honors Program 2012 (Communicative Arts major), 1st place for girl's essay- Class AA literary regionals, 2012, 4th place for girl's essay- Class AA literary state finals, Nominated for HOBY, 10th grade, musicianship award in symphonic band 10th grade, SEUS Honor Band 11th grade, competed at some drama festival whose name I can't remember right now, Summer Band Leadership Camp 12th grade, will compete at GTC (it's a drama thing) this fall (and hopefully place!), will compete at IE (individual events, drama again!) this semester in pantomime skit (probably, anyway), will attend Thescon this winter (heck yes!), also part of community theater's summer production 2012.</p>

<p>Work Experience: More like inexperience...I babysit quite frequently, was once a tutor for a six year old who refused to read (worst. job. ever.), and occasionally worked for the nursery at my old church.</p>

<p>Essay: I imagine I'll probably write about the joys (sarcasm) of having 6 other siblings. Or something. My life has been an unwavering series of weird events, so I'm sure I'll have something to write about. </p>

<p>Rec Letters- My English teacher wrote on one of my papers that she knows I will be a famous writer one day, so I think it might be a good idea to get her to write one. I also plan on getting my drama teacher/ literary dude (is coach the appropriate word there? He didn't coach us, but he did buy us pizza and doughnuts.) to write one. They both love me, if that doesn't sound conceited. </p>

<p>So, uh, there you have it, folks. I've been stressing out about college ever since the summer began, and I just want to know whether or not I can stop stressing. That's probably physically impossible, but you know. A girl can dream.</p>

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<p>The SAT scores is definitely low for main campus so I’d say get 2100+ before you have a good shot there (Emory’s middle 50% is about 2020-2220) but they should be passable for Oxford. You might want to try the ACT and see if you do better, and you don’t have much to lose by trying. Other than that your grades and ECs are stellar for admission to either Emory or Oxford and beyond that it all comes down to showing interest. Also Emory meets full financial need so with your income and 2 other siblings in college (as you mentioned in the other thread) you shouldn’t be paying much at all. </p>

<p>If you get that SAT score up to 2100+ (or 32+ for the ACT) you should be competitive for Oxford Scholars or admissions to Emory main campus. You would need it to get it up to about 2250+ (or 34+) to be competitive for Emory Scholars. As of what you have right now I’d say in at Oxford and slight reach for Emory main campus.</p>

3

<p>I’d say that if you raise your SAT to 2000, then you will get in for sure to Emory. Make sure to apply ED1 and visit the campus!</p>

4

<p>Pretty much what I said on the other thread. I look forward to hopefully seeing you here.</p>

5

<p>The Emory Press Release on 4/9/12 states that “the average admitted student…scored more than 700 on individual SAT sections.” Keep working on your SAT score.</p>

6

<p>Try to achieve 2100+ SAT. This will help a lot</p>

7

<p>Study for the SAT, retake, and apply for Oxford Scholars as well as Emory College of Arts and Sciences. You might want to consider Barron’s SAT 2400. Regular prep books won’t be that helpful for improving your reading or writing scores, though you should probably use a regular book for improving your math score.</p>

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<p>You wouldn’t happen to be a daughter of a Methodist minister, would you? Emory has a 45% tuition scholarship for Methodist preacher’s kids.</p>

8

<p>My dad is works kids’ stuff on Sunday nights, youth on Wednesdays, and teaches adult Sunday school in the mornings…but he’s not a minister, just an engineer…too bad, I guess!</p>

<p>And thank you for the insight, everybody! I’ve been lugging through this SAT math book this summer, so hopefully I will see some results come October!</p>