Chance a bit of a directionless junior?

<p>Hello, there. I was hoping someone would be willing to chance me for a few colleges and perhaps suggest a few realistic options and maybe a few realistic reach schools.
This is the first time that I've done this, so please excuse me if some of this information is irrelevant or has gone too far. </p>

<p>Here are my stats:
GPA: 3.80
WGPA: 4.71
IB Diploma Candidate</p>

<p>My school doesn't rank students.</p>

<p>SSL: 216 hours (and steadily growing!)</p>

<p>Female, white (Lots of European heritage, but also Cherokee, although we don't have any documentation, so I guess it's kind of irrelevant), high income family (150k-250k depending upon how you look at it) (family of 4, my younger sister is in private school), divorced parents (I live with my dad and his fiance - my mom doesn't contribute anything, but still shares legal custody of my sister and me with my dad; he has physical custody of us), first generation student,</p>

<p>PSAT scores (I haven't taken SAT yet)
Math: 58
Writing: 71
Reading: 71
Total: 200 </p>

<p>AP Scores:
AP NSL: 3
AP USH: 3
(I know, not stellar scores, but AP didn't really fit me very well.)</p>

<p>So, for the SAT my projected score is a 2000, although I hope that I can get my math up to a 650 at least and my reading and writing up to 800s. </p>

<p>Classes and semester grades:
Pre-HS:
Honors Algebra 1a/b* - A, A
Hon. Spanish 1a/b* - A, A
Hon. Spanish 2a/b* - A, B
*These do not appear as "honors courses" on my transcript because they were pre-HS.</p>

<p>Freshman year:
Pre-IB English 9a/b - A, A
Pre-IB Geometry a/b - B, B
Pre-IB Biology a/b - A, A
Pre-IB Spanish 3a/b - A, A
Hon. Treble Choir a/b - A, A
AP United States History a/b - A, A
Gym a/b - A, A</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
Pre-IB English 10a/b - A, A
Honors Algebra 2a/b - A, B
Pre-IB Chemistry a/b -A, B
AP Government a/b - B, B
Hon. Chamber Choir a/b - A, A
Hon. Symphonic Band a/b - A, A
Hon. Spanish 4a/b - A, A
Foundations of Technology a/b - A, A
Health - A</p>

<p>Junior year so far:
IB Spanish 5a HL - B
IB English 1a HL - A
Hon. Chamber Choir - A
IB History 1 HL - A
IB Chemistry a SL- A
Hon. Pre-Calc a - B
Theory of Knowledge 1 - A</p>

<p>For second semester my classes have not changed. </p>

<p>For my senior year I plan on taking:
IB English 2 HL a/b
IB Spanish 6 HL a/b
Hon. Chamber Choir a/b
IB Music SL a/b
IB History 2 HL a/b
Theory of Knowledge
IB Math Studies SL a/b</p>

<p>The obvious goal is to achieve straight A's for the rest of high school. This past semester I found out that I have a benign pituitary tumor that has been messing with some of my hormone levels and has been giving me massive headaches. As a result, first semester was fairly difficult, hence some of the B's (I got caught up in a nasty cycle of make-up work that was very difficult to get out of (read: many sleepless nights)). Hopefully, this semester will be much easier to manage, and my grades will improve. </p>

<p>My activities (I'm copying and pasting from my resume, so sorry it looks a little funky):</p>

<p>IB Class of 2013 Delegate (2012-2013)
-5 of the students in the IB Class of 2013 were selected to represent the class in student-teacher meetings. We act as a liaison between the two groups.</p>

<p>HS Chamber Choir Winter Tour Dec 2010, Dec 2011
We do anywhere between ten to twenty performances during the month of December at various places around the community, including malls and nursing homes.</p>

<p>Eagle Ambassadors 2011-2012
We organize events such as the canned food drive and act as the liaison between our school and our community; we are the “welcoming committee” for the school. We help out at various events, such as the Incoming Freshman Orientation and Back to School Night. We also plan out and do a winter service project; this year we went to an elementary school and helped the children create cards to send to wounded soldiers.</p>

<p>Sew Cool 2011-2012
We sew objects, such as quilts and wallets, to give to charity. This group is school based and meets twice a week after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1.5 hours each meeting.</p>

<p>Game Station Leader for GSCNC 2011
I volunteered as a Game Station Leader for GSCNC. We held outdoor games for the children of an apartment complex so that they could have an opportunity that they might not have had otherwise.</p>

<p>MCPS Choir Festival 2011
Held at my high school; I assisted the sight reading judge by distributing materials, manning the metronome, and doing anything else that she may have needed</p>

<p>Co-President of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) 2010-2012
I run meetings; make decisions with the other Co-President; participate in and manage projects for events such as World Aids Day, Red Ribbon Week, and the Great American Smoke Out to promote awareness; stay after school to work on projects; and meet with the sponsor and Co-President to plan events.</p>

<p>Office Aide 2010-2011
Occasionally I stay after school and help complete tasks in the office</p>

<p>Spanish tutor 2010 - Present
Tutoring a 6th grader in Spanish.</p>

<p>Black Eyed Susan Book Club Representative 2010
I ran the Black Eyed Susan Book Club table at the Freshman Orientation at my high school to encourage incoming freshmen to join and to explain the program to those interested.</p>

<p>American Association of University Women (AAUW) Used Book Sale 2010
I unpacked boxes of books, sorted through and categorized them, and assisted with the sale by helping people find books and by keeping the tables in order.</p>

<p>Summer Reading Program Volunteer 2009
I promoted the program at the library by informing any interested people about the program</p>

<p>Kicks Karate, Volunteer Assistant Instructor 2008
I helped run warm ups and classes.</p>

<p>Honors, Awards, and Memberships
2011-2012 National English Honor Society
Eagle Ambassador (selected for 2011-2012 school year) (My high school student “welcoming committee.” Our responsibilities include welcoming the incoming freshman to the school and showing them around on Orientation Day and welcoming parents to events.)
2011-2012 National Honor Society
3X Honor Roll Award (2011)
Superior Performance in 10th Grade English Award (2011)
Soaring Eagle Award (2011)
National Society of High School Scholars Member (2010-2012)
Straight A’s quarter 2 (2010)
2010 Most Outstanding Freshman Award
Superior Performance in 9th Grade English (2010)
Outstanding Science Student (2010)
3x Honor Roll (2010)
“May Tributes” – Student Tribute nominated by a teacher (2010)
Straights As quarters 1 and 3 (2009-2010)
President’s Education Awards Program - Gold Award (2009)
Honors Awards –English, Algebra 1, United States History 8, Science, Advanced Band, P.E. (2009)
Dare to Dream Confidence to Take Action Award (2009)
Black Belt in karate from Kicks Karate (3/17/2007)
Academic Honor Roll 2000 – 2012</p>

<p>Interests / Activities
Clubs
Key Club (Member) 2011 - 2012<br>
Sew Cool (Member) 2011 – 2012
o We sew quilts and other objects to donate to charity.
Students Against Destructive Decisions 2009-2012
o We focus on promoting a healthy life style in which educated decisions are made. We promote awareness of activities that could be dangerous to one’s health so as to help people understand the consequences of activities such as smoking and doing drugs. We take part in several events throughout the year such as The Great American Smoke-Out and World Aids Day.
 Member 2009-2012
 Co-President 2010-2012</p>

<p>PTSA Take Your Family to School Week 2011 Book Club 2010-2011
and The 22nd National African American Read-In (member)</p>

<p>Black Eyed Susan Book Club 2009-2012</p>

<p>English/Writing
In-School Poetry Contest 2009-2010
o I won first place for the sonnet that I wrote.</p>

<p>Sports
My high school’s JV Girls Soccer Team (2009 fall season and 2010 fall season)
Soccer (2001-2012) (Currently MSI Classic Division 2 U-19 team)
o I have played both spring and fall seasons consistently since 2001. I have also played in the winter season, although not as consistently as the spring and fall seasons.
Karate at Kick’s Karate (2001-2008)</p>

<p>Music
Hawaii Trip Dec. 4 – 9, 2011
o The choir department at my school was asked to come to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to sing to remember those lost in the Pearl Harbor bombing on Dec 7, 1941.
Maryland All State Women's Choir (2012)
Chamber Choir 2010-2012
o Winter Tour (December 2011)
 We sang Christmas carols around the community.
o Back to School Night performance (9/2011)
o Leadership Montgomery Dinner performance (6/9/11)
o Educators Serving the Community’s EduSerc Awards performance (5/4/11)
o Music Educators National Conference's Eastern Division Conference (4/1/11)
 Represented Maryland and performed.
o Overall score of Superior at County festival (2011)
o Overall score of Superior at State Festival (2011)
o Winter tour (2010-2011)
o Middle School Veterans Day performance (11/11/10) (we went to a MS to perform)
o Back to School Night performance (9/2/10)
o Department of Energy performance – Native American Month and Quarterly (2010)
High School Symphonic Band (2010-2011)
o Unofficial score of a 2 at the County Festival (We performed for feedback but not for a real grade).
o Third Chair Flute
Concert Choir (2009-2012)
o First Place AA Mixed Choir at Music in the Parks Competition (2011)
o Overall score of Superior at county festival and state festival (2011)
o Overall score of Excellent at county festival (2010)
Treble Choir (2009-2010)
o Overall Score of Excellent at state festival (2010)
o Overall Score of Superior at county festival (2010)
o Celebrate America performance for PBS with Tim Janice (2010)
Middle School Advanced Band (2007-2009)
Middle School Beginning Band (2006-2007)
Elementary School Advanced Band (2005-2006)
County Honors Choir (2005-2006)
Elementary School Beginning Band (2004-2005)
Elementary School Choir (2004-2006)</p>

<p>Musical Instruments
Guitar (Self-taught) (2007-2011)
Flute (school band) (2004-2011)
Voice (school choir) (2004-present)
Piano (currently teaching self)
Ukulele (currently teaching self)
Bass (currently teaching self)
Melodica (currently teaching self)</p>

<p>As you can probably tell I am really into music. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do in college, although I'm leaning towards English, music, and Spanish.</p>

<p>I realized that some of the stuff is probably irrelevant for college applications, but I'm not sure exactly what I can include and what I can't include (like I said, first gen. student - my parents don't know all that much about the college process). Any suggestions for future posts would would be well appreciated.</p>

<p>So, in terms of schools, I have few that I am interested in, although I'm so overwhelmed by the sheer number of colleges and how to narrow, I'm not really sure where I'd like to go.</p>

<p>Current list of schools that have sort of peeked my interest:
- University of Maryland -College Park
- St. Mary's College of MD
- Cornell
- Bard
- Brown
- Oberlin
- William and Mary
- Sarah Lawrence
- NYU
- Rutgers
- Bryn Mawr
- Columbia
- Williams </p>

<p>I am aware that some of these are more than likely extreme reaches. </p>

<p>For Sarah Lawrence and Columbia, I have aunts who went there. . . would that count for anything in admissions? (I highly doubt it - just thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.)</p>

<p>In terms of college suggestions, I'm not a religious person, so I'd prefer a non-religious school. Don't get me wrong, though - if the school is absolutely stellar and seems right for me but is religious I won't turn it down. I also would prefer a small school. I don't really care about location.</p>

<p>Sorry this is so long! Thank you for reading and responding! It is very much appreciated!</p>

<p>-FrayedPages</p>

<p>Ack. Please ignore. I was trying to cut my post down, but my browser timed out or something, and so not it won’t let me edit anymore.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1284140-please-chance-me-junior-please-ignore-my-previous-post.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1284140-please-chance-me-junior-please-ignore-my-previous-post.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>There is my new, shorter post in case anyone comes across this one and is actually interested in chancing me.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>