<p>Weighted GPA: 4.151
Un-Weighted GPA: 3.146 <- points for pi!?
Rank: top 26% (yeah i know)</p>
<p>National merit semifinalist (I got notified just today that I've been taken out of the running for finalist because of above GPA)
2260 on SAT I with writing
1540 on SAT I r/m</p>
<p>will have 8 AP exams by graduation provided I pass calc
passed so far:
AP world: 5
AP English III: 5
AP US history: 4</p>
<p>and then a 2 on physics B that i shouldn't have let my teacher talk me into taking with out taking AP physics :/</p>
<p>Volunteer</p>
<p>4 years of mission trips to west virginia, gulf coast, and the navajo nation
2 years fund-raising for world vision (fights poverty) + work at the samaritan inn</p>
<p>ECs</p>
<p>4 years of theater, president of International Thespian Society
2 years of choir
1 year of broadcasting
1 year of cross country
1 year of NHS
3 years working as a sound engineer at my church
summers working for a contractor</p>
<p>My courseload is almost as good as it can be at my school, I've never taken a regular academic class, all pre-ap and ap, the only thing is I didn't take science this year, but the other 3 years are all lab classes.</p>
<p>so, what would you put my chances at getting into the liberal arts college or the communications college?</p>
<p>Top 26% almost assures that you won't get in. I know you probably go to one of those tough schools, and I feel for you. But hopefully you applied early, and they take some other things into account. Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm almost certainly going to be in the top quarter after semester, would sending in a midyear transcript help? cause i know that 25% of admittants aren't top 10%</p>
<p>Not sure if that's true, my daughter said that any church-related activities will not count toward volunteer hours, you might want to double check that.</p>
<p>If you go to a very competitive school in-state, I think UT should have a profile on your school. If you come from outside of Texas, you may need to show them your school's profile to help them understand your school better. Your SATs are great, write them a very good essay, show them passion in your chosen field of study, I think you're a strong candidate. It does not hurt to also look into some ivies/near ivies.</p>
<p>I didn't mean to say that you should not list your mission trips to the Navajo Nation as part of your volunteer hours... I think that you are in a position to do something great for a group of people who are very much under-represented in American society. Your interest in broadcasting hopefully will give them that voice. I think you have a very good chance & you are a very good candidate in many schools.</p>
<p>Don't listen to the people above. Your grades and scores are decent. Focus now on writing excellent essays that show focus, determination and "play-up" your extracurricular activities that tie to your life's mission and goals.</p>
<p>For example, you can take a focus on your church work. This is an ever-increasing area where colleges are looking to diversify their student body. If you can bring to the classroom a unique perspective from your commitments and service within your church, that speaks very well for your ability to help the college in diversifying its student body.</p>
<p>From looking at most of the applications and description of gpa's, classes, scores, extracurricular activities....everyone is lacking a focus or theme. College admissions want to know, "What is your passion?"</p>
<p>You seem to have significant service to your church and people in general. Work from there. And emphasize this in your essays.</p>
<p>Based on your rank and SAT score you stand a good chance--much more based on the SAT score, which is exceptional.</p>
<p>If you have already sumbitted your transcript, then I don't think they will change it if your rank improves--I'm not sure though.</p>
<p>They don't even look at GPA.</p>
<p>If you are in-state I'd say in, out of state I'd say no. The OOS pool is just so competitive and they only take 30%. In-state and not top ten the acceptance rate is about 25%, but you have very good stats for this pool.</p>
<p>david, back in 2005, my oldest son had worse stats than yours, he was 33%, gpa 3.35 from a competitive Jesuit boys school. He was a NMF though. He got accepted, but didn't hear until March. By that time he had already accepted the full ride UFlorida was offering at the time to NMF's (Texas was only offering I think 4500 the first year, then 3500 for 3 years - Boo).</p>
<p>I think you will get in, you might just not hear quickly. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>I'm a parent trying to understand this whole process of college admissions. Isn't it true that religion is very important to a lot of Texans, & the majority of UT's student body comes from Texas. I would imagine that the UT student body already has plenty of religious views represented. How does adding another one add to the diversity if that religion is Christianity? </p>
<p>OT:I'm actually quite sad to see indigenous cultures disappearing. Spreading Christianity for example, among indigenous people seems to go against the argument of adding diversity, which, I understand it to be accepting & understanding of others who are different... I'm assuming of course the church activity in question is related to Christianity.</p>
<p>Kwyml, I understand your concern about spreading Christianity to indigenous cultures, and trust me, the Navajo are concerned as well. We worked at a very small town built around a historic Presbyterian mission and a failing hospital. The people there had to worry about feeding their families, keeping education going, fighting substance and alcohol abuse and keeping their church alive, all the while holding on to what defines them as a people. That is why there are so many pageants and dances in that area, they try very hard to pass on the indigenous culture to other generations, and it's getting harder. </p>
<p>To keep your culture alive, you have to stay on the reserve, and it's nearly impossible to make a decent living on the reserve, especially for the Navajo who have not yet undertaken any large economic endeavors such as casinos.<br>
I have very little native blood in me and am by all measures white, but my tribe, the Chickasaws, has fared better economically and socially, but subsequently has little of its culture left, and I know more about Navajo customs than Chickasaw after two weeks in Arizona.</p>
<p>Thank you for telling me about your work in the Navajo Nation. I always wonder how anyone can survive in such harsh & arid environments. They have to be very resourceful. This past summer we were very fortunate to have attended the Elmo Standing Arrow Pow Wow in Montana. We saw dancers from all over the U.S. representing many tribes, some came as far as California. It was our 1st time in a Pow Wow. Although we didn't quite understand it, my kids & my mom thoroughly enjoyed it & the food, especially the fry bread. The speech given by the organizer echoed your concerns about the difficulty of passing on the cultures to younger generations. </p>
<p>Regarding this thing that I said earlier about church-related community service hours may not be counted in college admissions, I want to correct it as I later found out from my daughter that it is actually related to the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) requirement in the IB Program that she's taking.</p>
<p>I 'm rooting for you & I hope you do get in.</p>
<p>Yeah those guys up there are wrong.. I would say you are 85% to get in. Weak GPA but your test scores are leaps and bounds ahead of the average of the kids who get in that aren't top ten percent, not to mention you are a huge minority.</p>
<p>Dbate - where do you go? My oldest went to strake, but he graduated in 05 before they went into the UIL. Back then, their only rivals were St. Thomas and Dallas Jesuit. Now, I don't even know who they play against. Are you at a rival hs? My other kids went/go to Stratford, so I'm a Spartan fan now:)</p>