<p>Well, I'm kind of special... I'm applying to a local day school w/ an acceptance rate of about 30% similar to the level of Northwestern University.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.89
- Taking Honors Algebra this year
- In "Challenge" (like middle school Honors) English all three years
- Only non-As in 6th grade when I arrived mid-trimester and from another country</p>
<p>ECs:
- Oboe (five years)
- Piano (two years, self-teaching one + lessons for other)
- Guitar (started this August)
- Yearbook Club (two years)
- Builder's Club (basically a community service club, one year)
- Talent Show Comittee (three years)
- Talent Show Set Builder (sixth grade, only sixth grader on crew)
- Talent Show Assistant Director (seventh grade, the director was a teacher)
- Newspaper Club (co-founder, co-editor in chief, one year)
- Self-teaching myself French (two years)</p>
<p>Community Service:
- Volunteered at local Elementary school, 2hrs/week for one year</p>
<p>Awards:
- Top 3 Patriot's Pen essay in school, chosen to read at assembly
- School Reading award, 6th + 7th grade
- School Language Arts award, 7th grade
- Chosen to attend JrNYLC + attended, selected as speaker for final day
- Chosen to attend 2nd Washington D.C. trip this June w/ school</p>
<p>Essays:
- Writing is my passion
- Essay about how American culture has changed me since moving here from England 2.5 years ago</p>
<p>Rec:
- I only need one
- From my English teacher this year who has previously stated I am the best student she has ever had.</p>
<p>Other:
- No interview required
- Applying for financial aid but need-blind
- Doesn't use the SSAT for admission but the Explore ACT test which apparently is used for placement. I'm not worried about this though for I was the only one in my group to finish every section.</p>
<p>Anything I'm missing?
I know it's hard to chance but basically just think an average boarding school level of selectivity which is basically quite selective! Because of the lack of test scores, you might just want to chance my ECs and grades.</p>
<p>No. I'm not in the school band because of general suckiness and that means my local orchestra won't let me join so basically I'm cut out of any participation other than lessons.</p>
<p>dido, Niamh. I play percussion but my school band is made up of mostly people who can barley play their insturments and NEVER practice, I on the other hand have been playing music for 8 years (percussion only for 4). So I'm not allowed to try out for all county (NYSSMA)(too young for all state) which is really annoying, cause I don't want to be in all county anyway, I just want to be judged, so its not like I'd even be taking a spot that someone else could of had (plus, when I did do all county I was the only timpani player in the county). stupid rules.</p>
<p>YAY another NYSSMA person! Sorry for all your issues with the system, hehe, it sucks. Our band is terrible too, and my only lessons come from my band teacher (blergh) but I'm the best oboe player in the whole effing county because everyone wants to play flute, or clarinet. We have a total of like 4 oboes.</p>
<p>NYSSMA!!! ohh god you people are awesomee xD
im a violinst (9 years) and i go to a private school in ct so were not a part of it. ergo, i cant do nyssma. : ( but im a 2nd violinst in the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) in Albany and EVERRYYONEE does nyssma and im quite jealous. you guys are lucky. =D</p>
<p>I love it, its so much fun. We spend months preparing solos or duets and then we get there... We camp out in the upper gym at the school because most of us are gonna be there for 6+ hours. We bring food and money and our instruments and iPods and books and we pile on each other on the wrestling mats. We get nervous, we get excited, and everything is SOO much fun!</p>
<p>I love it :) I wouldn't give up my oboe for the wooorld.</p>
<p>NYSSMA sounds awesome!
But anyway, just an update: I just found out my Patriot's Pen essay has been honored at district level and is moving up to state.
EXCITED! (:</p>