Quick note – I’d really appreciate it if people could also provide any information about what I could improve on when it comes to my ECs :DD.
Demographics
US Citizen
State/Location of residency: Seattle, Washington
Type of high school: Public
Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Nonbinary (AFAB) / Chinese
Other special factors: Legacy (Dartmouth, sibling), learning disorders, severe chronic pain,
Misc: intending on doing the IB diploma program
Intended Major(s): Creative Writing or English – I’m set on law school or major-switching into an easy-money major such as CS
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.92
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.62
Class Rank: N/A
ACT/SAT Scores: none yet, but last time I took an official SAT I got a 1180 [480M / 760RW]
Coursework
Completed AP Classes: AP Physics (4), APUSH (5), APWH (5), AP Lang (5), APHUG (5), AP Chinese (5)
Intended AP Classes: AP Gov, AP Bio (exam-only), AP Lit (exam-only), APES (class in 12th)
IB Classes: IBBM HL, IB Analysis and Interpretations HL, IB English HL, IB Chinese SL, IB History SL, IB Bio SL, IB Further Math
Awards: (information vague to avoid doxxing)
1st Prize Winner of International Level Piano Competition (10th)
Semifinalist at International Level Piano Competition (11th)
AP Scholar with Distinction
NSDA Degree of Distinction, top 0.1% of all registered high school debaters
Top 64 teams in the 2022 International Public Policy Forum competition (11th)
Extracurriculars: (included projected 12th grade participation and any guaranteed leadership positions)
Creative Writing Club - Founder / President (11th-12th)
Self-published a full-length novel as well as poetry and fiction at several small-circulation literary magazines (10th-12th)
Speech and Debate Club - Head Squad Captain (12th), Tournament Logistics Coordinator (10th-11th), Varsity Debater (10th-12th)
Middle School Debate Club - Head Coach (9th-12th)
Piano - played since 6 y/o
Piano NPO - Founder, performed at senior homes, organized concerts and raised about $1,000 for charity to Ukraine (10th-12th)
Internship - undecided, required by school (12th)
Digital Content Editor at a travel magazine - worked w/ a small team to edit and release over 100 articles about worldwide travel (11th)
MUN - participation (9th-12th)
Essays/LORs/Other
Obviously, as a junior, I’m entirely guessing – I assume at least 8/10 essays (I’ll have a lot of time to work on them in 12th grade and I love writing) and low LoRs (I’m a horrible student when it comes to behavior)
obviously you will be TO where you can. The piano competition is awesome.
UNC nor USC are targets. For some, UNC is harder than your reaches.
UW may be a target - but you need more and a safety. Since UW is virtually test blind, it’s to your advantage.
You need more - you’re likely to get blanked or only UW. Someone wrote yesterday they see in-state UW not getting in last year with a 4.0.
I would think you will but one “target” and nothing else is a huge huge mistake.
Good luck.
PS - English or CS - you don’t just “switch” into CS - you have aptitude or not. I don’t see a test score or ECs that tell me you’d do well in CS. And you don’t back door into it if that’s what you’re trying to do. And it’s unlikely at UW. Then you’d be blanked.
You need to have positive recommendations from your teachers and your GC.
Obviously, we don’t know the details of why you believe that you’re a horrible student when it comes to behavior. Is it really that bad? In any event, I would advise working very hard this year to improve any behavioral issues.
As a junior, there is still time to cultivate relationships and demonstrate real growth in this area. If possible, start communicating honestly with your GC and get their advice on how to rehab your reputation.
You have a short window to correct your behavior and hopefully it is not to late.
You are seeking admissions to top tier schools with single digit acceptance percentages. Typically 50-75% of applicants are academically “qualified”.
You are clearly smart enough to do the math and recognize that the schools make their decisions from the “qualified” pool based on LORs and ECs. On the positive side they look for consistency, leadership, passion, impact, etc. On the negative side inconsistency and behavioral issues are red flags.
Think of it this ways, LORs are typically the nicest things those who know you best as part of an academic environment have to say about you. If they (experienced educators) are critical based upon behavior the school is unlikely to over look them and focus on your other stellar achievements.
I am being this direct because you have a window to work on it. WORK ON IT and make sure you have a back up plan including less rejective schools. Good luck.
Once again I would consider how you present yourself to others. I am sure it’s not deliberate but be self aware. Terms like “easy money” probably worth self editing.
I agree with the other posters. Please make this a year of self-improvement and self-assessment.
Work on the behavioral issues. Work on relationships with your teachers and GC.
Be realistic about your academic strengths and weaknesses. Your test scores and ECs do not point to a STEM field being a good fit for college or career. I suggest meeting with your GC this year for a high level conversation about YOUR college application process. Ask for examples of the type of school that is a good fit for you academically and socially (and strong in support/medical services since you mentioned learning disorders and medical challenges). Start researching safety and likely schools… your current list is all reaches IMO (maybe UW for humanities is a match).
Ideally by the end of junior year you will have identified two academic teachers who will write positive LORs and submitted requests to them (some teachers work on LORs over the summer). Also your statement about having plenty of time for essays senior year is not accurate for most kids. I suggest working on those over the summer so you have drafts ready for review by a trusted teacher when school starts. That will take a lot of pressure off.
With an 1180 SAT, the LSAT for law school admission could be extremely difficult for you.
And like others have said, you don’t just ‘switch’ to Computer Science major. I don’t see any STEM prep classes.
Has your guidance counselor seen your list of schools? Have you toured any schools officially? Except for UW (which I know nothing about), I don’t see you getting into any of the other schools on your list.
My only comment is about the California UC’s and your college budget. As an OOS applicant, you will be full pay at around $67K+/year to attend UCLA and UCB and they offer little to no need or merit aid.
Since you are targeting Law School, make sure you budget for Undergrad and Law school.
If there is a chance that you want to pursue CS instead of Creative Writing/English, then you would need to apply to CS as your first choice major. For many of the Universities and especially the UC’s, you need to be directly admitted into the major since switching later will not be possible.
You have some wonderful accomplishments but your college list looks very Reach Heavy. Start from the bottom up and select 2 Likely schools (high acceptance rate, affordable and where you would attend no matter the outcome) followed by several Target schools than you can apply to the Reach schools.
Hi! To you — and everyone else — who commented on my LoR issue, my behavioral issues stem from my learning disability. If course I understand the importance of them, but none of my teachers are willing to be understanding of, or accommodating of, my behaviors.
If teachers are unwilling to write an LoR, or won’t write a positive one (in which case most teachers will decline to write one), you will be limited to applying to schools that don’t require LoRs.
Maybe I am missing something, but I don’t see anything about finances in your initial post? Is your family full pay (and comfortable with the full cost of attendance for all these schools), or are you planning to finance your education with need-based aid? That would affect your school list as well.
I empathize with your learning disability but elite colleges will be similarly reluctant to accommodate poor behavior.
You are clearly smart and accomplished but you should strongly consider adjusting your list to include less selective schools. At selective schools your LORs will be a challenge. Good luck.
You are absolutely correct – I am always trying and I will try harder. Thanks for taking the time to type this out – do you have any tips or tricks T-T
I understand – thank you very much! Do you (or can anyone point me to, b/c I’m sure the forum has a lot of information) have any tips for researching likely schools?
Echoing everyone else, you’ll need a few more safety/likely schools or risk being shut out. I think your ECs are the least of your concern - they are strong already and your musical accomplishments are noteworthy. In terms of the SAT/ACT - when was the last time you took the test? Your score seems incongruent with your grades and your success with the AP exams - were there accommodations for your learning differences?
For Likely/Safety schools, start with your in-state Washington options. Since you live in Washington, the WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) will have a list of schools were you get reduced OOS tuition and some of these schools might be of interest. Save On Tuition | Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
You say you are full pay but is there a budget limit/year that your parents are willing to pay? Also if you are hoping for some merit aid, then definitely do some test prep since many merit scholarships/aid will ask for test scores.
First acknowledge the problem is yours to solve. Don’t expect or disparage the teachers for their “inflexibility”.
In the “real world” and college is a step in that direction people will be understanding of differences but not tolerant of it translating into misbehavior. Contextualize the impact your behavior has in terms of how it potentially distracts others or adversely impacts the learning environment.
Second seek professional help to identify methods of remaining focused. Plenty of help is available. It needs to be specific to you.
By “owning” the issue and seeking help you hopefully will persuade your educators that you are determined to improve and acting maturely. They will hopefully be supportive and together help you forge a path for success going forward.
You said that your sibling is at Dartmouth. Your sibling could be a great resource for you in terms of what to do and not do.
Tips and tricks – if you are really that good of a piano player then reach out to the band/music program directors at the targets and see if they are looking for one. Consider applying as a music major. It is one of the few majors where talent trumps unrelated ECs. But then again, the top musicians aspire to go to conservatories.
Lots of great tips from others here. Pay attention and good luck!