Im a junior and I wanted to apply to Duke, Cornell, UPenn and a few other schools next year. What are the especially weak points that I could work on?
Hooks: Hispanic, 1st generation, sister currently attends UPenn
Household income: ~$50k
State: Florida
SAT: 2250 (730 CR, 800 Math, 720 Writing)
UW GPA: 3.92; all my B’s/B+'s came from freshman year; I was a slacker 
Weighted GPA (6 point scale): 5.52
Class rank: 1/292
Subject tests (projected, will be taking in May and June):
US History: ~750-800
Biology: ~750-800
Literature or Math 2: ~700
Courses (H - Honors, CC - Community College, FIU - Florida International University, FAU - Florida Atlantic University, UF - University of Florida)
7th grade:
Algebra 1 H
8th grade:
Geometry H
Spanish 1
Freshman year:
AP Human Geography (5)
Biology H
Earth/Space science H
English 1 H
Algebra 2 H
Spanish 2
Leaderships skills development
HOPE (mandatory PE class)
Sophomore year
AP Art History (5)
AP World History (5)
AP Environmental Science (5)
AP Statistics (5)
Chemistry H
Spanish 3 H
Precalculus H
English 2 H
Child psychology (CC)
Health and Wellness (CC)
World religions (CC)
American literature pre-1800 (CC)
Philosophy (CC)
College algebra (CC)
Speech (CC)
Summer
American literature post-1800 (CC)
Liberal arts mathematics (CC)
Social and personality development (FIU
Marine biology (Harvard, went there on a summer program)
Psychology of diversity (Harvard)
Junior year
Year long
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP English language
AP European history
AP US History
AP Comparative government
AP Microeconomics
AP Physics 1
1st semester
Spanish 1 (CC)
Composition 1 (CC)
Oceanography (FIU)
Religious studies (FIU)
2nd semester
Spanish 2 (FAU)
Microeconomics (CC)
Anatomy and physiology 1 (CC)
Computer literacy (CC)
Summer (projected)
Composition 2 (CC)
Geology (CC)
Psychology (CC)
Terrorism (FAU)
Weight training (FIU; taking it for fun with a friend, lol)
Veterinary Medicine: Small Animals (Cornell; got accepted into a summer program there!)
Veterinary Medicine: Equine Practice (Cornell)
Senior year (projected)
Year long
AP Physics 2
AP Calculus BC
AP Psychology
AP English literature
AP US Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Computer science
possibly 1 or none of the following three: AP Spanish language, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C: Mechanics
1st semester
Zoology (CC)
Archaeology (CC)
Survey of calculus (CC)
Trigonometry and precalculus (UF)
Spanish 3 (FIU)
2nd semester (I dont think this will matter for college, but in case it does)
Ornithology (FAU)
Ethnology (CC)
Anthropology (CC)
Letters of rec (projected): My marine bio professor from Harvard said he would write me one, and I’m hoping to get one from my vet med professor at cornell this summer. For any teacher/counselor recs, I’ll write them myself, and my teachers/counselors will be happy to sign it.
ECs:
*Cross country varsity (8-10th grade)
*Student government officer (9th-12th grade)
*~500 Volunteer hours fostering kittens
*~50 Volunteer hours at a dog shelter
*Animal science/Environmental Club (9th grade VP, 10-12th President)
*Trivia team (t9th-11th grade, 12th grade captain; won regional competitions and qualified for national competitions we couldn’t go to and have appeared on local TV)
*Apprenticeship with the owner of Somerset Virtual Academy developing social justice and civic leadership curriculum (11th-12th grade; he and I aren’t sure just yet if we’ll describe my position as an intern or something else, but for right now, it’s just an apprenticeship I suppose)
*My school is sponsoring me to send me to a developing part of Costa Rica to volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center for 3 weeks at the end of this summer
Awards:
National Merit Scholar semifinalist; I wont find out if I’m a finalist for another year
AP Scholar with distinction
Chances for:
Cornell CALS as an Animal Science major
Duke as an Evolutionary Anthropology major
UPenn in the college as a Biological Basis of Behavior major
Concerns:
I haven’t taken 4 consecutive years of a language. Ive taken/will have taken 3 years of spanish at my school, and as well as at local colleges. However, the 3 classes I will have completed at local CCs correspond directly with the curriculum in my HS. So its more or less like taking spanish 1, 2, and 3 twice. I’ve never taken a higher level chemistry course, only chem honors. The AP chem teacher at my school is CRAZY and I dont think I’d do well in that class. I’m considering taking chem at a local college in the fall, but how important would it be that I do that? Lastly, is my lack of awards going to be a major issue?
I’ll chance back!!
