Hello, College Confidential! I have been lurking on this forum for what seems like months and months, and as I begin my college search process, I would love some insight into my chances for some for my top choice schools. This spring, my family and I will be visiting some of these schools, and I am really just looking for a frame of reference in which to view them all. I am interested in studying physics primarily, or alternatively philosophy, or economics.
If any of you would be willing, I would greatly appreciate any admissions insight for my chances at the following for the class of 2022:
-Claremont McKenna College
-Pomona College
-Scripps College
-Harvey Mudd
-UC Berkeley
-UC Santa Barbara
-UC Los Angeles
-UNC Chapel Hill
-Davidson College
-Georgia Tech
-Johns Hopkins University
-Tufts University
I am aware that some of the schools on my above list may be reaches; please be kind! If you don’t think any of the listed schools are even moderately appropriate, feel free to add suggestions for academic fits, as I am early in the search process. Thank you!
Okay, so about me:
ACT: 35 composite (34 reading, 34 math, 35 writing, 36 science)
SAT I: 1540 (780 reading, 760 math)
SAT II: None yet, but planning on taking Literature, Physics, French (w/o listening), Biology M, and Math II
AP: 4 on World History (<-- only AP available to me at my school, although I am looking into taking AP exams for my IB classes)
IB: MYP Graduate, now Full Diploma Candidate with a course load of:
-Physics HL
-Biology HL
-English Lang and Lit HL
-History of the Americas HL
-French B SL
-T.O.K
-Mathematics SL (highest level math offered at my school for IB)
-Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band (Non-IB electives, taken afterschool and during free period)
GPA: 4.65 W (4 pt scale)
Rank: unranked, but probably top 10%
Gender: Female
State of Residence: North Carolina
High School Type: Public, Rural, ~1400 students (mix of traditional, MYP, DP)
First Generation College?: No
Ethnic Background: White, native English speaker
Family Income: ~140k (so most financial aid is out of the question...)
Awards:
-Nearby university’s Foreign Language Festival (spans 2-3 states): French Poetry Recitation 1st place (x2) / French Song 3rd place (x1), 2nd place (x1) / French Skit 1st place (x2)
-Girl Scout Gold Award (projected November '17): Building miniature food pantries for use by the homeless or impoverished
-National School Marching Award 2015: For dedication to the marching arts
-Schoolwide music award 2016: Awarded to most musically accomplished band member over the past season
-French Grand Concours: Bronze medal x3 (>85th percentile), 10th in the state in 2016
-Most likely will be a National Merit Scholar (If not, a Commended Scholar)
Honors (mainly band related, because I’m a huge nerd :)) ):
-All County Band: 2nd chair oboe '16, 1st alternate alto sax '16, 1st chair oboe '17
-All District Band: 1st chair oboe in 11th/12th Symphonic Band (Highest level band) '17, All State Eligible
-All State Band '17: 7th best HS oboist in the state. (<-- Didn’t make it, but considering I have only been playing for a year, that’s pretty good!)
-2017 NC Governor’s School Nominee; Nominated in Instrumental Music, but eligible for all disciplines. Don’t know results yet, but being nominated is an honor within itself!
-UNC Greensboro Carolina Conductor’s Conference 2017: 4th chair oboe in Wind Ensemble (Highest level band, All-State level)
-All County Jazz Band: 2nd chair alto sax '17
-School’s audition-only, advanced jazz ensemble: 1st chair alto sax '16, '17
-National Honor Society
-National French Honor Society
-Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society)
-National Science Honor Society
-Beta Club
EC’s:
(’*’ denotes a leadership position)
-Red Cross Club
-Math Club Tutor: Junior Advisor to IB freshman, sophomores. In charge of making online study guides for difficult concepts
-Winterguard: Rifle line member, Logistics Manager at competitions
-MYP Personal Project Tutor
-Countywide Youth Leadership Council*
-Girl Scout Summer Camp Counselor*: Unit Assistant, USA Archery Instructor, Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified, Small Watercraft Safety certified
-Girl Scouts
-Oboe Lessons (SO. MANY. OBOE. LESSONS.)
-200+ hours of community service
-Marching Band: Uniform Manager '15, Alto Sax Section Leader '16, Drum Major '17* (projected)
Whew, that’s a lot! Thank you for reading and providing input! Have a wonderful day, and good luck to everyone in all of their college-related endeavours! 