Chance me for Bowdoin, Pomona, U Chicago, Wesleyan, Emory, Wash U St. Louis, Williams

<p>Hi</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for chancing me!</p>

<p>I'm going to apply to
Bowdoin
Pomona
U Chicago
Emory
Wesleyan
Wash U St. Louis
Williams
and UC's (Berkeley, LA, SD, Davis, SB) because I live in Cali</p>

<p>I'd like to major in Biology or Biochemistry, depending on what school I choose. I know that some of the colleges I mentioned would be a definite reach for me, but I would really appreciate your input. I just want to have a realistic view and a sort of expectations for what colleges I can get accepted to.</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Race: Asian (Chinese)
SAT: 2310 (770 Math, 740 CR, 800 Writing)
PSAT: 229
GPA: 4.08 Weighted (I had a slip up sophomore year, when I got much lower grades than I normally did due to my underestimation of the difficulty of AP courses and my course load. Junior year I got straight A's in my 4 AP classes because I had better time management, and I prepared myself mentally for the difficulty of the year)
Rankings: My school doesn't rank. I come from a relatively large school (2600 students) that is extremely competitive (apparently the school got rid of their rankings because it got so competitive among the students)
AP Scores: 5- AP Biology, 5- AP Chemistry, 5- AP Calculus AB, 5- AP US History, 5- AP English Language
SAT II Scores- 800- Biology E, 770 Chemistry, 740 US History</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities+Awards</p>

<p>Swimming- Starting Varsity since freshman year, swam club since 9 years old. CIF Finalist 50 Free, 100 Free. I have been contacting coaches, and looking up results from meets. My times are fast enough to score in the NECAC and SCIAC conferences that Bowdoin and Pomona (my top two choices) are a part of respectively, and I can be a contributor to the programs right from the start. High School Most Valuable Swimmer 2010, Most Valuable Freshman Swimmer 2008. Western Zone Team 2010. SDI All-Star Team 2008.</p>

<p>Music- I have played piano since I was 7 years old, and I have completed the MTAC Certificate of Merit for piano. I currently play lead trombone for my high school jazz band, and have done so since sophomore year. Before that I played tuba freshman year for the high school wind ensemble. My jazz band has placed top 2 in the various jazz festivals I did during the years. We also do gigs around the area to support our music department.</p>

<p>Internship- I intern at a local biotech firm, and I've familiarized myself with many of the techniques, procedures, and materials used in the industry. Working here really sparked my interest in Biology, because I got to see everything I learned in action, and inspired me to go further into the area. I still have a lot to learn concept-wise (most of my colleagues are P.H.D's in biochem or molecular bio), but that's why I want to go to college.</p>

<p>I have already visited and interviewed at Bowdoin and Pomona, and hopefully they got some of the parts of my personality that I can't express just with writing.</p>

<p>Senior Course Schedule
AP English Lit
AP Physics B
AP Government
AP Econ Macro
AP European History
Calculus II (college class offered at my high school)
Jazz Band</p>

<p>Essays: Still a work in progress.
Recommendations: Great. I am pretty close with my teachers, and they know me quite well.</p>

<p>Once again, Thanks!</p>

<p>But I just wanted to tell you congratulations on getting in to Bowdoin! I saw you got accepted on the decision notification board, and I can see why. You have great credentials, and definitely deserve to go to Bowdoin. I got deferred, but hopefully I will get accepted in the spring and we will be classmates!!! :)</p>