I have applied for more than these two and been accepted, but I am hoping for these two especially:
Columbia University and Northwestern University regular decision. They are my reaches I believe.
Brief personal info: Female/Chinese-American/Adopted/Rural Community/Parents both Teachers
Intended Majors: Neuroscience (for sure) and English/Public Health/German/Art???
GPA: 3.99/4.0
SAT: 1520, 800 Writing/Reading, 720 Math, 19 Essay
ACT: 34, (Perfect 36 Reading)
Rank: 1/95
School Type: Rural Small Public
AP Courses/IB/Honors not offered at my school, however, I wrote about this and my counselor filled out this information. I sought out online AP courses (AP Calc, AP Lang, AP Lit) and took online Developmental Psychology courses through the summer and the State University. Self-taught German (passed the A2 exam), I have taken accelerated math since 6th grade independently, I have taken full course loads every year of High School including Early Bird PE (so 9 courses per semester).
Honors:
National Merit Semi-finalist (waiting to hear back)
GE-Reagan Scholarship Semifinalist
Scholastic Arts and Writing Gold Medalist (2x)
Gold Honor Roll (all 8 semesters)
Allstate Speech (4 years in a row) performing an original play written by me
Published in National Library of Congress Poetry
National Honor Society President
Principal’s Leadership Award (School)
State Vocal Jazz Championships Outstanding Soloist
AMC (Highest School Scorer)
Heavily involved in Extra-curriculars:
-Choir (Allstate Choir, ACDA National Honor Choir, Jazz Choir, Chamber Choir)
-Theatre (Lead Role, Co-director, Script Writer,
-Art Club (President (2017, 2018)), 1st Place Regional Show, Scholastic Arts Honorable Mention, Design Program Covers, Host Regional Art Shows, State Fair Photography Purple Ribbons)
-Band (Jazz Band, Allstate Jazz Band, Pep Band, Pit Band, Marching Band, Lead Trumpet, Division I Solos (4x), Pit Band, Honor Bands)
-Private Piano Lessons (started when I was six, performed at a composers symposium, Division I Solos (4x))
-Varsity Swimming (High School Team (2x Conference Champions), Co-Captain)
-Varsity Track and Field (Conference Team Champions (3x))
-Student Council (9/10, Class Officer)
-German Exchange/Club (Went and hosted student in 2014, 2016)
-Food and Fitness Club Leader (Organize annual assembly, video production, contact sponsors, mental health awareness)
-Research: The Current Drug Developments and Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease
-Science Bowl (3rd place State as a Team)
Volunteering:
-Religion (Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School, Lector, Church Youth Group, Accompaniment on Piano, Organ, and Trumpet, Adopt-A-Highway Program, Christmas Program, Church Choir, Bell Choir)
-Community Theatre (Member, Actress, Advocate)
-Community Works (Downtown Chamber events, Christmas Lighting, Landscaping Grooming, Public Park Clean-up, Humane Society, Food Pantry, Organize area high schoolers for Christmas Caroling, Community Annual Messiah Choir)
-Swim Team Coach (for Area Summer Swim Team)
Work Experience:
-Lifeguard (4 years, Assistant Manager)
-Water Safety Instructor (Private Swimming Lessons)
-Math and English Tutor (5 years)
-Taught Guitar Lessons (3 years)
Recommendations: Phenomenal. My counselor and I have worked together since I was in 5th grade. He has helped me accelerate courses and take summer intensives. Other recommendations from my Art Teacher and Writing Teacher as well as physics/math teacher.
Submitted Supplemental Art Portfolios for all schools.
Essays: Very Helpful
Columbia-I wrote about my journey for the pursuit of harder courses than what is offered to the Odyssey (in reference to their Core Curriculum) and about my Alzheimer’s Research Project and my interest in their professor Eric Kandel. I compared this to the intersection between art and science based on his book.
Bowdoin-Wrote about one of the lines in their “Offer of the College” that talked about libraries and my hesitancy to publish my writing until a teacher encouraged me.
Amherst-Compared their environment to the four Beatle’s epitomizing Amherst’s strengths in religious freedoms, international awareness, music and English, and open-mindedness)
Northwestern: A Personal anecdote about my experience watching my aunt in the publishing house.
Note: None of my family has ever applied for prestigious or Ivy League colleges. They attended college and received their teaching degrees, but none of us have ever really gone through this process so I am not sure what to expect.