First, some background: my high school situation is somewhat unique, as I was homeschooled through my sophomore year of high school while living on a small farm with my family, and I transferred into a public high school at the beginning of my junior year (I’m currently a senior). My GC is already going to provide explanations for a few issues we encountered with transferring academics-wise, but I do plan on explaining my situation fully in the additional information section on the Common App since it’s not entirely clear from the other information given.
GPA: 3.98 UW/4.25 W - one B freshman year, A’s in everything else, and I have an upward trend in weighted GPA.
Class Rank: 4/306 (weighted)
ACT: 36C (35E, 35M, 36R, 36S)
SAT: 2400 first try, only took it for NMF originally but will be submitting it to all schools
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Physics
APs: CompSci (5), Statistics (5), European History (5), Calc AB, English Language and Composition, U.S. Gov. I will also be graduating with 43 credits at a local CC through dual enrollment, and this year I’m taking six classes at said CC: Electronic Circuit Analysis + lab (two different classes), Networking Technologies, Microprocessors + lab, and Robotics.
ECs/volunteering/work:
-FIRST Robotics Competition: This is pretty much what takes up most of my time, I’ve been doing it for almost nine years. I’m currently co-captain of my team and I’ve led team programming in the past.
-FIRST Tech Challenge: A similar competition, I’m captain of this team as well
-Mentor for middle school robotics teams
-Taught robotics/engineering classes at middle school summer camps for a few years
-Organized a Relay for Life team
-4-H Club treasurer, also won a bunch of low-level awards for computer-related 4-H projects
-Piano lessons (nine years total)
-Library’s Teen Advisory Board
-Worked at grocery store since this past summer
Awards:
-AP Scholar
-National Merit Semifinalist
-FIRST Robotics Dean’s List Semifinalist (basically a leadership award, doesn’t really mean much)
-A bunch of minor school awards (academic award, etc.)
Essays:
-Common app: 9/10
-Supplements: 8.5/10
Recs:
-Guidance Counselor: 9.5/10, she absolutely loves me and knows me pretty well
-11th grade literature/English comp teacher: 9/10, he knows me fairly well since I wrote a lot about myself, and he also nominated me for a school award
-AP Stats teacher: 8/10, might be kinda generic, but he at least knows about my heavy involvement in robotics
Other info:
-White male
-Iowa resident
-Attend a fairly good suburban public high school
-Intended major: computer engineering
-Family income: around $120,000
Schools I’m applying to:
-Rice
-Northwestern
-Olin
-RPI
-Case Western
-WPI
-Purdue
-UMN-TC (safety, already accepted)
-In-state schools (safeties)
I know that my ECs are kinda weak and I don’t have a whole lot of AP classes, but I’m hoping that my demonstrated passion for robotics/engineering combined with my stellar test scores and somewhat unique background will help me. Thanks!