<p>Hello CC,
After a whirlwind tour of the northeast (and parts of the south) this week over spring break, my college list for next year is beginning to solidify (I am currently a junior). </p>
<p>It is roughly as follows:
1. Columbia (semi-legacy, my dad went for MBA)
2. Brown
3. Georgetown
4. Vanderbilt
5. Vassar (legacy)
6. Wesleyan (spelling?)
7. UVA (legacy)
8. Skidmore
9. George Washington
10. Lafayette</p>
<p>As for my grades:
Freshman year: 1 AP, 3 honors (most rigorous), ~84 UW, 87 W
Sophomore year: 1 AP, 3 honors (most rigorous), ~89 UW, 93 W
Junior Year: 1 AP, 3 honors (most rigorous), ~96 UW, 99W
Projected senior: AP Calc. AB, AP Euro, AP English, AP Physics C, AP Spanish 5 (by far most rigorous) and am talking to teachers about summer work so that the transition will be easier. After talking to them, expect straight, low A's, unweighted, maybe higher with motivation.</p>
<p>I'm aware my first two years have less than stellar grades, but my grade trend, when graphed, is overwhelmingly positive. As for test scores:
SAT I: 730 CR, 680 M, 730 W (2140 total), plan on taking again, and have been routinely earning perfect scores on practice tests, so i expect it to rise by a healthy amount (I took a class since).
AP world - 5
AP Us history - expected 5
SAT II's: Bio - 670, World history - 740, Math 1- 800, lit - 800, US history - 760</p>
<p>ECs:
-Varsity track all four years
- religious youth group all four years, clocked over 750+ hours community service therein, including the fact that I I give up my spring break and a week every summer to do charity work abroad, Youth adviser in Junior year (selective position, only 10 of them with 30+ applicants), and expected senior adviser senior year
-Founding member and board member of the Young Philanthropists charity fund, all four years
-Model UN all four years
-Debate team sophomore year on, varsity for junior and senior years
-Service league of Boys (charity group) all four years, Sophomore liaison for sophomore year, Vice president of philanthropy Junior year, President senior year (already been informed of acceptance to the position), totaling probably 100+ hours philanthropy total therein
-Yearbook sophomore year on: intern sophomore year, Layout editor and designer Junior year, editor-in-chief senior year</p>
<p>Additional info:
-Unsure if helps my chances at Columbia, but my dad went to business school there
-Spent two summers taking classes there, have a relationship with a professor or two in English department
-Currently in process of a novel, unsure whether I should put it on the side burner for now or just go all out and finish it in time for application to serve as a feather in my cap (I have an adult friend who is learned in the process of getting a book published)
- My classes are very rigorous, only slightly easier than the most rigorous, and even then only in my math and science courses, yet in all of my classes I am either the top of the class (literally in some cases) or within, Id say, the top 3-5. My school does not publish official rankings. </p>
<p>Already talked to my teachers about Rec's, and they are the teachers I am closest with PLUS they historically write great essays for high caliber students.
I don't expect essays to be much of a problem, as I intend to major in english, am an award winning essayist, and am getting coached by a paid college counselor through the whole process.</p>