<p>So I'm going through the application process and I'm really anxious about my chances for my reach (which are also my first choice) schools. Help me to get at least some idea of where I stand.</p>
<p>Gender: F
Race: Caucasion (technically I have a good fraction of Native American in me but it's not documented so I don't see how I can include it in an application)
State: Tennessee
High School: fairly competitive private school for freshmen and sophomore years, then an independent study program for junior and senior years
GPA: unweighted: 4.00
weighted: 4.30 (I think...although it seems like it should be higher because I've taken a bunch of AP and Honors classes and I generally get 100's or close in all of them...there's not one B on my transcript)
Rank: school doesn't rank</p>
<p>Testing:</p>
<p>AP:
AP English Language: 5
AP U.S. History: 5
AP U.S. Government & Politics: 5</p>
<p>ACT:
Composite: 32
Reading: 36
English: 35
Math: 30
Science: 27
(I am planning on retaking this in a couple weeks with the result being a composite of 33-34 with -obviously- a higher math score and a much higher science score)</p>
<p>SAT:
770 CR
740 W
620 M (I know...bummer right?)</p>
<p>SAT II:
I will be taking these next week. These are my expected results...<em>crosses fingers</em>
Math Level II: 710-760 (luck will play a huge role in this one)
Chemistry: 740-780
Latin (or perhaps Literature): either way 760+</p>
<p>EC's:
-have taught bible school since 6th grade
-in charge of organizing and running the nursery at vacation bible school for several years
-tutor middle school students in all subjects, esp. math (for 2 years now)
-played harp since middle school
-Art Club (in charge of organizing/decorating my grade's hall for Spirit Week competition for 9th + 10th grade, participated in Scholastic Art Competitions)
-childcare since 10th grade (this is more than babysitting...I pick the kids up from school, take them to their ballet or soccer practice, cook them dinner, help them with homework, put them to bed, and then stay until their parents get home from work or whatnot)
-armfull of community service (at least 100hrs each year)
-involved in church activities (Roman Catholic)...I went through Confirmation and became a Eucharistic Minister and help at church picnics, fundraisers, etc.</p>
<p>*The focus of my extracirricular life is working with children/youth (bible school, nursery, childcare, tutoring kids, etc.)</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
-Mu Alpha Theta
-Principle's List (for every quarter of high school)
-English Departmental Award
-National Latin Exam Gold Medal (twice-for Latin I and Latin II)
-Presidential Service Awards (3 of them)
-National History Day State Award for TN (9th grade-did a project on East TN and the Civil War)
-AP Scholar
-Junior Classical League (basically Latin Honor Society)</p>
<p>Course Schedule:
All AP's and Honors/Dual Enrollment at a local college for junior and senior year
Basically, I've always taken the toughest course load that I can.</p>
<p>Recs:
-Chemistry professor for the course I'm taking at the local college (expect this one to be stellar)
-Latin teacher I had from fresh--junior years (expect this one to be the ultimate divine version of a rec. )
-English teacher from fresh+soph years (expect this one to maybe even be better than the one from my Latin teacher-which is really saying something)</p>
<p>Essays:
I'll be pulling some awesome essays out of the bowels of the earth if I have to. Seriously, they'll be pretty darn good. Like, disgustingly awesome. At least I hope <em>sigh</em>.</p>
<p>Extra Info.: At the end of my sophomore year I got really sick (I'm talking bedridden for a few months) and the virus left me with inflammed juvenille arthritis which I've had to "overcome"...this also explains my change in schools and my not-so-perfect list of EC's. I couldn't physically handle going through a full day of school and had to switch to a less traditional school program, but I still managed to take the courses I wanted to take (such as the APs). Will the fact that I'm really dealing with a difficult physical condition count for anything in regards to considering my EC's and such? </p>
<p>In conclusion, I'd say that I'm really expecting my recs and essays to be selling points in my application that make-up for my lack in other areas (such as extracirricular stuff)</p>
<p>Schools I'm applying to:
-Cornell (know this is a reach...but should I even bother?)
-U. of Chicago (same as Cornell)
-Swarthmore (same as Cornell and UChicago)
-Georgetown (I know this isn't quite as bad as the ones listed above...but still...)
-Vanderbilt (Good match. I'm expecting to be accepted here.)
-Davidson (Same as Vanderbilt)
-Centre (safe school)
-UTK (definite safety)</p>
<p>I'd like to be chanced for every school listed, but ESPECIALLY for Cornell, UChicago, Swarthmore, and Georgetown. Please be realistic. And thanks a lot!</p>