Can anyone chance me for Peabody? Applied ED1 from the Bay Area.
Asian (Korean)
Male
Bay Area, California
Rigorous Public School: Top 5 in California, Top 75 in US
Upper-middle class ($500k+)
Hooks: Asian maybe? I heard Vanderbilt’s trying to increase diversity.
GPA/Test Scores:
W: 3.87/ UW: 3.57 (huge upward trend; 4.0 UW Junior year; low Freshman year GPA was a result of missing weeks of school due to a severe illness - counselor should explain)
Rank - school doesn’t rank
ACT - 36 (36M, 36E, 36R, 35S, 11/12 Writing)
SAT I - 1500 (730 Reading, 770 Math)
SAT 2 - 790 Korean, 710 US History, 680 Literature
AP: 5 on US History, 4 on Human Geography
Awards:
-National Merit Semifinalist
-Major International and State DECA Awards
1st Place in California (Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research)
1st Place in California (DECA Hotel Management)
2nd Place in California (DECA Hotel Management)
2nd Place in California (Financial Literacy Promotion Project)
9th Place in California (Quick Serve Restaurant Management)
2nd Place Internationally (DECA Hotel Management)
8th Place Internationally (Financial Literacy Promotion Project)
-National History Day California Second Place
-National History Day Regional Champion
-CSPA Journalism Gold Medal
Courseload:
9th - all honors classes
10th - all honors classes
11th - 4 weighted (maximum possible)
12th - 2 weighted
Extracurriculars:
-Won major international, state, and regional awards in DECA
-Internship at Sand Hill based Venture Capital firm
-School newspaper Editor and Advertising Manager
-Stanford Daily University Newspaper Internship (two years)
-Won state level awards for National History Day
-Varsity Golf
-Volunteered for Political Campaign (180+ volunteer hours)
-Public Forum Debate (2nd place at regional tournament - SCU)
Essays:
Common App - 9/10 pretty good; wrote about Korean identity
EC Supplement - 10/10 really good; wrote about journalism and work as an Advertising Manager and connected it to Vandy, Peabody, and HOD (my major)
Teacher Recommendations:
Honors English 11 teacher - 10/10 (knows me incredibly well)
AP Human Geography teacher - 9.5/10 (was my favorite class in high school; he enjoyed me as well - knows me well)
Counselor Recommendation - 8/10 (should be decent; she would probably explain my low grades Freshman year -had to miss weeks of school due to severe illness)
Interview: Was with an alum of my high school! Went really well; was honestly just a conversation about why we both loved Vandy.
Will my low GPA keep me out? Or will my exemplary ECs, test scores, awards, and essays give me a chance?