<p>I timed out the last time I typed this, and I have to do it ALL THE FREAKING WAY AGAIN, AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR ON IT THE FIRST TIME AND NOT COPYING AND PASTING JUST TO BE SAFE, so this'd better be quick.</p>
<p>I want to major in CS at Penn to do video game design. I'd like it if you could evaluate my chances.</p>
<p>Basic Info</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Race: White/None - I'm considering not leaving a race; my reasons for this are personal and not limited to, "woe is me; blacks and Hispanics get into college so easily"</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>GPA: 3.73 - If I get straight A's this coming term, I'll have roughly a 3.8
GPA (weighted): 4.4 - I'll have roughly a 4.6
Rank: ~110/870 - lackluster, I know, but my school is highly competitive and sends many kids to top universities; many people have 4.0s here. However, my rank will likely enter the top 10% as my grades improve and students fall victim to senioritis
Classes: honors/AP options whenever available
Senior Schedule: AP English Lit; AP Physics; AP Gov; AP Comp Sci; either AP Calc BC or Calc III honors (depending on how I do on a placement test); fourth-year Japanese honors; being a teacher's assistant for Video Game Development class (isn't it cool that my school has that?)</p>
<p>Standardized Tests</p>
<p>ACT 1: 34 composite; 35 E; 36 M; 32 R; 31 S; 10 W
ACT 2: 34 composite; 35 E; 34 M; 32 R; 35 S
SAT: 2230; 710 M; 740 CR; 780 W - I'll probably retake this so that I can do better in math. Hey, btw, does Penn superscore?
PSAT: 219; 80 M; 69 CR; 70 W
APs: took 4 this past year but have no results yet (I'm too nervous and poor to spend the $8 and call for them); taking about 6 next year if that matters at all
SAT Subject Tests: will be taking Math II, Japanese, and Physics, with the possible addition of Literature</p>
<p>Extracurriculars (Formal)</p>
<p>Vegetarian Club - 4 years by application time; no official position though I help out a lot; contrary to what you might expect, we actually do stuff rather than just basking in our own self-satisfaction
Psychology Club - 3 years b.a.t.; Co-President
Video Game Development Club - 2 years b.a.t.; President and founded the club
Gay-Straight Alliance - 2 years b.a.t.; may not end up mentioning this
Enviro/Biology Club - 1 year; probably won't mention this
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Club - 3 years b.a.t.; probably won't mention this
Cross-Country - 2 years; started as a total beginner at running and ended up one of the top few on my team at State (I still run, just not formally)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars (Informal)</p>
<p>Have been developing games since I was 11 and attended camp at Northwestern University; have given them out to friends via email and CD-ROMs
Am developing a game for the iPhone; it should be out within a couple of months; I need to get around to forming my own company
Have been in two bands; will release an EP before too long with current band
Have taken guitar lessons since 8th grade; while this might otherwise not be notable, I've played recitals at a fairly famous local nightclub
Have studied Japanese apart from school; took AP test as a junior whereas few even take it as seniors
Am also teaching myself Czech; I can relate this to my application by saying that I want to continue my studies in the language at Penn, which is true. Hell, I'd start a Czech club at my high school if I thought anyone would actually join
Have also been active in the Lojban community (an obscure constructed language); yes, it's weird, but I've helped coin new words and translated short stories and children's books
Have taken CS 101 at local community college</p>
<p>Jobs</p>
<p>Paperboy - only for 3 months; being laid off wasn't my fault, though
Taught Google SketchUp to elementary school kids during a summer architecture camp
Tutored one student in Japanese for money over about 7 months; will probably get more students this coming year</p>
<p>Awards</p>
<p>Some BS for international leadership, blah blah blah, because I'm going to Japan; the award was a big deal, though
National Merit Finalist, if my PSAT score ends up being good enough (it probably will)
Japanese Honor Society
Continuous Dean's List awardee since I started high school (basically just the Honor Roll)</p>
<p>Recs</p>
<p>They'll be really good; trust me.</p>
<p>Essays</p>
<p>I think they'll also be quite good. I've started outlining topics.</p>
<p>So... what do you think? Where do you think I can best (and, frankly, with the least amount of effort) improve my application? Where is it the most important to? Thanks in advance.</p>