<p>Hello gentlemen! As a high school senior, I am applying to Brown through Quest Bridge. Brown is also my number 1 ranked school. As such, I would like your opinions on what my chances are since I’m basically waiting for this month to slowly chug by until I hear on Dec.1st. So, here I go:</p>
<pre><code> Academics:
-I have always taken the maximum level of all courses offered, including 3 APs last year and 2 this year.
-My average has always been an A- (we are not ranked)
-So far, I have a 5 on AP US History and a 5 on English AP (Chem I did badly and withheld)
-SAT score: 2000; ACT score: 32 Composite
Extracurricular:
- Student Council VP
- Church Youth Group President
- Varsity Tennis, JV Tennis Captain
- Studied abroad in Japan this summer through YFU scholarship
- Martial Arts (Kendo)
- Licensed Hunter (since I was 12)
- Church Lector
Work:
- Wendy’s Cashier
- Ball collector for Brooklake Country Club
Misc:
- National Honors Society Member
- National Society of High School Scholars Member
- Large enthusiasm for Brown
- Quest Bridge Finalist
Hmm…this is what seems most notable, although I believe there is more on my application (I’m doing this from memory to make sure everything is important). So, what do you think? How are my chances?
</code></pre>
<p>SAT/ACT is a bit low…but everything else looks good…ball collector at a country club? That sounds like a fun job lol…no offense…do you literally just collect golf balls?</p>
<p>I basically drive a huge golf cart around with a cage in the front of it and pick up balls. I then clean them (if neccessary) and return them to the baskets that people use on the range. So, yeah, I just collect golf balls and return them mostly. I gure that the job will look good because I deal with many upper class people and I always have to be courteous and polite, so that shows some class, I suppose.</p>
<p>As for the low ACT/SAT scores, I figured that some of the other stuff, such as my study abroad experience (only .1% of High Schoolers actually do that, and no, People to People doesn’t really count toward this since they aren’t a host family experience), would make up for this discrepancy. Also, isn’t a 32 on the ACT pretty high for even the Ivy League averages? Statistics seem to say so…</p>
<p>Ah, I already sent my SAT. My scores individually were: Math 640, Writing 680, Crit. Reading 680. I figured that the later two were at least in bottom range and I’m not going to major in anything really related to math/science anyway (Artsy guy here).</p>
<p>I think you have a great chance, but the determining factor will come down to the essay because your essay is like your voice in the application.</p>
<p>I wrote my essay about my study abroad trip in Japan. It wasn’t a normal trip like a lot of people seem to write about, but a legit study abroad program (YFU).</p>
<p>Do you think it’s too generic of a topic? I figured that since less than .1% of high schoolers study abroad (actual stat), it would show my uniqueness.</p>
<p>Say, I thought Quest Bridge was related to FA. How did you afford to study abroad in Japan? It’s not like you took a trip around the corner…okay maybe it is if you live in CA, but stilllll.</p>
<p>@Greeting gentlemen isn’t sexist at all. That kind of quibbling over minuscule details is why people get annoyed with feminists in the first place.</p>
<p>I got a scholarship to study abroad. I live in NJ but YFU has awesome scholarships :)</p>
<p>SAT and SAT II’s are pretty low for Ivy’s and may hurt, ACT is in the lower range of the 50% but everything else looks pretty good. Should be competitive.</p>
<p>I basically agree with everyone else.
Though I think you’re overestimating the significance of your Japan experience, to be honest. I think it’s nice and unique and a great addition to your application, but I don’t think that it would come into play as a deciding factor in the consideration of your app.
As far as picking it as the topic of your essay, I think that it may be a tad generic. But on the other hand, you could have done great things with it, I really don’t know. It’s just that I hope it’s more about you, rather than your experience, if you get what I’m trying to say…
Hope I helped a little.</p>
<p>Alpha, oh but I’m not a feminist. It just sounded as if you forgot we ladies read your posts too. I tend to use “guys” generically, (as in hey guys…) I figure that’s less sexist than “Gentlemen”. I am, afterall, a mom of 3 boys/men.</p>
<p>As for your essay; I’m glad you were able to take advantage of a scholarship and study abroad. That shows initiative. The topic itself could be generic, but maybe not at all. It’s really what your overall message is, and how you crafted it. As HeartLaS said above, the essay needs to convey something about you, not about the experience.</p>
<p>I have a tendency to not address women not because I don’t want to, but because I go to an all-boys Catholic school and don’t usually associate with them. It’s more of a habit and less of a conscious thing.</p>
<p>But end these comments, will you? I want college chances, not feminists squabbles.</p>