Applied: ED
Objective:
ACT (breakdown): English: 35 Math: 27 Reading: 36 Science: 28 English and Writing Combined: 30
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8750
AP (place score in parenthesis): APHG (5), AP Euro (3), AP Lang (5), APUSH (4)
Senior Year Course Load: 3 Piano Performance Classes, Advanced Spanish 4, AP Music Theory, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Stats
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Youth Performing Arts School Piano student: grades 9-12, 25 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
-Mentorship: grade 12, 1 hour per week, 40 weeks per year. A program in which 15 performing arts students, selected based on application, are mentored by the city orchestra conductor.
-(Secretary of the Environmental Club): grades 11-12, 2 hours per week, 35 weeks per year. Throughout the year, our club works on several environmental justice campaigns, cultivates a school garden, educates about the environment, and more.
-(Model UN): grades 9-12, 2 hours per week, 35 weeks per year. I participate in a Model United Nations program for the state of Kentucky every year. I have received recognition for debate and bill-writing skills.
-Master Chorale member: grades 10-12, 3.5 hours per week, 35 weeks per year. The Master Chorale is an advanced adult choral group that sings classical music and performs regular concerts with a full orchestra.
Member of the GSTA: grades 10-12, 1 hour per week, 35 weeks per year. The GSTA (Gay, Straight, Trans* Alliance) works to educate and inform about LGBT issues and to create a positive school environment for all students.
I also do lots of performance and accompaniment work as a pianist and a harpsichordist. I mean TONS.
Job/Work Experience:
-Hebrew Teacher: grades 9-12, 3.5 hours per week, 45 weeks per year. I teach Hebrew cantillation to 12 and 13 year old students at my synagogue every Wednesday for 3 and a half hours.
-Babysitting
Volunteer/Community service:
-Counselor in Training at Habonim Dror Camp Moshava: summer before grade 12, 100 hours per week, 7 weeks. I took care of young kids and taught them about socialism, labor-zionism, Judaism, revolution, current issues, social justice, and more.
-Student Aid for my school piano instructor: grade 12, 3.5 hours per week, 35 weeks per year. Every other day for an hour and a half, I aid my piano instructor. I assist students with piano technique, practice, and performance.
Volunteer Recycler: grades 9-12, 1.5 hours per week, 35 weeks per year. Every Monday I help to collect all of the school recycling and put it in the large recycling bin for pickup.
Summer Activities: Counselor in Training at Habonim Dror Camp Moshava
Essays (rating 1-10, details): I would say 8 or 9? I really liked them and I’ve been told I’m a great writer. I wrote my common app essay on reinventing the Hebrew language to make it inclusive for all people. The woman I said I would like to converse with was Lise Meitner, and I thought I did a good job with it. My “Why Barnard” essay was pretty good too I think.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: Probably really good.
Teacher Rec #2: Probably medium.
Counselor Rec: Probably really good.
Additional Rec: Probably AMAZING!
Interview: None. I totally dropped the ball.
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Undecided
State (if domestic applicant): Kentucky
School Type: Large, Urban, Public, Magnet
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I’m Jewish, mentally ill, LGBTQ+ and from Kentucky. Do those count as “hooks”? My dad didn’t go to college but my mom did so I’m technically not first generation.
Strengths: I honestly have no idea. My writing skills, my passion, my diversity?
Weaknesses: GPA, ACT writing score, maybe too many music courses? People usually perceive them as easy even though in reality they are as hard as any AP course. Another of my weaknesses might have been my recs. Not because they weren’t good, but because for my 2nd academic rec I asked a teacher from sophomore year, not junior/senior.
Where else you applied: So far I’ve applied to Tulane, Temple, and UMass Amherst early action. If I don’t get into Barnard I’ll submit my applications to American, BU, Brandeis, NYU, Oberlin, Smith, and (maybe?) Brown. If you want to talk about my chances at any of these schools too, please do!
Thank you!