Chance me... Please

<p>Okay so I'm really nervous about posting this because after seeing everyone's credentials here I seem like such a loser...</p>

<p>But everyone here seems really knowledgeable so I'd rather have it come from you guys.</p>

<p>Going to give you guys a little bit more background to get to know me a bit.</p>

<hr>

<p>I am a first generation Asian-American.
I go to a high school in the close suburbs of Chicago.
I started high school with the mindset of "screw high school i'm just going to sleep through it".
Sophomore year something just clicked for me and now i'm in a panic for colleges.
Now I just finished my Junior year and it was brutal but I got through it (barely).
I really want to get in to at least a "Top Ten" and maybe even shoot higher but after reading everything on here, it's just discouraging (WHY ARE YOU ALL SO GOOD).
Being a first generation Asian-American, my parents really had no way of getting me involved in school/extra-curriculars early.
No one really recommended anything for me/my parents and honestly they worked low-wage jobs for the longest time until they were able to slowly inch their way up the ladder, with that being said, I have no grudge against them or anything, they did what they could and I respect everything they did/do for the sake of their children's future.
The fact that they strive so hard to just open up opportunities for my sister and I is just the most inspiring thing to me, and I think that's why the panic to get in to a decent college began.</p>

<hr>

<p>Anyways here are my stats: (Will go: Semester 1, Semester 2)</p>

<p>Freshman Year (dedicated to doing absolutely nothing because this was when I still didn't care...):</p>

<p>-My school does not allow/provide freshmen AP courses for whatever reason...</p>

<ul>
<li>French I (Regular): A, A</li>
<li>English I (Regular): A, A</li>
<li>World Studies (Honors): A, A</li>
<li>Algebra I (Regular): A, A</li>
<li>Geophysics (Regular/Basically Physics): A, A</li>
<li>Art Foundations (Regular) A, A</li>
</ul>

<p>GPA Weighted For Year (my school has the strangest GPA scale): ~5.16</p>

<hr>

<p>Sophomore Year</p>

<p>-College panic didn't really set in until the end of the year
-Only offers 4 possible AP courses for Sophomores in my school: Psych, Euro, Micro Econ, Macro Econ [Unless you've proven yourself capable of excelling at every course in the past, you weren't recommended/able to take Micro/Macro]</p>

<ul>
<li>Drivers Ed: - , B</li>
<li>Health (Regular): A, -</li>
<li>French II (Regular): B, B</li>
<li>AP Euro: B, B</li>
<li>Geometry (Honors): B, B</li>
<li>Chemistry (Honors): B, B</li>
<li>English II (Regular): A, A</li>
<li>Foods & Nutrition (Regular): -, A</li>
</ul>

<p>GPA Weighted For Year (my school has the strangest GPA scale): ~4.88</p>

<hr>

<p>Junior Year</p>

<p>-Have not received 2nd semester grades yet but I could easily predict them for you.
-College fever set in
-Going insane
-Keep in mind for whatever reason my school won't allow you to take honors courses/AP if you have not been recommended for it, and they're strict about it... </p>

<p>French III (Regular): B, A
AP US History: A, A
Alg2/Trig (Honors): C, C
AP Eng Lang/Comp: B, A
AP Biology: A, A
AP Micro: B, -
AP Macro: -, B</p>

<p>GPA Weighted For Year (my school has the strangest GPA scale): 5.0 first semester, Not sure about second...</p>

<hr>

<p>Senior Year (Has not started but just schedule):</p>

<p>-Just based on the reputation of certain classes in my schedule, my schedule should be A LOT easier then it was Junior year, believe it or not.
-I plan to work just as hard if not harder Senior year.</p>

<p>-AP French IV
-AP Government
-AP Environmental Sciences
-AP English Lit
-AP Art History
-Pre-Calculus Honors
-Sociology (Would of taken an honors/AP here too but they don't offer ANY other semester AP/Honors classes at my school)</p>

<hr>

<p>Overall cumulative unweighted GPA: ~4.56 (Pretty sure you just subtract 1.0 to get regular scaled...)
Composite ACT Score: 29 (This was the PSAE which is a mandatory state-provided ACT, and since Illinois is poor so there was no essay test to go with it... Taking the ACT tomorrow with essay, fingers crossed.)
SAT I: Took it but have not received scores yet. </p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars (WEAK.):
- French Club President
- Habitat for Humanity President
- SADD President (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
- Diversity Club President
- Key Club member
- Investment Club Board Member
- Been working a job/summer job since Freshman year
- No sports
- No musical talent</p>

<hr>

<p>Please give me suggestions, advice, chance me, anything! I need the criticism. Please.</p>

<p>GO CHICAGO BURBS! As far as suggestions go, really try to excel early on because if you apply early action/decision, schools could only see your first quarter grades. Also, take some initiative over the summer. Take some classes at the community college, shadow a family friend in a career you’re interested in, travel, increase your literary awareness. Whatever it is, do something that will help come application season. I for one will be taking classes at Stanford and organizing an annual charity benefit. Don’t worry about ECs, I’m in a somewhat similiar situation. Just make clear to the colleges what your situation is(:
hope that helps!</p>

<p>Haha problem is that no one in my family has a career besides restaurant owning (goes back to the low-wage jobs thing).
Classes seem rather challenging solely because I have a job that I must keep up with (it’s for the family business).</p>

<p>So does anyone have like colleges I should definitely look at? Like safeties, reaches, and on-targets?</p>

<p>Bumppp anyone :(</p>

<p>I guess I should add some schools i’m looking at…</p>

<p>U of Texas Austin
U of I at Urbana Champagne
U of M Ann Arbor
Boston U
U of St. Louis
UCLA
Chapel Hill</p>

<p>And a ton more but off the top of my head…</p>