<p>So I first must admit my grades have not been as good as they could have been, although junior year I did have the best grades so far in high school, and I think that is the most important year. So let me start talking about myself .....</p>
<p>I am going to be a senior at a very prestigious Catholic high school (but don't worry I'm not one of those crazy religious freaks just because I go to a religiously affiliated school .... not that there's anything wrong with being a devout lover of the man upstairs). My class size is about 345 students. My school does not do class ranking anymore, however I think they have a list somewhere hidden from the students of the rank that they tell to colleges we apply to but do not let students know where they stand in rank. But if I were to guess I'd say im somewhere between top 8(ish)%-15% out of 345. I have never taken a "college prep" course, just all honors courses freshman and sophomore year and two AP's junior year (biology&english language) and I will be taking honors and three Ap's this upcoming year (gov, english lit, human geography). Freshman year was a bit of a struggle for me because I was no longer the smartest person that everyone looked up to and I never realized high school was going to be as hard as it was. So I started off a bit rocky, was too timid to join many clubs, and it grew very difficult to bring my grades back up. I ended up with probably an 88 or 89 average for the year, i don't know what that would be on a 4.0 GPA scale, my school doesn't tell us our exact GPA either. Sophomore year my grades improved a bit and I worked harder, but still probably not as hard as I should have, especially the end of second semester when it just gets so tiring. But I probably ended up with a 90 average which again is my best guesstimate. Sophomore year I joined the school chorus, LaSallian Youth (a christian service group centered around volunteer work in which I participated in a lot of community service and also the weeklong summer assembly filled with volunteer work and various activities), I also joined photography club, spanish club, outdoor track (JV). During my sophomore year I completed my 12th year of dance outside of school. Before sophomore year started I had a summer job working at a farm for about 4.5 months. After sophomore year I got a more permanent job at a shoe store that sells shoes and clothing for dancers. When junior year rolled along I continued with LaSallian Youth, chorus (both acapella and mixed), I had to quit photography because of my work schedule with my new job, I also joined SADD, I continued sprinting on outdoor track, I began teaching sunday school at my church, and I participated in a lot more community service through my service group. My grades improved even more and I worked my butt off, even though it may not show it through my grades compared to those getting very high averages. My overall average at the end of junior year was a 91.20, which, again, I do not know the GPA of, and this includes my 2 AP classes. Senior year is going to be tough, but I plan on joining a few extra clubs just for the heck of it to prepare me for my particular major (I want to be a poly-sci major, possible double major with communications, so I am joining debate team because I would like to be a lawyer some day and I should learn how to become a better debater, I am also joining Harvard Model United Nations which should be a thrilling experience and should also help to prepare me for my major.... and it sounds fun :)) And I am sticking with my regular clubs and sports and volunteer activities throughout senior year.</p>
<p>So since my school does not want to release class rank info or tell me my GPA because I don't feel like calculating it myself, those are my best estimates of grades. Now for the test scores ..... oh no ....</p>
<p>SAT I - not too great. I definitely have to retake them
1260/1880 (sad, i know)
Reading - 550 (please dont criticize me, i can put myself down, thank you very much)
Math - 710 (i want it higher)
Writing - 620 (could be a lot better, im working on it)</p>
<p>My SAT scores are very varied, and my SAT 2 scores were horrible as well.
Math I - 730
Spanish - 610 (sucksssssssss)
Bio - 580 (HORRIBLEEEEEEE once again don't criticize me, i cried enough)</p>
<p>AP exams .............. im not going to tell you my scores because its so bad. plus, i doubt colleges care thattttt much whether you get a 3 or a 4, they count for college credit, not a huge factor for getting accepted.</p>
<p>And now for the college list ......
I guess I'm pretty conservative in SOME of my choices. I have a lot of safeties, or so I think, one really big reach (that I consider a reach, anyway), and a few that could go either way. I'm still refining the list but this is it so far (in order of preference)</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon (reach, I know, but I love it so much)
George Washington (could go either way, but I feel confident enough)
St. Anslem (great for poly-sci, so it might be competitive for the prgm, but its not really a reach for me at all)
Northeastern (I'm pretty confident for that one)
Wake Forest University (haven't visited, but I like the academics, I guess it's a good match)
American University (great for poly-sci)
UNC@Chapel Hill (i know its competitive for out of state students, because supposedly they only accept 17% out of state or something, but I'd try it just for kicks)
Boston College (i don't even know why i'm applying, my cousin went and I don't like it THAT much)
Duquesne U (its in pittsburgh, I like the campus and the school in general, but its a safety, and I'd only go as a last resort)
UConn (if all else fails .....)</p>
<p>that's pretty much it. Should I have more safeties? I've been reading a lot of these "chance me!!!" posts and it seems like a lot of you are very intelligent. I guess I am just the average smart person, not excellent in everything but I can be unique. I want you guys who post to be as honest as possible without being too harsh (I am very sensitive ... I know I must sound like a loser but I don't want you to be mean while being truthful because of my emotional sensitivity). But I thank you all in advance for helping me out and trying to give me some advice!</p>