<p>Info:
[ul]
[<em>]Biracial (White/Hispanic)
[</em>]Private high school that doesn't rank
[<em>]For the first two months of each summer I take summer classes at my school. Then in August I work with my local food pantry (~300 hours last summer). This summer I'm going to El Salvador to help the kids over there.
[</em>]About 5,000 hours accumulated throughout all four years.
[li]Currently working on the Congressional Award -- going for gold![/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Grades:
[ol]
[<em>]Freshman Year
[ul]
[li]English: B[/li][</em>]History: A
[<em>]Spanish II: A
[</em>]Health: F
[<em>]Science (CPC): A
[</em>]Hebrew 2 Honors: C
[<em>]Law: B
[</em>]Computer Graphics: A
[<em>]Geometry: A
[</em>]Acting: A
[LIST]
[<em>]My Freshman year was a special circumstance. I go to a rigorous private school but unfortunately got really sick with an illness that kept me incapacitated (and on most days, in the hospital). I was still expected to make up all my work, and I think I succeeded in some... not in others.
[/ul]
[/ol]
[</em>]Sophmore Year
[ul]
[<em>]English: A
[</em>]History Honors: A
[<em>]Health (retake): A
[</em>]Spanish III Honors: A
[<em>]Biology Honors: A
[</em>]Hebrew 3: A
[<em>]Law: A
[</em>]Advanced Theatre Projects: A
[<em>]Psychology: A
[</em>]Algebra II: A
[<em>]Drawing: A
[/ul]
[li]Junior Year[/li][ul]
[li]English Honors: A[/li][</em>]US History: A
[<em>]Law: A
[</em>]Spanish IV: A
[<em>]Anatomy and Physiology: A
[</em>]Hebrew 4: A
[<em>]AP Psychology: A
[</em>]Pre-Calculus: A
[<em>]AP Studio Art: A
[</em>]Badminton: A
[/ul]
[<em>]Senior Year
[ul]
[li]AP English[/li][</em>]History Honors
[<em>]AP Spanish
[</em>]Hebrew 5
[<em>]Calculus
[</em>]AP Studio Art
[<em>]Badminton
[</em>]Law
[<em>]Holocaust Studies
[</em>]Advanced Theatre Projects
[/ul]
[<em>]Summer Courses
[ul]
[li]Spanish I: A[/li][</em>]Chemistry: A
[li]Sculpture: A[/li][/ul]
[/LIST]</p>
<p>Test Scores:
[ul]
[<em>]PSAT: 210
[</em>]SAT: 2360
[<em>]ACT: 35
[</em>]SAT II:[LIST]
[<em>]Math: 700
[</em>]US History: 760
[<em>]Biology: 700
[</em>]Spanish: 800
[/ul][<em>]APs:[ul]
[li]AP Studio Art: 5[/li][</em>]AP Psychology: 5
[/ul][/LIST]</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
[ul]
[<em>]Tae Kwon Do: 8 years
[</em>]Intensive Art: 5 years
[<em>]Piano: 4 years
[</em>]Voice: 4 years
[<em>]Teen Hunger Program: 4 years
[</em>]Japanese: 4 years
[<em>]Robotics: 4 years
[</em>]Theatre: 4 years
[li]Guitar: 2 years[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Applying to:
[ul]
[<em>]Brown
[</em>]RISD
[<em>]UCLA
[</em>]UCD
[<em>]Cornell
[</em>]Carnegie Mellon
[<em>]University of Chicago
[</em>]Stanford
[<em>]NYU
[</em>]UCB
[li]Northwestern[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Questions:
On the application, should I mention my total amount of community service hours, or just the hours of my most recent year?</p>
<p>Do you think my Freshman year will create a huge obstacle for me?</p>
<p>Is there anything I should add or take out?</p>
<p>Will the amount of APs I've taken hurt me? Should I add another AP to my senior year schedule? If so, which one do you recommend?</p>
<p>Should I write about my community service or my illness in my personal statement?</p>
<p>What are some other ways I can add to my application and make myself the best candidate possible?</p>
<p>Any other colleges that you recommend I apply to?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Wow I’m not trying to flatter you but I think you’re the strongest candidate I’ve ever seen on collegeboard. Your academics (in particular your SAT’s) are fantastic and your academics hold their own. Your volunteer work blows me away, because the number of hours shows real commitment to a humanitarian cause.</p>
<p>In addition, your racial/ethnic status will give you a boost.</p>
<p>Brown - low reach (for everyone)
RISD - I’m not sure
UCLA - almost safety
UCD - safety
Cornell - match
Carnegie Mellon - match
University of Chicago - match
Stanford - reach (again for everyone), comparitively good odds though
NYU - almost safety
UCB - low match
Northwestern - match</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/873104-william-mary-notre-dame-other-top-tier-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/873104-william-mary-notre-dame-other-top-tier-schools.html</a></p>
<p>You’re awesome. Not that I’m an adcom, but still. Your academics are incredible.</p>
<p>On the application, should I mention my total amount of community service hours, or just the hours of my most recent year?
Total.</p>
<p>Do you think my Freshman year will create a huge obstacle for me?
A few colleges disregard freshman year grades. What matters most is an upward trend. Though I would explain your illness, since a C is iffy.</p>
<p>Is there anything I should add or take out?
It’s your choice, but some of your ECs are sort of irrelevant (like guitar). Like, I played piano for 12 years, but since it wasn’t particularly important to me and I never won any awards, I’m not putting it on my apps. Same for French club, which I’ve never won a leadership position in. Keep the focus of your apps on your community service.</p>
<p>Will the amount of APs I’ve taken hurt me? Should I add another AP to my senior year schedule? If so, which one do you recommend?
You are evaluated in the context of your environment. Take what is considered fairly rigorous at your school, but only take those APs you can excel in.</p>
<p>Should I write about my community service or my illness in my personal statement?
I would ask your GC to write a brief note explaining your illness and the effort you made in spite of it. Focus your personal statement around your community service, but don’t make it a cliche “I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I help orphans” sort of a thing. It should explain you.</p>
<p>What are some other ways I can add to my application and make myself the best candidate possible?
Keep doing what you’re doing. Make sure your essays are well-written and telling. Ensure you pick teachers for recs who know you intimately–you don’t want generic recs. And perhaps boost your SAT IIs, though they’re by no means weak.
Any other colleges that you recommend I apply to?</p>
<p>On the application, should I mention my total amount of community service hours, or just the hours of my most recent year?
Total.</p>
<p>Do you think my Freshman year will create a huge obstacle for me?
Your grades trend upward, so it won’t be THAT much of a problem. However, I’d make sure that you explain why you were out or what the special circumstance was. </p>
<p>Is there anything I should add or take out?
Not that I can see that hasn’t already been mentioned.</p>
<p>Will the amount of APs I’ve taken hurt me? Should I add another AP to my senior year schedule? If so, which one do you recommend?
It depends how many are offered at your school. And remember, it’s quality, not quantity.</p>
<p>Should I write about my community service or my illness in my personal statement?
I’d go with community service UNLESS you don’t explain your illness anywhere else.</p>
<p>What are some other ways I can add to my application and make myself the best candidate possible?
WORK THOSE ESSAYS. As long as your essays are solid, you should be good. :)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/883226-chance-meek-young-hopeful-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/883226-chance-meek-young-hopeful-will-chance-back.html</a></p>
<p>Your academics are mindboggling jesus.</p>
<p>On the application, should I mention my total amount of community service hours, or just the hours of my most recent year?
Total.</p>
<p>Do you think my Freshman year will create a huge obstacle for me?
I would definitely explain the circumstances…but the remaineder of you high school career definitely makes up for it</p>
<p>Is there anything I should add or take out?
No all those ECs look good. I would def. go into detail though about the community serivce</p>
<p>Will the amount of APs I’ve taken hurt me? Should I add another AP to my senior year schedule? If so, which one do you recommend?
I wouldn’t take one if you think you wont be able to get credit…later on. I would take classes to raise the GPA you already have some good APS</p>
<p>Should I write about my community service or my illness in my personal statement?
Community service for sure make your personal statement as positive as possible, highlighting why you are a great candidate.</p>
<p>What are some other ways I can add to my application and make myself the best candidate possible?
Keep doing what you’re doing.
ESSSAYS!!!
and teacher recs are commonly overlooked. Many times these tip the scale when its between two students with the same numbers…</p>
<p>Brown - reach (everyone needs a little luck for an ivy)
RISD - match
UCLA - def. match
UCD - safety
Cornell - sure match
Carnegie Mellon - match
University of Chicago - match
Stanford - reach (for everyone), Write a great essay though and you seem to have a good shot!
NYU - sure match
UCB - Safety
Northwestern - match</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/881656-chance-me-new-york-university-northwestern-university-2.html#post1064335743[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/881656-chance-me-new-york-university-northwestern-university-2.html#post1064335743</a></p>
<p>Thanks for answering my questions, you guys have really helped. 
Chancing you back…</p>
<p>Your academics are awesome, and I’m sure most schools will look past your freshman year. You are in at all three UCs and highly competitive at the private schools. You may not get into all of them but I am sure you will get into almost all of them.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/817453-ok-ill-bite-uc-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/817453-ok-ill-bite-uc-chances.html</a></p>
<p>Wow! Your grades are awesome, and your EC’s are great also, I agree with the comment above me, Freshman year is always a transition year, it shows you were able to adapt later on and excel to your full potential. Its an upward trend, which is always good!<br>
I would have to say :
RISD - match
UCLA - safety
UCD - safety
Cornell - sure match
NYU - sure match
UCB - Safety
Carnegie Mellon - match
University of Chicago - match
Stanford - low reach to reach, its hard to say these days, an essay could bump you into acceptance : )
Northwestern - match
Brown: Reach, but def possible</p>
<p>Good luck : )
chance me?</p>
<p>I’d say you’re in at all of them except those few schools from whom you just never know…but your chances look better than many others. </p>
<p>On the application, should I mention my total amount of community service hours, or just the hours of my most recent year?
Definitely the total.</p>
<p>Do you think my Freshman year will create a huge obstacle for me?
I think the straight As after the year plus an explanation of circumstances would make it a bad reflection of your abilities, and I don’t see a reason why an admissions official might think differently.</p>
<p>Is there anything I should add or take out?
Everything looks good, I’d just say focus on the community services and you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>Will the amount of APs I’ve taken hurt me? Should I add another AP to my senior year schedule? If so, which one do you recommend?
Only you know the answer to this question. I would take as much as I possibly handle can. </p>
<p>Should I write about my community service or my illness in my personal statement?
If they are connected, great. But if not, I’d go with community services.</p>
<p>What are some other ways I can add to my application and make myself the best candidate possible?
Start early…start looking for those who will write a good rec…and just, put care into it and you’ll be a great applicant.</p>
<p>Thanks!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/883447-chance-columbia-duke-northwestern-others-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/883447-chance-columbia-duke-northwestern-others-will-chance-back.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks guys, I chanced you back! :)</p>
<p>I tried that site and it’s pretty fun to play around with. I, personally, can’t really trust it because of my special circumstance. :P</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you have a chance of getting into pretty much any school with an ACT of 35</p>