Chance me? (RD) Thanks!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>Dartmouth is my number 2 choice in colleges. I've applied to Columbia ED (Will that affect this?) I've tried to just take the highlights on EC's---</p>

<p>Copy pasted from another post:</p>

<p>So. Here we go. (I'll try to make this easy on the eyes.)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.86 unweighted (roughly 4.3 weighted, I think I was told)</p>

<p>Classes (including senior year):
Hnrs Earth Science, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics
Hnrs Algebra, Hnrs Geometry, Hnrs Algebra II, Hnrs PreCalc, AP Calc
Hnrs English 10, Hnrs English 11, AP Lit, AP Language (took the test, we don't offer a class on it)
Global 9, AP World, AP U.S. History, Economics, Participation in Gov't
Hnrs French III and IV, Hnrs Spanish II, III, and IV, AP French, AP Spanish,
Materials Chemistry, Electronics, Concert Choir, Select Choir</p>

<p>*Generally with my classes, I average 80's-90's (Science/Math) to upper 90's (English, Foreign Language, History)</p>

<p>SAT: Math 720, CR 680, Writing 710 - (Taken once---retaking in December)
Chem: 640 (Ow.)
Math I: 700
French: 700
Spanish: 700</p>

<p>AP scores:
Chem - 4
World - 3 (I know this sounds bad, but it's my teacher's fault. She was a would-be lawyer who failed her BARR and got stuck at our school. She had US teach the class and never even gave notes. It was one of my first AP experiences and I regret not taking the initiative to work more on my own instead of depending on her nonexistent teaching skills.)
English Language - 5
Biology - 5
US History - 4</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars: Ballroom dance (Formation Team Dancer)
Karate (Brown/Red-belt)
NHS (Vice-pres)
Spanish NHS (Vice-pres)
French NHS (mere minion)
Student Gov't (Senator)
Math Team (I'm Asian. It's a given.)
TATF - Teen AIDS Task Force (President)---we work in conjunction with AIDS Community Resources
Piano (Various awards, recognition whatnots---surprise! Another Asian prerequisite.)
Tai Chi Quan
Volunteering at Loretto Rehab
Yay, I'm your smiling Starbucks barista
Studied Spanish language and culture in Spain for a month in 2006</p>

<p>Awards & Misc:
High honor roll each marking period
AP Scholar w. Distinction
17th in NYS for National Spanish Contest Level...2
85th percentile nationally for Nation Spanish Contest Level 3 - Silver Award
Dual Language Award (School)
Faculty Staff Award (School)
Again, random piano stuff (CNYAMT, Federation, Guild, blah.)</p>

<p>I miss class. A lot. Yes, I realize that reflects badly on me. (Insane family member issues, namely my lovely violent anti-medicine bipolar father. And my mother, who loves him and won't leave. And me. Her shield when he starts getting abusive.)</p>

<p>My common app essay is about how the man who was supposed to accompany me on my trip to the USA from China was denied his visa. And so, at 4-years-old, I flew to America alone. The flight attendant lied to me to get me on the plane--"Your grandfather will be up to tell you a story. He needs to finish up some adult business. You go on ahead". Of course, Grandpa never came. So, I was stuck on a 15-hr flight, bawling my eyes out, but here I am today.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, and my uncle graduated from Dartmouth... I don't know if that really helps though actually.</p>

2

<p>^It helps if he gave a lot of money ;) Other than that, probably not. Your grades, SATs, and APs are all respectable, but I don't think they'll blow admissions officers out of the water. Decent chances. That essay could work in your favor, though.</p>

3

<p>My honest opinion is that your chance of admittance is shaky at best. Your GPA is pretty average for an applicant. Your SAT's are on the lower half of admitted students, which makes it even harder on you because you are Asian, and it looks like you are unhooked. Your courseload seems fairly tough, but your AP scores do not stand out (don't tell Dartmouth about the 3 on your application). Your EC's seems pretty standard, though they have the potential to be noteworthy.</p>

<p>I personally would not have picked an essay on that topic, because it has little potential to show the admissions officers your character, because it took place when you were four. I think an essay on your relationship with your father might be more emotional, more tangible, and more effective.</p>

<p>Your uncle graduating from Dartmouth might help, but generally, legacies are restricted to parents and siblings.</p>

4

<p>^Yeah, that's true. I agree about the essay. Also, I'm assuming you're Asian, which makes you an overrepresented minority, so they'll be very critical of you.</p>

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<p>I knoooowww---because I totally don't match up to the stats of my incredibly Asian friends (and by Asian I mean like reaaallyyy Asian.) I feel as if I've assimilated better than a lot of them into the social culture but at the cost of... well, my grades. :D</p>

<p>And... don't I have to send my AP scores to Dartmouth where it's a "send one, send all" kind of deal? Or is that just with SAT's?</p>

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<p>And writing about my dad would be tough. I feel like "I hate the man I'm forced to live with" doesn't show a lot of forgiving character---and I'd rather not lie and say I do forgive him for what he's done. So... hm. I don't know.</p>

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<p>The thing about AP scores is that you don't have to send it to the college until you apply. You can just mention it on your activity sheet or additional info section.</p>

<p>Write about what you can. It's probably really hard asking you to completely change your essay, especially this late in the game, but I honestly think the admissions officers will see a lot more in you if you pull it off correctly.</p>

<p>It's not expected that you forgive him, because it's definitely hard for someone you love to hurt you, and it would take a LOT more experience and maturity to begin to forgive someone for something like that. But assuming you are seriously considering writing an alternate essay, could you write one on being torn between hating him for what he does and loving him for being your father and not being able to control it? Just a thought, definitely go with what you are most comfortable with.</p>

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<p>I suppose I could write about that... it's just an awkward topic for me as it still hasn't really received any closure. I think that when I'm older and looking back on it, it'll be easier to talk about, but for the time being every time I think about it or try to write about it---well, it ends up being a heated rant on how my mother is a fool and should have divorced him a long, long, long time ago.</p>

<p>On another note, my school will be sending my transcript though, and my AP grades will be on it :---Doesn't it look bad that you took the AP course and didn't submit the AP grade? And if you got a 96 in the course and a 3 on the AP, doesn't that incur a "huh?"</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
On another note, my school will be sending my transcript though, and my AP grades will be on it :---Doesn't it look bad that you took the AP course and didn't submit the AP grade? And if you got a 96 in the course and a 3 on the AP, doesn't that incur a "huh?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I was not aware your AP grades were on your transcript. That does indicate an ineffective teacher.</p>

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<p>Yaaayyy Dartmouth is my #2 choice---I've applied ED to Columbia, but you never know with admissions and all... I'm just begging Dec. 15th to roll by.</p>

<p>And I did write an essay about my Dad. It's... decent. I don't know. I'll have to get some opinions on it later.</p>