Schools:
ED UPenn
Columbia
Brown
UChicago
Duke
JHU
Georgetown
Emory
USC
Boston University
University of Miami
Barnard College
Tulane
UPitt
(I am not applying to ALL of these schools, just a general list of what schools I like).
Potential major: Something in biology. I am not sure yet, but I am interested in everything from molecular biology, neuroscience, environmental science, ecology, biochemistry, etc… I have not decided yet, but I know I do not want to be premed and would want to be a researcher.
Demographics: White middle class female from southern New Jersey near Philadelphia. I go to a noncompetitive HS that rarely sends kids to top 20 schools, and we have limited opportunities due to budget cuts (they cut all non-service clubs this year besides DECA)
UW GPA: 95.52/100
Weighted GPA: 105.12/100
Rank: 3/226
SAT: Lmao I did bad and got a 1350, but I plan to study more for the ACT this summer so I can focus on subject test scores. Won’t stop studying for ACT until I get at least a 33-34.
SAT II: Not yet taken but I am going to take Math II, Biology M, and US History most likely. Wont be stopping til I get a 750+ on each test.
AP Scores (expected): AP Bio (expected 3-4), APUSH (expected 4-5), AP Stat (expected 4-5), AP Lang (expected 4-5)
Junior year courseload:
APUSH
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AP English Language
Honors French III
Next year, I am taking:
AP World History
AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles
AP English Literature
AP Psychology
Honors French IV
Taking precalculus over the summer at a community college because there was no room for me in the class this year. Also will eventually get calculus on my schedule also at a community college; school no longer offers AP calculus on the curriculum.
Hopefully will also be able to enroll in some biology courses at the CC.
Awards:
Lots of DECA awards:
- Regional qualifier in Principles of Travel and Tourism sophomore year
- Regional qualifier in Hotel and Lodging management(HLM) junior year
- 1st in South Jersey in HLM testing
- 1st in New Jersey in HLM testing
- 3rd overall in New Jersey for HLM
- Hotel and Lodging educational institute certified guest service award
- National qualifier and competitor for HLM
- Johnson and Wales achievement scholarship
Scholar athlete cheerleading award (highest GPA on cheer team for 2 years)
Principal’s list 12x now (straight As all throughout high school)
Renaissance gold card (stellar attendance and achievement for 10 marking periods)
National Honor Society
Selected for World Language Honor Society
Extracurriculars:
- Varsity cheerleader for 3 years, practice squad cheerleader for 1 year, hoping to get either captain or leadership council for the upcoming season
- DECA president, 3 year DECA member, school’s only national competitor
- 4 year Key Club member, 2 years Vice President and 1 year Editor for club, help plan a $3000 fundraiser for local soup kitchen, trying to have an Alzheimer’s fundraiser this upcoming school year
- 3 year member of school musical, 100 hours dedicated to each performance (a hell of a lot of work)
- 4 year member of school’s concert choir. We have seasonal performances and each year travel nationwide. Last year we went to Toronto, this year we went to Los Angeles and had the opportunity to work with producers from Disney Performing Arts
- National Honor Society: helping with yearly Operation Blessing toy/food drive, blood drive, and volunteering at graduation and banquets
- World Language Honor Society
- Action Team Captain through Volunteers of America on behalf of Key Club
- Gifted and Talented
- A few STEM workshops and competitions like Brain Bee and Exxon Mobil Girls in STEM
- In my free time I research and read up on true crime and crime cases. This is definitely my hobby and I plan to write about it in my common application essay
This summer:
- Long Island University’s Summer Honors Institute for UN and Global Affairs (full tuition and room and board program)
- Getting a part time job this summer, trying to work a lot of hours
- Becoming a docent for a local historical society where I will learn a lot about a house where a major Revolutionary War battle took place and give historical tours of this house
- Possible summer internship with biology professor
- Taking online courses in biology with coursera or edX
Upcoming:
- Hopefully will be the founder of my school’s first STEM club wherein I will help prepare for competitions like Brain Bee and hopefully just get kids in my school excited about science. In the process of starting this club
- Trying to work with a teacher in my school to get me an interning opportunity with a biology research lab
Hooks: Dad works at Penn Medicine. I’m not sure if this helps in admissions, but it guarantees me full tuition at Penn
Thanks everyone 