Chance me?

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
1

<p>Could you guys please chance me and give me an honest opinion about what you think?</p>

<p>-GPA: 3.925 Unweighted, 4.675 Weighted
-Rank: 10 out of 559
-ACT Score: 30 (I just retook it and hopefully I got a better score)
-SAT Subject Scores: World History - 710, US History - 680
-AP Scores: Mandarin-5, World History-2, US History-3, English Language-3, Chemistry-3, Calculus AB-1 (I know that my World History and Calculus scores aren't the best)
-Senior Courses: Advanced Band, Intermediate Band, Marching Band, AP Biology, AP Government, AP English Literature</p>

<p>Activities:
-Member of band for 7 years = first chair for 3 years, mellophone section leader(10), horn sergeant (11), brass captain (12), soloist (12), Band Council President 2013-Present, 2013 Honor Band Participant, Most Outstanding Marching Sophomore, Most Outstanding Sophomore, Most Outstanding Marching Junior, Most Outstanding Junior, Superior Rating Solo and Ensemble 2013
-Junior Classical League for 3 years = President 2012- Present
-National Honor Society for 3 years = President-Elect 2012-2013, President 2013-Present
-Varsity Swim Team for 3 years = MVP 2011, 100 Breaststroke 10th place Regionals 2012, 100 Breaststroke 4th place Regionals 2013, Captain 2013-Present
-Relay for Life Committee for 2 years = Logistics Committee Chair 2012-Present
-Varsity Quiz for 3 years = Co-Captain 2012-Present, Team placed second in state last year
-Environmental Awareness Club for 4 years
-Student Council for 1 year = Freshman Vice President
-Various other minor clubs</p>

<p>Summer Programs:
-Stanford Summer Humanities Institute Revolutions Course June-July 2012
-Nevada Girls' State Participant July 2013 = Elected to City Mayor, County Commissioner, Nevada State Senate Majority Leader, Girls' Nation Senator Second Alternate
-United States Senate Page Program Participant June-July 2013 </p>

<p>I'm an Asian American female. My family makes a total of about $65,000 which supports 7 people. My older sister is also currently attending American University for her undergraduate studies. </p>

<p>My recommendations should be pretty good. I think my biggest worries are my test scores and my essays. I know I'm not the best writer and I'm afraid that it will drag me down. Please tell me what you think! Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Are you asking to be chanced for Questbridge NCM?</p>

3

<p>Yes 10char</p>

4

<p>I can’t chance you because I’m not an admissions rep at the schools you’ll be applying to, but I’ve been close to Questbridge and now mentoring some students who are applying this year so I’ll tell you what I notice about your profile and maybe it will be helpful (again you should take what anyone says with a grain of salt unless they are a decision maker in the process or what they say makes a lot of sense to you!). Your GPA and ACT are good (esp by QB standards which recognize that these are affected by the various challenges that QB applicants typically face) and your SAT II’s are fine although you won’t have to send them for most schools if you submit the ACT. That’s a judgment call for you. You are right that your AP’s are iffy – QB partner schools aren’t really interested in AP scores below a 4 – but your GPA and rank are very good so you must have done well in the AP classes. Is there a story there? </p>

<p>The two main things I see are 1) the relative lack of rigor in your senior year schedule and 2) the strength of your main EC which is obviously instrumental performance in multiple ensembles – plus leadership in NHS, varsity sports and summer programs.
Re: senior courses, you only have 3 academic classes this year, no math and no foreign language, no electives except bands. Colleges recommend continuing a rigorous course load through your senior year, and definitely like to see you taking at least 5 academic or core classes. It’s hard to know what your situation is since we can’t have a dialogue but you might want to find a way to address this in your application if there’s a reason for the light load. Or if your add/drop period hasn’t ended, consider adding a class, even a half year science elective or a conversation class in a foreign language…something like that…unless there’s a good reason for it, I think your schedule could be a deal breaker… devoting time to the bands is worthwhile but won’t be seen as a reason to only take 3 classes.
and re: the music, I would suggest you really find ways to highlight not only your commitment and longevity and success in these ensembles but your real engagement with instrumental performance esp in bands. This seems like your ‘passion’ and could even be the topic of an essay. I think you will do better portraying yourself as a ‘pointy’ candidate (i.e.very deep in an area or endeavor) rather than well rounded with broad interests. esp in light of your limited courses this year and lack of success with AP’s in the past.
Having said all that, I hope you apply and take the application seriously (due Friday, I’m sure you know!!!) because you are well within the financial parameters, esp with a 7 person household and you fit the general profile of a QB applicant. Don’t worry about writing brilliant essays, just be genuine and sincere, and proofread diligently! Have someone who knows you read your essays, but too many readers can dilute your individual ‘voice’. Good luck! I’m sure you will get other informed feedback here too :)</p>

5

<p>The main story with my schedule this year is the fact that my school simply doesn’t offer anymore high rigor classes that can fit. Last year, we began the block scheduling method. 4 classes on our “A day”, 4 classes on our “B day”. The classes were longer but also restricted your choices a lot more. As a junior, I took AP Chemistry, AP English Language, AP US History, and AP Calculus BC all in one year. This year, I was originally going to take AP Biology, AP Latin, AP English Literature, AP Statistics, and AP Government. Due to the scheduling of the classes, I was forced to drop Statistics and Latin. I am currently the Student Aid for my Latin teacher and he teaches me the topics that his AP students learn so that I am still technically taking the class. As for Statistics, there was no way I could fit it in my schedule and so I had to take an extra band class. I will be sure to tell Questbridge the reason for my schedule.</p>