Okay I always roll my eyes whenever I read these but I’ve started to panic now that I’m approaching senior year.
I don’t know what I want – I don’t know if I’m good enough
I’d be wasting money just applying to colleges…
anywhoo
quick backstory -
korean american
born in us
live in illinois suburbia
parents abusive, hospitalization for mental health
super artsy but also need money
kinda want to try acting and become emma watson
scared
APS -
sophomore yr - ap euro - 4
jr yr - ap lang and apush - 4, 5
GPA=3.7045
Weighted GPA= 4.5455
act - 32
^ retaking ACT (but should I even bother???)
^ I got a C in math jr year and terrible grades in general bc I was at a hospital for a month and missed school
^ I go to a good hs, mostly white ppl and asian – I myself am Asian, suburbia
ecs - rllllly dismal i cri
debate for 4ish
tutored kids in learning center sophomore and jr year
xc / track - fresh.soph but quit jr
orch - quit freshman yr
helicon and euphonium - literary magazines
volunteering - animal shelter, tutoring, etc
the schools - Any recommendations?
yes means I know I will get in
err is maybe
and so on and so forth
Your essays are going to be the most important part of your application. Your grades/ECs do not reflect what you are really capable of due to your family issues/mental health. You need to explain what you went through and why your grades are not incredible. You need to try and give colleges a grasp of your true potential to get in. I have seen one thread where a kid had a 3.3 gpa but got into duke ed because he was an amazing photographer, however his family had no income so he had to skip out on homework because he needed to support his family. If your grades/ECs do not show what you are capable of, you have to show colleges what your full potential really is. If you do this, you will have a chance at all of these schools.
Hey! You’re definitely qualified for many of the schools you just listed. Your ACT is good, but it’s on the lower edge oof many of the applicants (not that it’s bad). Your academics and ECs are also alright, especially for your reach schools. I think what will make you stand out is your essays. Pick something that you know makes you different. Stick it to the admissions committee. Show them what you’re made of and that you fit in and they deserve to have you. Personally, I would go visit the schools you know you definitely want to apply to/go to. Show them that you are serious about applying and not just arbitrarily picking them. When I applied for colleges two years ago, I made sure to go to the schools I really wanted to be that (in my case, USciences). Since you live in Illinois, that might be a stretch for your reach schools.
One last thing, you can do it! Channel your frustration and anger into your art and acting. Look at the bright side of life, live every day to the fullest. Think about the future: if you do really well in college, you can move as far away from your parents as you want.