chance me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Reed College
1

<p>i'm a sophomore from florida. my parents want me mostly to check out in-state schools because of money, but one of my dream schools is reed.</p>

<p>my stats-</p>

<p>classes:
ib math analysis sl (junior level math course, statistics)
pre-ib chemistry (i'm weak in science and probably taking ib environmental systems next year)
photo i (i'm taking art as an ib sixth area, kind of like a major)
pre-ib spanish ii
pre-ib world history
pre-ib english
band ii percussion</p>

<p>gpa:
this past semester, i had unweighted- 3.857, weighted- 4.357</p>

<p>tests:
SAT- 1780. i'm taking it again in the spring. i had a stressful morning and had to report for a marching band competition to get ready for immediately after, so it's not the best i could have done.
PSAT- reading- 76 math-56 writing-80</p>

<p>extracurriculars:</p>

<p>i'm in the front ensemble (mallet and auxiliary percussion) in marching band and have been for two years. i'm set to be section leader as a senior, unless i move up to drumline, which i don't plan to because i want to lead. </p>

<p>clubs-
ninth grade- cinematic history club (i slacked off freshmen year. this wasn't much of a club.)
tenth grade- beta club, drama club</p>

<p>sports-</p>

<p>2 years on track team, shotput discus was my event last year and now i hope to run the mile and two mile</p>

<p>outside of school:
i love writing and i've been writing short stories and poetry just for myself ever since first or second grade. three times i've been published in "volusia voices", where teachers in my county submit student writings. twice i've gone to the county young authors conference.</p>

<p>in middle school, i volunteered just for three hours a month at a support group for parents of children with disabilities. my younger brother is high functioning autistic, and i would help watch the children and interact with them. i've spent my youth being a partial parent to my brother and it's forced me to grow tremendously. it's incredibly rewarding. </p>

<p>i'm very politically aware and active, and up until 2006, my mother ran a political activist group in the area with weekly peaceful protests and campaigns. </p>

<p>next year as a junior i want to get more involved in service but i've always lived far away from my school and can't contribute to after-school things much because i don't drive and my parents work on average 11 hour days. </p>

<p>my career goals are public relations, writing, and/or something in the field of sociology or human rights work.</p>

2

<p>It is way early, but your GPA would be fine, and you have time to get your SAT up a bit.</p>

<p>To see how you would compare with the last entering class of any school, google its "Common Data Set" and check out sections C4 to C12. Reed's is at Reed</a> College 2008-09 Common Data Set SecC.</p>

<p>Our Reed senior daughter has two internships with autistic kids (she's a psych major); she has said that she prefers working with them over the more normal kids (no offense meant!). ;)</p>

3

<p>If you love writing, and like Reed, you might also want to check out Sarah Lawrence College. Although Reed had creative writing courses, they are not automatically open to everyone - you need to submit writing samples and be approved for admission by the professor. Sarah Lawrence shares a lot of Reed's characteristics, but some might consider it a better choice for students who interested in creative writing as a major.</p>

<p>Another great school to check out if you are interested in human rights work is Earlham College in Indiana. Like Sarah Lawrence, it shares some characteristics with Reed, and they have some very unique and wonderful programs for people interested in careers in human rights and human development. They also offer some excellent merit scholarships. </p>

<p>If you're interested in public relations, do also take a look at Syracuse Unversity. Although it is different than Reed, they do have a wonderful public relations major in their Newhouse School of Communications. (If you're wondering why I am encouraging you to look at other schools besides Reed, it is because much is likely to change between now and senior year --- keep your options open, and consider lots of different colleges at this point!)</p>

<p>The other thing I would suggest is that you ask your parents to get an idea of what their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) at out-of-state schools might be. A good way to do this is to go to the college board site, ::</a> College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements, and under the student section, look for "paying for college." There is a calculator there that your parents can use to get an idea of what their EFC under Federal Methodology (used by most public schools) and Institutional Methodology (used by about 250 private schools, including Reed and Sarah Lawrence) might be. If you will need financial aid, here are some of the questions you should be asking every college's financial aid office at this point: Do you guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need (this is the cost of attendance minus your family's EFC as determined by Federal or Institutional Methodology)? What type of merit scholarships are available, and what type of grades and test scores would make me eligible for them? What is the average amount of loans you give to freshmen? To sophomores and juniors and seniors? I would also suggest that you read the information on financial aid on the college board website, and discuss it with your parents. By discussing this with them now, and gathering information directly from colleges that interest you about their financial aid policies, your parents may be more willing to consider out of state schools down the road. </p>

<p>Good luck - it is great that you are thinking ahead, and planning for the future!</p>