Chances and Areas in Need of Improvement

Colleges & Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>Applying to Emory College</p>

<p>RACE: African American / Black</p>

<p>GENDER: Male</p>

<p>LOCATION: South Carolina</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 Un-Weighted / 4.7 Weighted</p>

<p>RANK: 3 or 4 / 342</p>

<p>SAT: Took the June 2, 2007 test (maybe 1200+ math and critical reading)</p>

<p>SAT II: Taking Literature and US History in November (maybe 650+)</p>

<p>GRADES:
FRESHMAN YEAR
Algebra 1 CP - 97
French 1 CP -99
Algebra 2 Honors - 91
Physical Science Honors - 88
English 1 Honors - 98
World History Honors - 95
Honors Seminar - 99
French 2 CP - 96
Physical Education (CP) - 100
Computer Applications (CP) - 96</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR
Geometry Honors - 94
Biology 1 Honors - 90
English 2 Honors - 95
AP European History - 89
French 3 Honors - 97
Visions of the Future Seminar (Honors) - 95
Art 1 (CP) - 96
Health (CP) - 96</p>

<p>JUNIOR YEAR
Algebra 3 Honors - 97
Chemistry 1 Honors - 93
AP English Language & Composition - 99
AP United States History - 96
AP Art History - 97
Introduction to Philosophy Seminar (Honors) - 97
Global Issues Seminar (Honors) - 96
French 4 Honors - 97</p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR
Pre-Calculus Honors
Physics Honors
AP English Literature & Composition
AP United States Government & Politics
AP French Language & Composition
Talented & Gifted Art (Honors)
AP Studio Art
AP Human Geography
Twentieth Century Seminar (Honors)
Economics CP (could not fit AP)</p>

<p>EXTRACURRIULAR ACTIVITIES
Youth Action Council: Co-Chair / President; Finalist in the Project Ignition National Seat Belt Campaign; presented multi-media campaign at the National Youth Leadership Council's (NYLC) National Service-Learning Conference; recipient of the Best Grassroots Impact Award for working with South Carolina legislators to enact stronger seat belt safety laws; recipient of the $25,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant</p>

<p>Student Government
Senate; House of Representatives; Representative-at-Large; National Association of Student Councils (NASC) Council of Excellence Award; Certificate of Excellence and Varsity Letter for 300+ Hours of Service; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) Gold Honor Council Award; Junior Class Leadership Council Secretary; Certificate of Excellence for 200+ Hours of Service; Sophomore Class Leadership Council Secretary; Outstanding Freshman Class Service Award for 100+ Hours of Servce; South Carolina Association of Student Councils (SCASC) District Conference; School Improvement Council (SIC)</p>

<p>Scholars Symposium / Honors Forum
Senior Class Advisory Council Representative; Junior Class Advisory Council Representative; Sophomore Class Advisory Council Representative; Freshman Class Advisory Council Representative; Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Art Honor Society (NAHS)
Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Scholastic Art and Writings Award Competition; South Carolina State Fair Student Art Show; Spring Visual Arts Show; Photography Club</p>

<p>National French Honor Society (NFHS)
President / Awards and Ceremony Coordinator; Darfur Advocacy Campaign (Co-Chair); Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Honor Society (NHS)
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>National Senior Beta Club
Peer Mentor / Tutor</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
Amnesty International USA
"Malaria No More" Campaign
STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition
Genocide Intervention Network
Andy Thomas Radio Network Teen Forum Show
National Service-Learning Partnership
Service-Learning and Civic-Engagement Collaborative Workshop
Good Neighbor Home Works Renovation Project
Winter Holidays Service Project
Board Election (Co-Manager for Gregory Branch)</p>

<p>SUMMER EXPERIENCES
The Governor's School of South Carolina at the College of Charleston
South Carolina Business Week at Presbyterian College
Clemson University Program for Academically Talented Students</p>

<p>ACADEMIC HONORS
Principal's Scholar Honor
National Ventures Scholar Program
National French Contest Level 4 Honorable Mention Award
Junior Marshal at Senior Graduation
Coker College Scholar Award
Lander University Junior Fellow Award
Newberry College Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Aiken Scholar Award
University of South Carolina Upstate Scholar Award
AP English Language & Composition Award of Excellence
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Junior English Award
South Carolina Governor's Scholar Award
Golden Palmetto Leadership & Service Merit Award
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sophomore History Award
National History Day Certificate of Achievement
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Freshman Social Studies Award
Academic Honor Roll
Duke Univeristy Talent Identification Program Scholar
Scholars Academy / Honors School</p>

2

<p>just get a 1300+ SAT and you're good to go</p>

3

<p>How much will not getting a 1300+ on my SAT hurt my application? I've studied really hard and still do not think I will be able to make that score. Does Emory place more value in GPA, rank, extracurriular activities, leadership etc. more than in the SAT? I don't want the admissions committee to think I got lucky in high school and did not really work hard when the complete opposite is true (I work much harder than the salutatorian, my brother, but I'm just not as "naturally smart," you know?). My dad said I could visit one out of state college so I am definitely going to visit Emory. Thanks for positive feedback. Any other comments will be greatly appreciated (I don't know really know anyone that has gotten accepted to Emory so I don't really know what they are looking for).</p>

4

<p>Once you visit Emory, hopefully, you'll be sold. Even if you don't crack 1300, you probably have a great shot. Good luck with the whole process. Emory looks for great academic qualifications, but also well rounded students and is big on service activities.</p>

5

<p>Show interest by taking a campus tour and keep doing as well as you have in school. Test scores won't be an issue. After all of this, count Emory as a lock.</p>

6

<p>I really hope so, it would be great to get accepted to Emory! I'm really going to study hard for my SATs this summer to get at least 1250. I've been showing some interest in Emory for a while: I requested information online and some professors that teach political science, history, etc. have sent me letters talking about their respective departments (is it bad if I cannot remember their names?). I have also gotten stuff talking about the opportunities available for African American students. I realize Emory is huge on demonstrated interest and also plan on requesting the DVD tour. Thanks for the advice and any more would be greatly appreciated!</p>

7

<p>Your stats look very good (and the SAT is commendable, but could be higher based on the average SAT for admits).</p>

<p>Your minority status will certainly help you. (that's just an admissions fact of life which, fortunately for you, will work in your favor.)</p>

<p>As already has been mentioned, demonstrate a strong interest in the school (order the video, visit the school, tell them you really want to attend, ask questions about specific programs, etc....)</p>

<p>Also, my eyes start to glaze over when reading your accomplishments. You may want to organize these so that they show a particular focus. In other words, if you have done tons of community service, student government, have public speaking skills/presentations skills etc... - you could make a case for wanting to go into politics or government - it might help you to have essays that reflect a certain interest like this. What I'm trying to say is that your application needs to show a "passion" - not just a laundry list of random (although a lot of them) awards and accomplishments. Show Emroy what you plan to do with your life - make it clear to them. Otherwise, you are just another smart, active kid with no direction. </p>

<p>Overall, I think your chances are very good.</p>

8

<p>Also, are students encouraged or discouraged from sending a resume or "brag sheet"? I ask this because I only listed the really important accomplishments for my extracurricular activities and community service projects (some things I did not mention but want to mention on my application: I had excellenct help from two professors at the Duke University Medical Center for the Malaria campaign, there were more things I did under Amnesty International USA, and some other unique and important jobs / responsiblities under Youth Action Council, since it isn't a common activity). Even if they seem long, my extracurriular activities and community service projects certainly are not embellished but I feel they best portray by interests and ambitions (political science and service to those who are less fortunate). Any advice is appreciated!</p>

9

<p>I'm not sure, but I think I have heard of students sending an attached resume of sorts (which would help in your case because then you could group your activities/accomplishments into categories to make your "passions" clearer to the reader.</p>

10

<p>Do you guys think 3 pages is too long for a "brag sheet" (as outlined in Katherine Cohen's books)?</p>

11

<p>yes, 3 pages is way too long. A well organized resume is 1 page, max.</p>

12

<p>Three pages is too long, even for a 40 year old executive. But two pages is OK depending on the purpose. You don't want the type so small that it is hard to read. You should have a one page and a two page version. I think you will find that the one page version will not be able to hold much more information than you have in your application. A two page version orgainized nicely with a decent type size may be just right to accompany an application because the point is to put some meat on the bones of the application not just to repeat the same information.</p>

13

<p>Basically what i did was a listed my resume on my common app. and continued it on an extra paper. That'll keep it down to 1 page. However, since I was accepted and never cared to ask about the rest, I dunno if the officer was glad, or was pulling his hairs out from frustration.</p>

14

<p>Update: I got my SAT scores today.</p>

<p>660 Critical Reading
600 Math
610 Writing (7 Essay; 63 Multiple Choice)</p>

<p>Does this change anything?</p>

15

<p>hey blazer08, do you go to ridge view?</p>

16

<p>yes i do, do you lol :)</p>

17

<p>yeah. last year was my first year there. before rv i went to lr.</p>

18

<p>Oh cool; what year are you?</p>

19

<p>c/o 08!! :)</p>

20

<p>I know it's like beating a dead horse lol but...</p>

<p>Update in AP Scores:
European History - 3
English Language and Composition - 5
United States History - 5
Art History - 3</p>

<p>Does this change anything? Also, would just like to add stuff I forgot: Honors Scholar Honor; Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Nominee; Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor Award; Quill and Scroll Honor Society (Editory of Literary Magazine); for Youth Action Council: surveyed over 500 district students to learn about their interest and participation in a variety of community issues. Thanks for the continued help!</p>