Chances and Areas in Need of Improvement

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>Applying to the College of Arts and Letters. I will have 9 APs by graduation in 2008. I have taken all of the honors / AP courses I could possibly fit in my schedule (definitely have one the most rigorous schedules for senior year). I really think (hope) my essays and recommendations will be excellent.</p>

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

<p>GENDER: Male</p>

<p>LOCATION: South Carolina</p>

<p>MAJOR: Political Science</p>

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

<p>RANK: 3 / 337</p>

<p>SAT:
Critical Reading - 660
Math - 600
Writing - 610 (7 Essay; 63 MC)</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 (Independent Study)
Talented & Gifted Art (Honors)
AP Studio Art
AP Human Geography (Independent Study)
Twentieth Century Seminar (Honors) (Independent Study)
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; distributed over $45,000 in mini-grants to district teachers and students since inception year to support service-learning and civic-engagement projects</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; Representative at District Education Forum; 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 (Duke University Medical Center)
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 (Instructor)
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 (Collective Memory of World War II; The Holocaust in Film)
South Carolina Business Week at Presbyterian College
Clemson University Program for Academically Talented Students</p>

<p>ACADEMIC HONORS:
Principal's Scholar Honor (Top 10 students)
National Ventures Scholar Program
National French Contest Level 4 Honorable Mention Award
Junior Marshal at Senior Graduation (Top 10%)
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 (AP Eng.)
South Carolina Governor's Scholar Award
Golden Palmetto Leadership & Service Merit Award
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sophomore History Award (AP Euro.)
National History Day Certificate of Achievement
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Freshman Social Studies Award (WH)
Academic Honor Roll
Duke Univeristy Talent Identification Program Scholar
Scholars Academy / Honors School</p>

2

<p>no varsity letters may hurt you; you're plethora of ec's/awards/community service and rank could make up for that, but they cannot make up for the SAT score--definitely take it again--I would try taking the ACT (it was a lot easier for me!) good luck... oh and don't waste your time preparing for the SAT II's just concentrate on getting your SAT up</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the quick reply! Wow, is the University of Notre Dame really that big on varsity letters? The sport I am best at is gymnastics, which I did for probably 10 years but had to stop because my school doesn't have a team (escpecially for males). I also planned on my URM status and somewhat "geographical diversity" to help :) lol. Also, I definitely plan on taking the SAT again, but on College Board all of my scores seemed to be in the 50 percentile (except for math). Any more help is greatly appreciated!</p>

4

<p>Now that I think of it, Notre Dame is a pretty popular school for sports; is that maybe why the SAT score range is kind of "low"?</p>

5

<p>I don't really think that the college board range reflects what it takes to get in, check out last years Regular decision results threads and see where you fall.</p>

6

<p>When we did the admitted student visit I think they said 90% of the students had participated in high school sports and some huge percentage were team captains. I would not worry about it; you can't do everything, but do mention your 10 year commitment to gymnastics and how your school doesn't have a team. If you can't figure out how to work it in to your app or essay, see if your counselor will mention it in the context of "the school did not have a gymnastics team for Blazer, so he focused on community service" in the school report. </p>

<p>The ND SAT average looks artificially low because of legacies; not because of athletes. For non-legacies your test scores actually have to be very high; I would definitely focus on tests. Definitely take the ACT, and do look for some test prep that can analyze your practice tests, figure out what your weaknesses are and give you some strategies for overcoming those weaknesses. If you have not done any preparation for SATs or ACTs I urge you do do so. You don't necessarily have to take a hugely expensive class-there are sometimes classes available at community colleges or high schools. There are some books by Kaplan and Princeton Review that are helpful as well. Those high test scores you see are often the result of extensive prepping--kids who do not know this can be at a disadvantage.</p>

7

<p>ND has a lot of athletes but it isn't a pre-req and it looks like you are doing a lot of great things.</p>

<p>First of all I want to congratulate you on being very mature and not only asking for chances but also where you can improve. Being able to analyze your weaknesses and being open to them is a hard but wonderful thing and it will help you improve. I think the biggest thing is your SAT scores, it would help a lot if you could get them up. I am not all that worried about the varsity letter just because you are doing a ton of ECs, so I think you are okay there, so studying for the SAT is what I would recommend. As long as you are able to motivate yourself, I usually recommend that people do not take the classes. The books that are out there, which Mombot mentioned (I know I am repeating much of what Mombot said but it is because it is good stuff) are a good start and are more than enough if you can motivate yourself to use them. </p>

<p>Good luck! Keep being open to improving yourself, it will help you greatly in the future and it is a great quality!</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the comments! I'll definitely try to get my SAT up to at least 1300. Any other advice is welcome :).</p>

9

<p>A higher test score and great essay will help.</p>

<p>You don't need to worry about anything else.</p>

<p>You should also display your interest.</p>

10

<p>Does ND really look for athletes, or do athletes just gravitate towards the university? I didn't play varsity sports, but I like sports and know that the football games are going to be amazing at ND.</p>

11

<p>You don't need to play sports.</p>

12

<p>you don't "need" to, but that ridiculous percentage of people who are captains of varsity teams isn't a coincidence... they obviously like that...</p>

13

<p>I am pretty sure that community service and any kind of leadership positions are more important that sports, but sports do help.</p>

14

<p>that may or may not be true, but, regardless--i would bet nearly every applicant that got in (who didn't have nearly perfect standardized scores) have both... stress the fact that there was no high school gymnastics team and you'll be more than fine (you can put it in the "extra information" part or have one of your teachers/counselors throw it in their rec letters)</p>

15

<p>Maybe one of the actual students can answer the sports question; I believe that it is more the "fit" aspect--ND does not in any way require sports or give it higher value than other EC's but the students who are attracted to the school and like the values and atmosphere tend to be athletes. It is one of the few highly ranked private schools with a huge sports tradition. The football culture does not appeal to everybody--many of DD's friends would think that it was a negative. </p>

<p>I think there may also be a greater understanding of how leadership in athletics shows discipline and can build character, where at schools without a strong athletic tradition, athletes can sometimes be stereotyped as less intellectually serious than students who "don't have time" for sports.</p>

<p>An incredibly long-winded way of saying that it's probably 80% egg, 20% chicken.</p>

16

<p>you convinced me</p>

17

<p>I would also suggest that you take the ACT. Take a few practice tests first to get the rythmn down-it is a much faster pace than SAT. Many students, more males (in my experience), tend to score higher.</p>

<p>Also, w/o trying to start anything, I do think your URM status may allow you a slightly lower standardize test scores. I have seen URM students get in w/lower standardized score than other students because admissions feels that they are at a disadvantage in the test process (at other colleges...no experience with ND except my own kid). I work in HS, and have no info on how ND handles this and am not speaking for them. Just my thoughts.</p>

18

<p>Thanks, I'll keep your comments in mind. Any more suggestions?</p>

19

<p>No one will ever be able to stress how important the essay is to an applicant. ND is a personal and spiritual place, find a way to stand out from the crowd in your essay.</p>