<p>Howdy CC friends,</p>
<p>I would appreciate your opinion on my admission chances to a couple institutions including: Amherst, Brown, Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Smith, UVA, Washington and Lee, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Yale</p>
<p>I'm a female from Virginia...which is, in my opinion, the middle of nowhere. Im mainly applying to Northeastern colleges because of the liberal slant.</p>
<p>I would eventually like to study Biology, possibly with a neuroscience concentration, and journalism. I used to think I was really strong with regard to my left brain, but it seems Im pretty balanced.</p>
<p>Quantitative data:</p>
<p>Old SAT: 730 Math; 730 Verbal; 1460 composite
New SAT: 720 Math; 740 Verbal; 790 Writing (11 essay); 2250 composite
SAT subject tests: 750 United States History; 730 Math IC; 740 Math IIC; 690 Biology (Molecular) <em>**I took the Bio test at the start of my AP Bio course, before we had covered Photosynthesis and Respiration ;-(
AP: AP US History 5; AP Calc AB 4; AP French Language 4
GPA: 4.8 (weighted); 4.0 unweighted; I've maintained straight As so far throughout my high school career.
Class rank: Top 2% of large, competitive high school (~500 per graduating class)
*</em>*I attend a math, science, technology magnet center, which is located within the larger high school. With regard to class rank, however, I compete with the regular high schoolers.</p>
<p>Junior year courses:
AP US History
AP Calc AB
AP French Language (highest level at school)
AP Stats
Honors Physics
Honors English
Journalism</p>
<p>I'm taking 5 AP classes as a senior, including Calc BC, Biology, Environmental Science, English, and Government. This is a very demanding schedule for seniors at our school. Basically, the only APs that I have not taken at my school are ones for languages I have not studied (Latin, Spanish, German, etc.) and AP Chem and AP Physics. I am taking Bio and Environmental concurrently this year, however </p>
<p>Extracurricular activities:
--Three-year involvement in prize-winning school newspaper; Staff writer; Front Page Editor; current Deputy Editor-in-Chief; requires more than 5 hours of work per week; We have a large staff and our newspaper is always very large
--Four year member of French Club; current President; our club conducts regular French Club-esque activites such as Mardi Gras Celebrations and French movie nights as well as community service projects. We are doing a Salvation Army drive for hurricane victims.
--Multicultural club; four-year member; current President; outreach to minorities in school as well as fundraising for impoverished children in India
--Two-year member of Interact Club; active member; Angel Tree, Habitat for Humanity, local marathons, etc.
--12 years of classical piano (at least 5 hours per week); I have participated in local competitions as well as festivals and have received superior rating every year.
--Two years of competitive swim team (5-12 hours per week depending on time-consuming swim meets)
--Key Club, Robotics, track, colorguard, and FDA (Future Doctors Association) - (I participated in these for one year; Colorguard was a pain because it is a segment of the marching band of my school and required literally 30 hours a week; Robotics was not my thing, and Key Club was too big and unorganized).</p>
<p>Community activities:</p>
<p>--Gallery education/exhibit interpretation at local science museum; I have accumulated over 200 hours and absolutely love this job; I get to play with hissing cockroaches and liquid nitrogen; I wrote one of my college essays about my volunteer job and it how it relates to a future career.
--Volunteer at local nursing home (assisted with events, festivities, etc.); over 50 hours
--Volunteer at local botanical garden (horticulture, garden greeting, language translation, etc.)
--Volunteer at local university labs (over 200 hours of service); took care of lab animals and equipment; conducted lab experiments
--Piano concerts at local nursing homes</p>
<p>Work Experience:
--Job at local mall (~15 hours per week)
--Academic tutor at school (multitude of subjects); 1-2 hours per week
--Red-Cross certified babysitter (~10 hours each week); I love children and would like to become a pediatrician.</p>
<p>Awards and honors:
--First place in state-wide science fair; presented research to undergraduate-level fair
--Second place in regional science fair; progressed to state ISEF competition
--National Merit Commended Student
--AP Scholar with Honor
--High PSAT scores (3 consecutive years)
--Principals Scholar
--JHU Talented Youth
--National Honor Society (inducted as junior)
--Math Honors Society (inducted as junior)
--French Honors Society (inducted as freshman)
--Journalism honors society (inducted as sophomore)
--Beta Club (inducted as junior)
--Superior rating in annual piano competitions
***I have more, but they're kind of specific.</p>
<p>Independent scientific research is an important facet of my application. Since freshman year, I have undertaken research at local colleges and universities and have been mentored by accomplished professors. I have volunteered over 250 hours for this effort. My research revolved around alcohol tolerance and marijuana usage, which was pretty interesting. I now have a lot of experience dealing with various lab techniques and animals I intend to continue conducting research in college. </p>
<p>For two summers, I have traveled abroad to participate in educational programs. I won't list the countries or the programs, but one was two months long and absolutely amazing because of the diversity of the participants. I actually wrote about this experience for one of my college essays.</p>
<p>Because of journalism, I have numerous publications; I have also written for the major local newspaper. I also was selected for a prestigious workshop this past summer. I was rated the best journalism student, so my work was nominated for advancement to the national competition level.</p>
<p>Essays: I think I'm a pretty decent writer, so they're okay. I'm not sure if they will POP OUT to the admissions office, however, since everyone that applies to Yale is mind-boggingly accomplished. Nonetheless, one's about my volunteer job and the other about my overseas camp experience. I enlisted the help of some older people, and they liked them a lot </p>
<p>Recommendations: One from two-year Calc teacher; one from Chemistry teacher; I think they should be pretty good; the one from the Chemistry teacher will be better though because he thinks I'm a "poster child" and apparently likes me a lot. Whatever...I also submitted a supplemental recommendation from my newspaper adviser, which I thought was well-written and nice...He related me to "Emerson's Scholar," which sounds like a complimentary thing to say.</p>
<p>Supplementary materials: CD of piano playing (Chopin!), journalism articles; science project research abstracts</p>
<p>I also sent along a resume a month after I submitted my application. Hopefully, they'll look at it. ;-)</p>
<p>Alumni interview: Went really well in my opinion. The guy (who was very elderly) went to Yale undergrad and then Harvard. He literally spent 2 hours talking to me and seemed tickled by the things I said meaning he laughed a lot. He also seemed quite tickled by things HE said...lol. He was just a really talkative guy and was EXTREMELY knowledgeable about EVERYTHING I brought to the table. Anyways, he was very interested in my culture and wrote me an e-mail later telling me that out of the 15 years he had served as an alumni interviewer, he had only encountered 2 or 3 individuals that seemed to offer all I have to offer. He also said that New Haven would be very lucky to have me. (This is Yale)</p>
<p>I applied to Yale EA, but am realistically anticipating a deferral. Although I do have admirable accomplishments, my test scores are not bad, but sort of average. </p>
<p>Oh yeah, I have legacy at Chicago!!!!!!! Does that help at all?</p>
<p>What are my chances for:
Amherst
Brown
Chicago
Columbia
Dartmouth
Harvard
Smith
UVA
Washington and Lee
Wellesley
Wesleyan
Yale</p>
<p>Thanks guys! :-D</p>