Chances at CMC, Pomona, and Scripps? Also, how can I improve? Chancing back if you want!

<p>The question above, alone with this: I'm still a junior; how can I improve and increase my chances of acceptance? Obviously, I'm not going to start something just to get in, but small suggestions would be helpful...</p>

<p>GPA: UW 4.0 (academic)-- only As and A+s (no minuses thus far)</p>

<p>I have received two B's, but in PE my freshman year. The GPA above includes, essentially, A-G courses (5 core classes + my elective, band)</p>

<p>Classes I have taken considered "advanced":
Advanced English (9 and 10)
Advanced History (9)
AP European History (10)
AP Biology (11)
AP Language and Composition (11)
AP US History (11)
Precalculus (11)</p>

<p>Senior prospective schedule:
AP Lit
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Gov
AP Calc AB
AP Physics
AP Italian
Adv. Band</p>

<p>Test Scores:
ACT: Composite 34 : M34,E35, S33, R32
SAT II: Bio (M) and Math II-- I'm taking these in May. What scores do you think I'll need?
AP European History (5)
Hoping for either 4s or 5s in AP Bio, Lang, and USH!</p>

<p>Activities: *** denotes leadership position (required election)
1. Italian Club President (9,10,11,12)***
President in 10,11, and 12, cultural activities coordinator in 9</p>

<ol>
<li>American Cancer Society Club President (9,10,11,12)
President in 11,12
Secretary in 9,10</li>
</ol>

<p>Which goes hand in hand with...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Event Chair of Relay for Life- essentially, the top position. (elected to lead committee of students for planning our community's Relay for Life which raises approximately $50,000) (10,11,12) ***
This is pretty significant because we raise more money than Stanford, USC, UCLA, etc. Also, this event is typically run by adults, but has been taken over by students in my community.</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteer for many many hours at an organization in the urban area near me that houses cancer patients (children)-- I work on the living conditions for these patients and their families by making holiday cards, painting, cleaning, organizing, making the place a nice place for the brave kids! I also tutor the patient's siblings. (I'm not sure how many hours, but I know the number should be pretty high...) (10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Intern at my hospital's cancer center, shadowed oncologist, volunteered, too! (I'm not sure how many hours, though, but a lot!) (10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>I've played piano for 11 years, numerous awards from my conservatory! Will submit arts supplement (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Flute and Piccolo which I play in my school's band (first chair), my region's orchestra (first), my school's musicals, competitions (with some awards), and a flute "choir" of mostly professional flautists (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Mental Health Support Group (President and Founder) (11,12)-- founded after personal experience
While this is registered as a club, it is more of a support group for those suffering from depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, etc., or those whose family or friends are suffering from those illnesses. It's a big part of my life and has over 50 members. We meet weekly at various locations and have created an outreach network with a local middle school. We've also organized events at school to raise awareness of mental illness. We also set up weeks throughout the year to help students de-stress. It's all pretty great </p></li>
<li><p>Varsity Tennis (9,10,11,12)- Captain as a Senior
</p></li>
<li><p>Hopefully participating in a research program this summer, whether it be a paid program or research with a professor (I applied, but not so sure I'll get in)</p></li>
<li><p>Robotics team member (though, no leadership position) (11,12)-- it was just founded this year</p></li>
<li><p>I've been in the band and marching band for every year and as I said above am the section leader and principal flute. Possibly next year's band president, though I don't know yet. (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Work experience. I am not sure which to include. Can you advise?
1. Nordstrom Sales Associate (10,11)
2. Tennis Instructor (Summer and School year--9,10,11,12)
3. I teach piano to elementary and middle school students (11,12)</p>

<p>Recommendations: Planning on getting these from my language and english teachers. However, I'm planning on studying biology. Should I also get one from my biology teacher? They should be very good, really. I'm very involved in the classroom and in helping my peers, which they recognize.</p>

<p>Additional info:
Prospective major: Neuroscience/cogsci (really interested in the crossover between science and language comprehension and understanding as well as mental illness and affects of stress-- physical and otherwise-- on the brain)
Prospective minor: depending on which school, either music or Italian</p>

<p>California resident
Income: >100,000
Trilingual
Mom went to USC</p>

<p>Both parents with Bachelor's, Dad has Master's</p>

<p>I took a human biology class at a local community college, receiving an A. I will take a few classes over the summer if I'm not accepted into a research program.</p>

<p>I know Java and learning Bluejay (self-taught). This isn't really a big deal, but I love it!</p>

<p>Will submit music supplement on the piano (Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique Movement 3)</p>

<p>I think you have a pretty good chance for these schools (high match for scripps, low to mid reach for Pomona)! You don’t need to get a recommendation from a specific teacher, as long as they are academic teachers. I would really try to communicate what makes you unique in your essays and your interests. </p>

<p>I think all of these are within reach seeing your great ACT and flawless GPA. Pomona is difficult for anyone to get into so you may be on the fence with that, but I see all of these as likely.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1623771-chances-for-admission-to-notre-dame.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1623771-chances-for-admission-to-notre-dame.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You can get into any of these, but that doesn’t mean you will. You’re perfectly qualified, so you’ll be considered, but at that level of selectivity once you’re being considered it’s 100% luck. Apply to them, and I hope that luck’s in your favor – just make sure not to get your heart set on them.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone!</p>

<p>Thanks, but CMC and Pomona actually aren’t on that site. Still, great resource. :)</p>

<p>And if you have recommendations for improvement, I would be SO SO grateful…</p>

<p>Bump. Haha someone’s comment was deleted and now it looks like I’m talking to myself… Oh well.</p>

<p>So Scripps and CMC have very different atmospheres, in spite of being part of the same consortium. We rarely see students applying to both… have you visited both and spent any time on campus?</p>

<p>@intparent : I’m the sort of person who can do well in a wide range of social and educational climates. I have visited both briefly, and from that have concluded that I’d be perfectly happy at either. I know it seems somewhat strange, but I think I’m very self-aware and have a good idea of what I’m looking for. Maybe I’m completely and utterly misguided, but as far as I know, I enjoy the atmosphere of both.</p>

<p>Be sure to attend accepted students at each separately if you are admitted…</p>

<p>@intparent Alright! Do you have any suggestions for improvement?</p>

<p>4.0, 34 ACT, lots of ECs with leadership. What else would you want? I’ve made my only suggestion – your colleges are very, very different in spite of the proximity. Be as sure as you can that the colleges you are applying to suit you.</p>

<p>@intparent Thank you :slight_smile: I’ll definitely do some more research.</p>

<p>scripps safety
claremont and pomona: low reach
you have really good ec’s and high test/academics. good job
chance me back: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1621256-change-me-into-mit-asu-michigan-state-etc-i-will-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1621256-change-me-into-mit-asu-michigan-state-etc-i-will-chance-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Thanks for the optimism on the Scripps, but I doubt it. :)</p>

<p>No, toesockshoe is right. Scripps is an easier admit than the other two (just look at the 50% SAT ranges for admissions). </p>

<p>I think you’ll make claremont and scripps, pomonoa is a low reach. :smiley: Great job!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1624745-my-chances-after-rejection.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1624745-my-chances-after-rejection.html#latest&lt;/a&gt; :smiley: </p>

<p>@intparent that’s good to know :slight_smile:
I’m actually quite surprised that, considering the schools are so hard to get into, their SAT and ACT averages aren’t too high (relatively…)</p>

<p>suggestions? I’m sorry!!</p>