<p>Hi - this is my first post :). I'm a junior at a relatively non-competitive school (UVA and William and Mary are the only top-tier schools anyone got into - and they're both in-state publics). My top choices right now are Chicago and Swarthmore (heh - very similar, eh?). I'd also like to make sure that I would have good chances at UVA and William and Mary (I live in Virginia).</p>
<p>Asian-American Male - 14 years old (skipped two grades, one each in elementary and middle school)
GPA: 4.5 (note below)
Rank: 2/400+
SAT: 1570 (800M, 770V)
SAT II: Writing (760), Math Level II (800)
APs finished: European History (4), U.S. Government (5), Biology (5), Statistics (5)
APs taken this year: English Lang. and Comp., U.S. History, Calculus BC, Chemistry (will be taken this week)</p>
<p>Our school counts every class in my educational career that earns college credit. I took Algebra I in 4th grade, Algebra II in 5th grade, Geometry in 7th grade (skipped 6th), and Pre-Calculus and French I in 8th grade. So these all count in my GPA. Also, my school doesn't put weights on <em>this year</em>'s grades until the end of the year, so my GPA should be higher. Finally, it's on a 4.5 scale, with AP and DE classes (taking 4 of the former, 1 of the latter for 5 total) weighted.</p>
<p>The only reason I could take any of these APs (other than Calculus, maybe) is because I'm in a "gifted" program (it's not really "gifted" - its only advantage is that I can take more than 1 AP class before my senior year). I'll be an editor for the yearbook next year (which will be my third year in yearbook), and that will also be my third year in NHS (I ran for president but was not elected). Other than that, I've been in numerous several piano competitions since I was 7 (with many monetary and non-monetary prizes) and I have been in the Technology Student Association with several national honors since 9th grade.</p>
<p>Finally, I did Residential Governor's School at the U. of Richmond - a competitive humanities 1-month summer program - very similar to college. I've done the rounds at Johns Hopkins (distance education, on-site summer education, SET, CTY).</p>