<p>I am a rising senior and starting the college process. I am a unique candidate for a few reasons and I think I need some perspective on my chances at the top universities. Some of the schools I am looking at include:
Yale, UPenn, Harvard, Cornell, Brown (Obviously reaches)
Georgetown, UMich, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, UChicago (Slightly more realistic)
Emory, NYU (Significantly more realistic)</p>
<p>If you have any ideas for more realistic schools please post them! Constructive criticism is welcome!</p>
<p>Here's a description of my credentials:</p>
<p>Gender: Female
Ethnicity: White
High School: A large public school (1500 people) in a middle class suburb in Connecticut</p>
<p>Course load/Grades:
Ranking: 1/375
GPA: Weighted-- 4.4/4.5 Unweighted-- 4.0</p>
<p>Eighth Grade:
I took Spanish at the high school in the morning and then went back to middle school for the rest of my classes. Spanish III Honors</p>
<p>Ninth Grade:
Honors Geometry
Modern World History (Required class)
Spanish V Honors (I was accelerated another year in Spanish, most kids were at the III level)
Chinese I (No honors available)
Jazz Ensemble
Gym
Honors Earth Science
English 9 Honors (First semester) then I was skipped ahead a grade to English 10 Honors for the second semester</p>
<p>Tenth Grade:
AP English Language (Usually an 11th grade class)
AP Spanish Language (Usually a 12th grade class)
AP Modern European History
AP Biology
Algebra II Honors
Chinese II Honors
Gym
Concert Jazz Band (Honors level)</p>
<p>Eleventh Grade:
AP English Literature (Usually a 12th grade class)
AP US History
AP Environmental Science
Precalculus Honors
Film Studies (Semester 1), American Govt (Semester 2)--Required
Gym
Chinese III Honors
Concert Jazz Band</p>
<p>Twelfth Grade:
AP American Govt
AP Spanish Literature
AP Economics
AP Calculus AB
Chinese IV Honors
Concert Jazz Band
French I/II
PE Strategies (A gym class working with special needs children)
English Independent Study: 19th and 20th Century Feminist Literature (I ran out of English classes at my school)</p>
<p>It's a little complicated because I was accelerated in English and Spanish. In addition to this, I have done four other Independent Studies, three in Social Studies (The Aenied, The Canterbury Tales, and The Divine Comedy), and one in Chinese.</p>
<p>Extras:
I basically have a really esoteric interest in Chinese. I have travelled there four times during high school so far, and I am graduating a semester early next year to spend four months in China. I take Chinese classes with native speakers on the weekends. It's weird, I know, but passions generally are!
I also am really involved with Unified programs at our school in which you are partnered with special needs students.
Sports: Varsity field hockey since sophmore year, All-Conference team, Varsity tennis freshmen year
Study flute, clarinet, and saxophone</p>
<p>Testing:
SATs: 2130 (A little low, I know but I am NOT taking it again for sanity's sake!) 710 CR, 690 math, 730 writing
AP exams: Mostly 3's and 4's so far
A note on testing: I am a really creative and out of the box thinker, I have always had trouble with standardized tests and I am a little concerned that this is going to hurt my application.</p>
<p>Honesty is welcome! My guidence counselor at school tends to be way to positive and I need a realistic third party perspective on my chances at the very top schools. And I also am a double-legacy at UPenn (both of my parents, my uncle, and my brother).</p>
<p>Basically, I am a creative and unique individual. I love to learn and I am passionate about China and I hope that comes across in my application!</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>