<p>I think this is it... thanks for your help :)! If you have any suggestions about things I'll need to improve on or do in the future, please include that. Also there's a few questions throughout the post, so if you have any insight into those, that'd be wonderful!</p>
<p>ALSO, if you have any recommendations for safety school-- TELL ME! The ones listed below are probably either match or reach, so let me know.</p>
<p>School List:
UCLA
UCB
UCSD
UCD
UCI
USC
Pomona
Claremont McKenna
Scripps
Northwestern
Tufts
Emory
Carnegie Mellon
Rice University (ED)</p>
<p>I also really like Columbia, UPenn, and Stanford, but clearly, these are reach (even for people more qualified than I am...). My question: is it still worth applying?</p>
<p>GPA: UW 4.0 (academic)-- only As and A+s</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.</p></li>
<li><p>Intern at my hospital's cancer center, shadowed oncologist, volunteered, too!</p></li>
<li><p>I've played piano for 11 years, numerous awards from my conservatory! Will submit arts supplement</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</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>
Of course I’d love to go to Penn, Columbia, and Stanford, but when it really comes down to it, I know that Rice is where I belong. And I know that it is hard to get into, but I’m going to reach for it, and see what happens. Maybe in some people’s eyes it isn’t as prestigious, but I just absolutely adore everything about the school.</p>