Background: I’m an African American female living in Southern California. My family makes between 75-95k a year, so we’re lower middle class. Also my dad has his A.A degree, my mother has no credentials so I think I may be first-gen too?
School: Large public school, doesn’t perform too well as an entire school, but the top academic programs offered here are very good. Note: AP/Honors are weighted equally and one is not allowed to take Honors/AP until sophomore year and you’re capped at 2. School also does not rank, but I’ll be one of about 25 valedictorians in a class of about 850 when I graduate. (Around 4200 students in entire school)
Intended Major: I originally thought engineering would be my top choice, but as I get closer to that time, I’m starting to fall in love with the idea of business careers. Particularly, accounting/finance, something that still included a lot of math but had more communications and networking with it.
Stats:
GPA: 4.0 UW/ 4.44 W (No +/- system)
ACT: 27 (took in Feb. W/ no prep. I plan to take it at least once more and the new SAT as well.)
AP’s/Honors Courses: Honors Chem., Honors Pre-Calc, APWH (5), APUSH (TBA), AP Physics 1 (TBA), AP Language & Comp (TBA)
Senior Course Load: AP Physics 2 (Highest offered in phys.), AP Calc AB (highest offered), AP Literature, AP Government/AP Macroeconomics, Spanish 7-8, Vocal Jazz Singers, Track & Field
EC’s: -Track & Field (9-12 ), Varsity Captain 11-12
-Choir (9-12) In advanced chamber singers soph. Year and made most advanced vocal jazz in 11th, will continue for 12th. Only 14 girls in the class, and only about 8 seniors will have this on their transcript when I graduate.
-Young Black Scholars Club (9-12), current VP, running for Pres. Next year
-CSF/NHS (9-12), current treasurer, running for office next year too
-Co-Founder and President of the Engineering/Robotics Club (11-12), didn’t know I liked this topic until I took physics lol
-Female Leadership Academy (10-12) PR Manager, (Have to apply to get in)
-Musical Theatre & Gospel Choir club (9-12)
Service Learning: A bunch of sporadic things from NHS/YBS/CSF but I have a couple consistent ones. I’m the activr designated track team tutor in math/science subjects. So those who are struggling study with me after practice so we don’t have to miss practice.
Also during the summers I go with my dad to the recreational park he works at and mentor/tutor the kids. They range from ages 6-13. Then I go to track camp for the rest of the day but not for service. I should have around 300 hours when I graduate.
Intended Schools:
USC Marshall (ABSOLUTE 1st choice.)
UCLA
UCB
Pomona College
Claremont Mckenna
UCSB
Cornell (I’d probably apply to engineering here instead.)
Columbia
Stanford (Lol super reach but why not)
Any insight on what I can do to improve my chances at these schools? Maybe a target score or something else to solidify where I am? Also, of there’s other schools you’d think I should look into, PLEASE let me know. I need all the advice I can get; this whole process is extremely daunting. I appreciate it also, thank you 