<p>academic stuff:
32 ACT : 36 english, 36 reading, 31 math, 25 science (AHH!!!), 35 writing
3.65 unweighted gpa at a highly competitive school -- i've never heard of anyone getting above a 3.8 something... and i have a lot of APs, so this is better than it sounds- but should still be higher for williams! also.. my counselor will explain some of my not-so-stellar grades because my mom was really sick for much of my high school career which made life all the more difficult
SAT IIs: writing-720, math-660. (I re-took both of these in november so hopefully, I did a little bit better; though i don't think changes will be drastic)
ap scholar
national merit scholar
*my school has "senior awards," where they give awards to seniors for outstanding accomplishments in various pursuits. the only award given to juniors is the humanities award, for the 2 students who have excelled in multiple humanities (ie english/history, art/english/music) . i got this award, as did someone from my school who went to williams last year. in my case it was for excellence in photography/english</p>
<p>ECs
-arts editor of the school newspaper (30 hrs/week one week a month)
-photo editor of the literary magazine
-co-head of interact club
-co head and founder of the yoga club
-yearbook editor
-writing center mentor
-captain of the figure skating team, have won some figure skating awards</p>
<p>i have been taking photography for four years, and have one several prizes, including a prestigious nationwide one. i have also had multiple exhibitions. i think my art portfolio is exceptionally strong (hopefully they will agree!!)</p>
<p>my recs will be outstanding, and my essay is quite good- a guy who has taught an essay writing course at an elite school for over ten years was gaga over the first draft. so im pretty confident it's good :)</p>
<p>i am totally in love with williams. i know that my gpa/testing isn't what it should be given that i am a white , non-athlete girl from new jersey. but do you think i have a shot given that i will demonstrate excellence in photography (the area which I'm most outstanding in, i think) and writing? be honest!
thanks :)</p>
<p>but those look like some nice stats...except for the 25 science which measn that u got caught up lookin at the data instead of answering the pretty much cr responses of the science section. dont worry my friend did the same...ended up with 34 composite</p>
<p>Be sure to send in that portfolio. Did you get a chance to meet any of the studio art professors?</p>
<p>I saw your note about your mother having been really sick. That's a difficult, lonely thing for a teenager (or for anyone, for that matter). I hope that things are better now.</p>
<p>Any chance that you might take the SAT I in December or January? If you've already sent in your ACT and the scores for your new SAT IIs are already requested (or have already been requested and sent before the SAT I scores are reported), this would be a freebie in that, if you don't specify an SAT I score recipient, you can wait and see what your results are. If you like them, you can pay the $9.50 to send them in; if not, no one ever has to know about them. </p>
<p>And don't forget that Williams will be interested in the AP exams you took, so, if those scores are good, they may help you, too, and may help to counter-balance the weak part of the ACT.</p>
<p>i'm still debating about whether to take SAT IIs or SAT Is in december sinc ei dont actually need SAT Is for anything. (And i really really don't want to take it.. )
I have to wait till the morning to see my Nov SAT IIs , though !</p>
<p>aube, your statistics – gpa, scores, rank – will neither get you in nor keep you out of Williams. Let’s just say they are neutral. Being a white female from a “crowded” demographic is probably more of a negative. So the question is how to move your intangibles – EC’s, recommendations, essays, life experience and any other points of differentiation – into the positive column? </p>
<p>It sound like you’ve got the recs and essay nailed, so you should focus on your ECs and how you present yourself.</p>
<p>Williams likes kids with interest in multiple humanites. They need artists and writers just as much as they need foot ball players so don’t underestimate the value of these talents. Will your portfolio just be photography or cover other media as well? </p>
<p>I’d consider putting together an arts package that showcases your accomplishments, both in studio art and writing. This could include a resume of your awards, achievements, courses; examples of your work (the slide portfolio and if you like some of your writing), maybe a recommendation from an arts instructor or mentor.</p>
<p>Figure skating is also a Williams-appropriate EC, so don’t let this get lost in your application. (I don’t know much about the figure skating club except that it exists.) This can be a demanding sport and certainly takes you out of the non-athlete category. I think that Williams favors kids who are physically active, not just team athletes, and figure skating would be a good fit.</p>
<p>Momrath's advice is really good. I think Williams wants to see applicants who will add a lot to the community and will take advantage of opportunities that the school and its surrounds offer. </p>
<p>Did you notice the instruction about the early deadline for getting the art material in? Look on the website for application instructions. Your portfolio is probably where you should be putting your focus right now.</p>
<p>Look into the figure skating club (try the search function on the website, email the athletic office) -- if you can find out more about it, it may be easier to figure out how to present it best. </p>
<p>As for taking the SAT I, I can't imagine enjoying it, but it might help.</p>
<p>i applied early, and didnt know about the early portfolio thing until after the deadline !! but i called and they said it'd be okay if I rushed it. it was like $15 but hopefully worth it! </p>
<p>my sat lit and math both went up by 10 points. hahaha its not an astonishing improvement but i'll take it...
and i'm taking math again, and french this weekend. fun.</p>
<p>I don't really have anything to say except that I feel like you and everyone else who has posted chances on here seems like they've worked really hard in high school and put a lot of time and effort in...I wouldn't want to have to choose who to accept-- too many well-qualified applicants! </p>