Sorry to annoy anyone with the typical “chance me” post. I’m new here and would like to know where I am in comparison to the applicant pool. I genuinely don’t know if I have a realistic chance at very selective schools. Here’s my resume so far:
Going into junior year
PSAT: 173, looking to bring that up of course
SAT/ACT: taking the old SAT in December, taking the ACT in February and June and September if needed, and taking the new SAT in October of my senior year due to my athletic schedule, missing one practice even for testing during on season is frowned upon
SAT subject tests: took Math 1 just to see where I was, got a 480. Though I half-assed the studying and ultimately half-assed the test. It was 4 days after my HAlg 2 final. I’m taking Physics and Math 2 in June which is why I can’t take the new SAT in June. I’m trying to figure out when to take English and Spanish.
GPA: 3.7 unweighted 4.1 weighted
Rank: school doesn’t do it
School type: Catholic high school in the suburbs but a 10 minute drive over a nearby bridge to the city. Around 760 kids. Best in the area, though only 1-2 people go Ivy each year. Sometimes none, like this year. Valedictorian got into Duke salutatorian got rejected from Princeton and is going to Drexel instead
Junior year classes: Church History 1 and 2 (required), Health 3 (required), Honors PreCalc, AP Physics 1, Orchestra (yes it’s a class), Honors English 3, APUSH, Honors Spanish 4, and AP Psychology
EC’s: this will be my 2nd year in Amnesty International, I will be eligible for a spot in the leadership circle that basically runs the club. My 3rd year in Mock Trial, I’ll be trying out for a starting lawyer. 2nd year in Robotics where I’ll shift to the business team, I was on electrical last year and was inspired by this women in engineering day I attended. 3rd year Philosophy club, we compete in an Ethics bowl. Friends of Rachel, created after a girl who died in a school shooting with a emphasis on being kind to everyone. SADD, 3rd year. Tri-M Honor Society 2nd year. Spanish Honor Society 2nd year. I am eligible for NHS.
I’m in Amnesty bc the issue of trafficking has come to my attention, especially how underrated it is. It’s modern slavery yet most people I talk to about it aren’t as adamant as their ancestors were back in the day when our country had slaves. Though I do not wish for another war I’d like to bring an end to trafficking. Long term goal yes but not impossible.
I’m in mock trial bc what started out as an interest in being a lawyer turned into a love for the aspects of the competition. You have to be attentive, ask good questions, answer them correctly, call out the other team and know what objection to use when necessary, dress up nicely, etc. This year we were division champs for the first time in 8 years of our school’s history and I can’t put into words the joy we all felt when finding that out. Though we didn’t make it to states, we put up a good fight.
Robotics really opened my eyes to how hard it is to actually build a robot with the wiring and programming and actual physical structure. It helped me learn I’m not gifted with technology but instead with reaching out to sponsors and convincing them to sponsor us. So that’s what I aim to do all this year as well as coordinate practices and competitions.
Philosophy club is more ethics based and really makes you reflect on your decisions in life, past present and future, and which ones are the “right” ones. The ethics bowl presents each team with a case and gives them a couple minutes to pick an argument and argue how it’s the “right” one using ethic principles. This will be my first year participating in the bowl. We don’t go every year.
FOR is self explanatory. Being kind to everyone isn’t easy but can make a difference in someone’s life. Same with SADD and warning someone of the consequences of dangerous decisions.
Athletics: I do crew. I rowed my freshman year, became a coxswain that summer bc I’m 5’1 and 115-120lbs. I just finished my novice year of coxing so no boats to brag about. I did a summer program for 6 weeks last year and am doing another 6 week one this year. I hope to be recruited for collegiate rowing though I haven’t decided whether I’d like to cox girls or guys. I cannot miss practices on weekends during spring season because those are usually race days. It is technically a year round sport. Winter is conditioning. Fall is the long 5k races as opposed to 1.5k in the spring. Summer is to stay in shape and have an edge for back to school. Next summer I’m going to try out for PennAC and SEJ definitely. Fingers crossed. I’m looking to see how much it’ll cost at CRI, Saugatuck, Saratoga and Sarasota.
Music: I’ve been playing piano since kindergarten, only classical. No competitions since my teacher was and still is local. Though it’s become great anger management and the sound is beautiful. I teach kids locally since my parents finally invested in a grand piano. I don’t ask them to pay me though, I love teaching the kids. I play piano in orchestra but I’m going to take violin lessons soon so I can get into pit orchestra for the school play.
Other: I volunteer for a pediatric facility every Sunday for two hours. I basically entertain the kids there since their parents don’t have time to 24/7.
Last but not least, personal: I’m Asian (Filipino) and part Spanish. I live in south jersey. I’m the older of 2. Parents came to the U.S. 2 years before I was born to give me a better life. So they have no idea what the hell is going on with the colleges here. Dad is an oncologist, mom is a nurse. Financial aid would be nice but I won’t qualify so no to that. The public school in my area is so bad it’s not even ranked in the state.
I have a list of 18 colleges and I don’t know how to narrow it down because again I don’t know where I am. Here’s the list: All the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Georgetown, Vandy, Notre Dame, Duke, Michigan, Oxbridge, Bucknell, USC
Any comments tips suggestions etc would be highly appreciated