<p>ECs: 70 hours of hospital volunteer work, looking to do more, will have 50 additional hours or so for a school requirement (50 of the hospital hours were used to fulfill our 100 hour service requirement), Italian club (running for president next year), science club, Park district softball since I was six til age 15 (can’t do it this year because of severe knee injuries that resulted in surgery a month ago, which also caused me to lose my volunteer spot at the hospital), NHS, Italian NHS, free-lance Italian tutoring</p>
<p>Awards: published poet, NHS and Italian NHS, Principal’s Honor Roll (99%+) for 4 semesters, Italian Achievement Award junior year (I skipped a level of Italian, from III to IV)</p>
<p>APs: English Language (4), Bio, Calc AB, English Literature (Collegeboard cut AP Italian)
Everything else has been honors except for history (my worst subject) and our required religion courses, which I have high A’s in. And foreign language which I have 100%.</p>
<p>Dear foxysoxy804 : Congratulations regarding your early decision to apply to the nursing program. During a recent visit to Boston College, I read the story of how the school came to be named and it was certainly interesting material. Some of the details can be found at this link : [About</a> Us - Connell School of Nursing - Boston College](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/son/aboutus.html]About”>http://www.bc.edu/schools/son/aboutus.html)</p>
<p>As for your background, your averages certainly indicate a strong academic orientation. Given your desire to enter the nursing program, there is a wish that your ACT Science scores were standouts. Also, your Bio AP score (none provided) in addition to a Chemistry AP program might add extra punch to an ACT score (31) which is in the second quartile overall.</p>
<p>The fact that your extra curricular “volunteerism” includes hospital work is inspiring - I wish we had known that it was coming from your own individual passion as opposed to servicing a school requirement. In the end game, I suppose that it does not matter given that you are likely doing noble work, however the presentation of why you are doing these programs is as important as the programs themselves. Hopefully, the subtley to which I elude comes through here.</p>
<p>Now, let’s point out some elements that are missing in your profile : there are no leadership positions that have been established (even as of yet within the Italian Club), sports seem to be hampered by an injury sustained at 15, and there are no musics or fine arts programs listed to demonstrate a broader resume. Overall, your AP load is light compared to some (two english exams, one science, Calc AB).</p>
<p>In summary, the raw numbers are there but the elements that might make you a “wow candidate” to add to the overall campus seem to be missing. Probably the best way of asking the question might be as follows : “What passion for clubs/activities do you have that everyone is going to want to follow your lead?”</p>
<p>Thank you for the fabulous reply! I honestly did not sign up to volunteer at the hospital for school; I did it because I wanted to see if I should follow my dreams of becoming a doctor, but instead I discovered an entirely new dream that is much better suited for me: nursing. My main essay/personal statement is entirely dedicated to my lifechanging experience at the hospital.</p>
<p>Our school is really light in APs.We only offer two AP classes for juniors. I’m definitely not strong in the sports areas for two obvious reasons: I’m not athletic and I’ve been dealing with a serious injury for a year. Fine arts…I can play the flute…I don’t play in the high school band but I still know how to play and sometimes play modern music in my free time. Does this count? Lol.</p>
<p>scottj has offered some valuable suggestions, especially with respect to how you might present the info about your volunteer service at the hospital. Don’t feel that you need to show interest in all areas of ECs (sports, music or other fine arts, etc.) but it is important that you show that you can offer more than just great academic performance, because BC is looking for students who will contribute to the overall campus community. Perhaps your fluency in Italian – participation (and hopefully a leadership position this year) with the Italian Club, your tutoring experiences – is something you can expand upon in your application.</p>
<p>With the additional info you provided in your last post about your school’s lack of AP offerings, you’re probably fine with your AP course load. However, if your school does offer AP bio or AP chem, I would strongly advise you to take one of those if you can, as that would certainly complement your application for nursing school.</p>