Chances - Rising Junior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone! I’m a rising junior, so obviously some of the information I couldn’t completely fill out. Since I'm not quite to the stage where I'll be applying, feel free to add comments on how I could improve my chances as well! Thanks!
A couple quick notes - my course load and extracurriculars for senior year are just predicted! Additionally, in my school district we don’t start on campus at the high school until sophomore year, so that’s why some of my extracurriculars are only 10-12.</p>

<p>Potential Schools: Georgia Institute of Technology, Duke University, Rice University, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Marquette University</p>

<p>Intended Major: Biomedical Engineering</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.1 W
Class Rank: 1 of 517
PLAN: 26 (Projected 28-32)
PSAT: will be taking in Oct 2013
ACT: will be taking in Fall 2013
SAT: will be taking in Fall 2013
AP Courses: US History (4)</p>

<p>Course Load:
Freshman Year: Advanced Introduction to English 1-2, Accelerated Geometry, Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Physical Education, Advanced Environmental/Physical Science, Advanced Civics 1-2, Introduction to Engineering Design, Spanish 3, Health
Sophomore Year: Introduction to Literature, Advanced Composition 1, Accelerated Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, Orchestra, Physical Education, Biology 1-2, AP US History, Principles of Engineering, Spanish 4
Junior Year: American Literature, Speech Communication, AP Language and Composition, Orchestra, Accelerated Chemistry, AP Psychology, AP Government and Politics: US, Spanish 5, Pre-calculus, Physics, Personal Finance
Senior Year (Intended): AP Literature and Composition, AP Spanish 6, Orchestra, AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Government and Politics: Comparative, Adventure Leadership, AP Chemistry, AP Biology</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Student Senate (9-12): Conference Chair (11), President (9)
State Student Senate (9-12): State President (11), Region President (11), Region Secretary (10), Region President (9)
Spanish Club (10-12): Co-President (11)
Forensics (9-12): 1st at State (9), 2nd at State (10), Co-Captain (12)
Orchestra (9-12): School Orchestra First Chair (9-12), Community Orchestra (9-12), 1st at State Competition (10), ____ (10-12) – Not comfortable sharing the name of this club, Secretary (11), Project Chair (11)
Tennis (9-12)
Student Ambassador (10-12)
Key Club (10-12)
Youth In Government (10-12)
County Teen Leadership (10 – only a sophomore program)
National Honor Society (11-12)</p>

<p>Community Activities:
Founder of a Non-Profit – I’m not comfortable giving too many details, but it has impacted nearly 5,000 families in my area and has involved over 500 youth volunteers.
I serve on 2 National Youth Advisory Councils for non-profit organizations.
Youth Representative on County Literacy Council
Boys and Girls Club volunteer
Church volunteer
500+ volunteer hours</p>

<p>Employment:
Lifeguard this summer (10-12)
Service leader at an area church (10-12)</p>

2

<p>Wow! You’re a really competitive applicant!</p>

<p>With those stats, and assuming you get 28-32 on your ACT…
-Georgia Institute of Technology: high match
-Duke University: low reach
-Rice University: low reach
-Stanford University: high reach
-Northwestern University: low reach
Washington University in St. Louis: mid reach
-University of Virginia: high match
-University of Wisconsin-Madison: mid match
-University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: mid match
-Marquette University: mid match</p>

<p>You should shoot for at least 34 on your ACT, and then you’ll have great chances at all these schools.</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

3

<p>Thanks! Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>Everything look good, but you should work very hard to prep for the tests this Summer. For some of the schools on the list, you really need to exceed the PLAN prediction of ACT. Make sure you have reached a plateau before taking the real test. Don’t rush in to take in Fall if you are not ready. Ideally, you just need to finish taking them by March/April and then focus on AP exam. Why you have so many classes each year. I also see you are taking chem & Physics in Junior and then all AP sciences in Senior. Is that your school policy? I am not sure how well the Junior Chem and Physics classes will prepare you for the subject tests. For you intended major, you should take Math2 and one science in SAT2.</p>

5

<p>Thanks! I appreciate the advice about testing! What would you suggest for test prep? I’ve been going through a couple study books, but is there anything else I should be doing?
Regarding the sciences, at my school you’re required to take the regular science class before you can take the AP science class. So if I want to take AP Chem and AP Physics, I have to take Accelerated Chem and regular Physics this year.</p>

6

<p>For test prep, just do a bunch timed full practice tests. Make sure you go through the answers and explanations for those you’ve missed. You probably need more than a couple books. You will see how your scores improved and decide whether you need more practice tests. You are lucky that you have that many hours at school. My D’s school only has 6+1 hours. She has a couple years of general science as introduction on everything and started taking AP in science from junior. It would be a little bit hard for you to take the subject tests in Junior particularly with unrelated AP exams. Anyway, definitely take at least two in June. You should do fine in Math2 as you will be taking pre-calc. Try a couple practice tests in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in Spring and see which one you do better than focus on that one. You can decide which second (or third) subject to test even at the spot.</p>

7

<p>Great, thanks! I really appreciate your advice!
Yes, we are definitely very lucky to have 7 hours in a day. The unfortunate part is how many required classes we have to take, like physical education, health, speech, etc.</p>

8

<p>7 Hours a day? you listed 10 classes per year. Do you have a trimester system at school?</p>

9

<p>Nope, just semesters! Some classes are only semester classes, and freshman year we had 8 hours a day. Additionally, I’ve taken a summer school class both freshman and sophomore year and plan to junior year as well.</p>

10

<p>I see. I forgot about Summer classes. Your course load look reasonable rigorous. Your senior year may make you crazy. You better have all your school applications prepared in the summer before the term start or you would not have time to write good essays. Also, I don’t see any computer science class in your list.</p>

11

<p>My school doesn’t offer computer science besides basic Microsoft applications, do you think I should be taking a computer class?</p>

12

<p>Not essential, but it looks good for engineering school. You may need to do a lot of programming in ENG101 so it would get you better prepared for college if it is available at your school.</p>

13

<p>Alright, thanks!</p>

14

<p>Anyone else?</p>

15

<p>Key club membership is really helpful, I’m told ;)</p>

16

<p>Cool! It’s a great club to be a part of, I love it!</p>

17

<p>Any other opinions?</p>