<p>Ok, so I plan on applying ED in January, which should improve my chances, but I am not sure if it would put me over the edge.
Academics: I have a 3.5 high school gpa at a nationally recognized high school for its rigorous academics and my weighted gpa is 4.0.</p>
<p>Prospective majors: Neuroscience/Neurobiology and German</p>
<p>The following is my course schedule all through high school, including grades for both semesters. (CC) means that I received community college credit for it because many of the classes were audited for credit.
Freshman year: Honors accelerated Chemistry/Physics B/B, German I/II (CC) A/A, Honors World Civ. A/B, Honors English and Speech B/B, Honors Geometry B/C (One “C”) shouldn’t hurt me too bad hopefully, especially since I can attribute it to health reasons. I also took World Politics at a college and received a B and Western Civ. and got a D, but the class syllabus was not correct and often times, the professor gave us misinformation and more health issues, and as long as I am descriptive, the admissions office at Brandeis said it should not be a problem.</p>
<p>Sophomore year (I had health problems, as I have said, affecting my two first years in high school, and I know it should not be an excuse, but perhaps it will help deflect the very low grades): German III/IV (CC) A/A, Honors American Lit. B/B, Honors Algebra II B/B, Marine Biology blocked for three periods (CC) A/A </p>
<p>Junior year: AP Chemistry (CC) B/B, AP Stats (CC) A/A, AP English Lang. (CC) B/B, AP German V (CC) A/A, AP American History (CC) A/A, Marine Biology II (CC) A/A, Honors Precalculus B/B. I also took psychology at a local college and received an A in it.</p>
<p>Senior year (next year’s schedule): AP Env. Sci (CC), AP Lit. (CC), Marine Bio (CC and advanced independent study), AP Biology (CC), AP Physics (CC), AP Government (CC), AP Macroeconomics (CC).
I will be obtaining my AA degree in December, just retaking Western Civ. and taking Speech. Right now, I have 70 college credits with a 3.5 college gpa.</p>
<p>Test scores:
SAT Math: 690
SAT Verbal and writing: 610 each
ACT:26
I took the ACT my sophomore year, so I could do a lot better if I retake it this year. My SATs are the biggest thing hindering me from acceptance. I have excessive anxiety, especially when I take the tests, so I just need to relax. I am not too worried about my math score or my writing score because I know the writing score is not as looked upon, but it wouldn’t hurt bringing it up. So I’m kind of anxious about that… </p>
<p>Extracurricular activities:
Central Campus Marine Biology - Lab supervisor - 200+
Quiz Bowl - Team Captain
Central Campus - Student Ambassador - 40+
Marine Biology - Teaching assistant
Ecology Trip to Florida - Participant - Three weeks
Cultural immersion trip to Germany - participant - two weeks
Employment - Coffee-maker and other - 20 hours a week
Employment - Grocery store clerk - 15 hours a week for two and a half years.
Scuba diving - assistant in helping others for certification - 50+
Independent - running to prepare for athletics in college and in some high school
Independent - Writing original poems and lyrics for others
National History Day</p>
<p>My school is not comprehensive, and nearly all students do not attend all day, so there are nearly zero extracurricular activities. The lab supervisor was something my teacher and I had to create. I also live in a very suburban and commercial area… and no e.c. chances within reasonable walking distance. My parents have problems driving me places because of their jobs and their hours. </p>
<p>My counselor can explain it all, and I am sure that she will write a GREAT recommendation for me, along with my teachers. I plan on applying ED, I think my essays are pretty good, and I plan on sending in additional writing supplements. I will be scheduling an interview and visit in October, so that will be out of the way. I know the test scores are bad, but can be somewhat attributed to health reasons… I will retake the SAT/ACT as many times as I can until applications in January. Thanks a lot!</p>