<p>Emory is my dream school. It is exactly what I want, exactly where I want it. I'm willing to work however hard I need to to get in there. However, I'm afraid what I have may not be enough.</p>
<p>My unweighted G.P.A. is 3.83, ACT (sans writing) is 31, SAT is 1940, and I've taken all the AP classes I could have taken at my school so far (USH, Lang, Gov't). I got a 3 on the USH and I'll receive my Lang and Gov't scores in July and I feel as though I did considerably better on those, hopefully a 5 and a 4, respectively. My freshmen and sophomore years I was involved in Interact, until it unfortunately dissipated at my school, due to the lack of a sponsor. I was nominated by the former Interact sponsor to go to the Hugh O'Brian Youth leadership program the summer after my sophomore year and went. A semester of my sophomore year I was the photographer for the yearbook. My junior year, I entered the advanced theatre class and was involved with all 5 of our productions, as well as attending the State Thespian Conference and joining our theatre program's student-organized Improvisational Theatre Troupe, which I performed in all 3 Improv shows with. I am becoming the Librarian/Historian for the theatre club (Thespians Society) for next year. I am co-leading the Improv Troupe next year and also helping to incorporate a new element with improv theatre, clowning and physical comedy. A debate team was established at my school, and I joined, attending several debate tournaments and student congresses. Also in my junior year, I was enrolled in the advanced visual arts class, and joined the National Art Honors Society. I have been voted to become an officer for my senior year. I had my photography published in my school's literary magazine this year. I was commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program for my PSAT score and submitted it to Emory. (One of two in my junior class to be commended.) Last summer, I worked at a Pediatrics office and I will be continuing this summer. I will be involved in a community theatre production of Annie this summer, and will hopefully soon be involved in a dance company. Also, I know Emory loves students who are excited about their school, so I am going to schedule three visits to Emory and one to Oxford this summer, and I have contacted their Admissions Office several times to request information.</p>
<p>My SAT score was a bit of a disappointment, as I made a 2100 in the SAT prep class practice test I took, so I am retaking it in June, as well as the ACT, this time with writing. I will be taking 3 SATII's in October (Math lv 2, French, and Lit), unfortunately I don't know if the scores will be back in time for Early Decision I. I am also self-studying this summer for AP Human, AP Psych, AP Calc AB, and perhaps AP Env. Sc. My course load next year will hopefully be two advanced theatre classes, an advanced art class, AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Lit, AP Econ, and either honors Calculus or Calculus at a nearby state university for dual-enrollment (My school, unfortunately, does not offer AP Calc) This will mean the only AP classes I haven't taken that are offered at my school would be AP Art and AP Env. Sc, discounting online courses.</p>
<p>I plan on applying to Emory college for Early Decision I in November, but I am a little terrified. Not only is there the threat of not getting in, but I'm also worried about the money. I'm a Georgia resident, so I get HOPE, but that only covers $3,000 for private schools. I plan on spending the entire summer applying for scholarships, but $33,900 is a lot for tuition alone, then another $13,000. Now my parents are willing to pay for some, but their idea is that college is not worth going into debt over, so they have basically said that unless i get a full ride, there is no guarantee that I can go to Emory. It is really practical for me to expect over $40,000 or even to expect to get into Emory?</p>