<p>I am a senior, and I was recently just rejected from Northwestern Early Decision to Medill. I know that I am not valdeldictorian or perfect 2400 sats or anything, but my essays were very very good. I had been in contact with my northwestern admissions officer through email, and I sent them two articles that I have written supplementally and two activites sheets. I showed a lot of passion through my application, even though I had less than stellar grades (those were explained in my recommendations from Guidance Counselor and teacher). I am also a minority (African American). I thought I may have had somewhat of a chance, and the rejection email did shake me up a bit. But life goes on. I just hope I get Barnard. I have explained that Barnard is my my number one choice as of now. My recommendations explained all that I have had to go through during my high school years, such as having a terminally ill father and a mother who has been intstutionalized three times, and also a breast cancer survivor. This is on top of my own kidney disease that I have been born with.It has been hard generally thoughout my life with both households, except before high school I was a perfect student getting mostly A+'s and always getting the best grades in my class, but as I got to high school, things had gotten worse. It has been hard throughout high school, especially last year, because there would be times in which both households were not exactly the greatest for me to live in, so it was really a struggle. I had even applied to boarding school last year with the help from my cousin, because I had needed to get away. (I didn't end up getting in, because they do not normally except seniors ever). So, my low GPA (3.0 out of 4, and 3.5 out of 5), has been explained. I have taken a total of 8 regular college preporatory courses, 17 honors, and one AP (World History). </p>
<p>I have excellent extracurricular activites, (Violin since third grade, part of string orchestra, pit orchesta for musicals, and full orchestra, also junior year I was member of the music honors society. I have also been a copy editor for the school paper in tenth grade, and contributing writer in 11th and 12 grades. Ever article I have written for the paper has been published, and our paper has won an Honorable Mention each of the last four years at the annual conference of the New England Scholastic Press Association. I am also president/creator of my high school STAND chapter, which is an antigenocide coalition) My volunteering hours have been about 220 altogether. I guess my point is that I believe that intellectually I am far above my peers at school, and clearly my grades do not reflect this, although they are explained. My SAT score was 1720 out of 2400, so that was not too great either, however my essays I feel are the strongest part of my application. </p>
<p>I show my mature and intellectual ability through my writing, and I hope the admissions officers can see this. I want them to see that I would really thrive at Barnard. I also just had an interview two days ago and the interviewer (alumna), said my "enthusiasm and inquisitiveness made quite an impression on her" and that I "would fit right in at Barnard". I hope that the Barnard admissions officers can see that I am capable of suceeding at the college. I feel that I am a very strong young woman and I hope that Barnard can see this.
My parents seem convinced I will not get in ANYWHERE. Do you think that Barnard may accept me and that I may have a chance? I also had interviews at Wellesley and an alumna interview for Bryn Mawr. My Wellesley inteview went well, and my Bryn Mawr interview went great and it lasted an hour! I have a Smith interview next week with a volunteer from the Black Alumni of Smith College Association, which should go very well. I have also requested a uchicago alumni interview. </p>
<p>I am taking the Feb ACT (I scored perfect on the science section practice test, and 33 out of 36 on the math). I seem to do well on the act practice tests. Normally on standardized test practice I do the same on the practice as I do on the actual test. I will most likely be in the range of a composite score of somwhere around 31-33 out of 36. How much do you think this will help me? (I am sending the ACT score Feb date to Barnard, Uchicago, Bryn Mawr, and USC). Most of my admissions officers said that they would most likely not receive the scores for the ACT in time, but I am welcome to send them anyway just in case they might get them. Uchicago though, always accepts Feb ACT scores.</p>
<p>My recommendations in general are very strong. I have my current Russian Lit teacher writing one, of whom I have one of the highest grades in his class, and my spanish teacher of whom I had for two years in high school. My Guidance counselor said she really advocated for me and wrote a very strong recommendation, and said that there is a lot of unmet potential that has been met during high school. She had written to the colleges that I would do very well at their schools.</p>
<p>Overall, my supplemental essays for all are very fantastic. My personal statement is very good as well.</p>
<p>Below are the schools I am applying to. What do you think my chances of admission are at these schools?</p>
<p>Barnard
Bryn Mawr
Wellesley
Smith
Uchicago
Umass Amherst (I am from MA) or UNH (I don't know which I should apply to out of these two)
DePaul
University of Southern Cal
Tulane
Mills in CA (I am considering applying here, but I don't need to apply til March)</p>