<p>I'm a Senior in line to be Valedictorian.
My gpa unweighted is 3.95 and weighted it's a 4.39
My ACT is 26, but I'm pretty sure I can get it up.
My EC's
Girl Scouts-2yrs
Sophomore Class Treasurer
Ignite Mentor-1yr
I started a club called Community Care Committee- been up for 3 yrs and I was president the whole time
Science Club-2 yrs. VP then Prez Won 7th place and 4th at regional Science Olympiad for two different competitions
FBLA- 2 yrs. 4th place for regional event, school parliamentarian, then Treasurer
NHS-1 yr. I was in the Honor Guard
Art Club-1yr Treasurer
Summer School-2 summers
Job Shadowed the other summer
Classes: I've taken all the available AP classes and one college class at a community college. I've petitioned for AP Calculus at my school and I'm the only one taking AP Spanish (independent study).
Possible hooks:
First one to graduate from a traditional high school and attend college
Being Puerto Rican in a predominantly Mexican area (Arizona) and the stuff I've learned
Family problems that I've had to put up with</p>
<p>BTW, I'm applying Early Decision</p>
<p>Also, do any of the hooks look like good essays? If so which ones?</p>
<p>My teacher recs are great both of my teachers have known me for four years, both have taught me an honors class, both have taught me an AP class, one is from NHS, and the other is from CCC.</p>
<p>You look like a very competitive applicant--especially if you're applying EA--but no-one can tell you any more than that. </p>
<p>Unless you have a really interesting or tragic personal story that won't get across in any other part of the application, I'm a big fan of writing about something that really interests you, and getting that passion across to the adcoms. I mean, they're going to know from other parts of your app that you're the first in your family to attend college and that you're a Puerto Rican in Arizona, so unless either of those things have really fascinating stories attached to them (and they might!), I wouldn't write about them if I were you.</p>
<p>Really?! Someone told me to play the minority card. Anyhow, I'm really interested in reading. My fav author is JD Salinger. Would that be a good topic? Thanks for your input!</p>
<p>here's how I look at admissions into an ivy league. most people are playing affirmative action, be it through minority status, connections, or athletics.</p>
<p>do everything you can do. who cares if someone tells you you got in because of being puerto rican. you were smart and took the chance.</p>
<p>I would say you have an 80% chance because mexican american, puerto rican, and native americans get relatively few... < 5% of the entire 20,000 applicants... (realistically)</p>
<p>i wouldn't write about your heritage. it's obvious since you are puerto rican. write about something else, not the trite essay of "culture"</p>
<p>Thank you so much. I was thinking I might submit my anti-death penalty paper or write a new one on Salinger. I just am at a loss when it comes to the essay. Should it be serious or humurous. What are they looking for? I know it's probably one of the most important parts of the application, but I'm at a complete loss.</p>
<p>Your ACT is very weak, even with minority status. You need to get up in the 32+ range to have a good shot. First generation college is a big boost. Get the scores up and write a good essay and you'll have a good shot.</p>
<p>I go to Cienega. The SAT guessing penalty catches me all the time. I scored a 48 on the PSAT math section and a 56 on the verbal. However, I'm taking the SAT this Saturday.</p>
<p>If you can write funny, go ahead, write funny. I wrote a humorous essay. I've been on adcoms before, and it's definitely nice to read an essay that's genuinely funny or different. (However, some people trying to be funny can go overboard and make themselves sound like total weirdos instead. Don't do that.) Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you have to be totally serious. However, you should also have a point to your essay, and if you're writing on something like being against the death penalty, then it might be hard to write a funny essay about that. </p>
<p>If you're talking about submitting a paper you wrote for class, I would say, probably not such a good idea, since you really want to write about yourself. If you're writing about the death penalty, for example, don't just submit an argumentative essay--write one about how you've been involved in activism, or something along those lines.</p>
<p>Studying for the standardized tests would help. A <em>LOT</em>. I doubt there's much time left to practice on your SATs, but if you think you can bring your ACT up, seriously work on that.</p>
<p>He has a good shot with a 26? I am Puerto Rican with a stellar transript and a bit higher comparative SAT scores and people are brutally murdering me here at CC! Are you guys being sincere!!!??</p>