<p>I agree with Shay33. (Hi, Shay!) Think about awards or honors that you can obtain through your own efforts. For example, my daughter submitted her IQ score (from an IQ test when she was nine or ten years old) to Mensa, and she was accepted for membership. Voila! Another honor to add to her college apps (and an honor that proves she’s smart, which is something schools are always happy to know). </p>
<p>If you’re a URM and interested in science or math, you can easily become a National Ventures Scholar. A lot of schools are affiliated with the Ventures Scholars program, so when they see the name it means something to them. Check out their website.</p>
<p>If you have a chance, get some of your poetry or creative writing published in the school lit mag or in an outside publication between now and when RD acceptances come out. Check out 826 Valencia or 826 National. They are very reputable and publish wonderful books several times a year. </p>
<p>If you didn’t submit an Arts Supplement the first time around, think about preparing and submitting one now. If you don’t think you’ll make the Jan. 15th RD decision date, call and ask your regional rep if you can send it in a bit later. My daughter had very little time to record a vocal arts CD, but she did it last minute. Her voice teacher at the Conservatory wrote a wonderful recommendation letter and my daughter prepared and submitted an extensive resume detailing her musical studies and performance background. Even if they say you can’t submit a CD past the deadline, you can still send in a polished looking music resume and a great rec from your music teacher(s).</p>
<p>When we visited campus, we arranged in advance for an interview and audition with the choral director, who promised to forward her comments to Admissions. If you have a chance to visit the campus and play or sing for a faculty member – and if you are definitely planning to use your musical talents in one of the college ensembles or as a music minor – that could help considerably. Ditto if you are a good swimmer and plan to swim for the college. Schools need athletes and they need musicians.</p>
<p>You could also consider getting an additional recommendation from a teacher whose class you got a questionable grade in mid-term, in which he/she praises you for your improved performance. Have your guidance counselor fax it in to add to your RD app. </p>
<p>If you haven’t had an interview yet, arrange for an alumnae interview in your area.</p>
<p>If you didn’t prepare a general resume of your extracurriculars, you could do it now. Remember to keep it to maybe three headings (my daughter’s headings were music, languages and literature and science, if I remember correctly) and you can list all the things you did in these areas even before high school (which is something the Common App doesn’t allow you to do. Of course, you’ll go into less detail about your musical background here than on your music resume.) For activities that my daughter has participated in CONTINUOUSLY over a long period, she listed things as far back as when she was in elementary school. This demonstrates passion and stick-to-it-iveness, two very attractive qualities in a Wellesley applicant. Although her guidance counselor cautioned her to keep her resumes to one page, her music resume actually filled two pages. I don’t think it would be so terrible to have a two-page general resume, either. </p>
<p>******* Good luck, thetownie! We’re all rooting for you! ********</p>