<p>Im a high school junior in norcal and my conselor (who happened to be at school for the first time in ages!) told me to start thinking about college. I was like, ok?stats:</p>
<p>male (haitian american)
sat i: 1690
sat ii: Spanish (780), French (710), German (690), gonna take math ii and literature
APs: French (3), Spanish lang (4), APWorld (2), AP spanish lit (2),
GPA: 3.786
Rank: top20% small, competitive school</p>
<p>ECs(just got an update):
-109.4 hours from volunteerig at my former elementart school at the afterschol programme(sophmore year)
-102 hours from home work help at community resource centre in the library(junior year)
-45hrs kiwins community help (club just started this year)
-President of KIWINS club
-badminton 2yrs
-Cross country 3yrs
-language tutor (freshman+sophmore on saturdats/sndays)
-President of chocolate club 4th (junior year)
-Regional recognitions for spanish and french accoplishments</p>
<p>hook?:
-Im <em>proficient</em>(not fluent, except spanish and kreyol) in Spanish, French, Haitian Kreyol, Geramn, Korean and Tagalog. I also know a little Japanese and Portuguese because the other languages makes it easier to know those.
-Good writer? (what im told)</p>
<p>major: linguistics</p>
<p>So do i have <em>shot</em> at this school or should i lower my standards</p>
<p>So, you have good E.C.'s (that’s the good news). The bad news: your SAT score is too low, you GPA isn’t too competitive, and it doesn’t really matter that you’re proficient in multiple languages. It looks like you’re relying way too much on your language abilities. Your skills look good, but what about other academic disciplines? The low SAT score makes it look like your only strength is linguistics. </p>
<p>IF you can bring up your SAT score (try for at least 1800), AND you do well on the SAT II Math and Literature tests, you have a chance. Keep in mind that I had a friend with a 1950 SAT score, a 770 and 740 on the SAT II’s (math and literature, respectively), and about six AP’s and got rejected. So even with good stats, you can’t count on getting in. </p>
<p>Also, it doesn’t matter that you’re Haitian American (i’m just saying, for future reference). Unless, of course, your background has created major hardships for you.</p>
<p>Ethnic background can matter in scholarships though (just to let you know in case you get in)</p>
<p>I agree, try and bring up your GPA and SAT. Maybe take some CC classes this summer.</p>
<p>Coming from my personal experience, it really depends how you will make yourself stand out.</p>
<p>My GPA weighted was around 3.4 and my SAT’s were in the 1500s, but I got in to UC Davis nonetheless. I think it’s because of my personal statements. I discoursed a specific struggle in my life that I overcame. Note that you should not focus mainly on your struggle but how you overcame it and how it changed you as a person. Furthermore, as opposed to being involved in numerous things SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT. Colleges appreciate your commitment to a certain club or organization as opposed to spreading yourself too thin. </p>
<p>I’ve seen a handful of hardworking smart students who got rejected by UCLA or CAL because they focused too much on their studies and never had that unique factor in them. YES, they surpassed the qualifications with their superior grades and SAT scores but they were just like every other applicant who achieved the same thing. What matters is your personal statement. Not just your competency as a writer but how well you express yourself and the weight of your story.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. </p>
<p>Last note: Ask numerous people to read and comment on your personal statement ie. college friends, teachers and counselors. My personal statement had to at least go through more than 10+ revisions. START EARLY!</p>