Do I have a chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I plan on applying early decision to Dartmouth but I am seriously worried about my chances. Dartmouth is absolutely my number 1 choice and I would like to know if there is any hope at all of my acceptance. I do have backup schools, including Johns Hopkins and BC, but this is where I know I want to go.</p>

<p>Interested fields:
Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy</p>

<p>SAT scores:
SAT I - 2190 (680 cr, 770 m, 740 w) (I plan on taking this again in October)
SAT II: Math II - 800, Physics - 800, Chemistry - 710, Biology M - 710</p>

<p>Junior Year GPA:
3.8 unweighted
4.4 weighted
top 10%</p>

<p>AP taken:
Physics B - 5, European History - 5, US History - 4, Lang and Comp - 4.</p>

<p>Classes taking senior year:
AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Chem, AP Lit and Comp, AP Chinese (First time being offered at my school. I am one of two people selected to take this class, and one of the first of non-asian descent to take this in the state), Religion (I go to a Catholic school)</p>

<p>Sports:
Local Ice Hockey - 2001-present
Local Lacrosse - 2007-2009
JV Lacrosse - 2008
JV Ice Hockey - 2007-2008
JV Cross Country - 2009-present
JV Track - 2010</p>

<p>EC's:
National Honor Society - 2009-present
School Newspaper Copy Editor - (will be appointed this year)
Freshman Math Team - 2007-2008 (highest scorer)
Varsity Math Team - 2007-present
Improv Club - 2009-2010
Ultimate Frisbee Club - 2007-present
Science Club - 2010</p>

<p>I am currently working on building a Newtonian reflector telescope in my free time and am teaching myself to play guitar</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
Special Olympics Summer Games - 2008, 2009, 2010
Special Olympics Winter Games - 2009
Student Ambassador (Help out at school functions with visitors and possible students) - 2007-present
School Service Opportunities (Catholic school, so there are a lot) - 2008, 2009, 2010
Learn to Skate Coach - 2007-present
Local Parish Clean-Up - 2008
Senior Leader for Freshmen - 2010-2011</p>

<p>Work:
Ice Hockey Scorekeeper - 2009-present</p>

<p>Recommendations:
Chinese teacher - Had every year since freshman year
Math team coach - Dartmouth alumnus/valedictorian of class of 1971, had as teacher twice</p>

<p>I also travel overseas quite frequently, if that would affect my chances at all. My family owns an apartment in Venice, Italy that we rent out while we are away so we go there at least once a year. I have also traveled to England, Scotland, and Wales multiple times, as well as Poland, where I have family.</p>

<p>I'm open to criticism...is there any shred of hope?</p>

2

<p>State? Ethnicity?</p>

3

<p>I also skipped a grade so I am a year younger than everyone in my class.</p>

4

<p>Massachusetts/white male</p>

5

<p>A good essay about your participation in the Special Olympics would help. why have you helped out there? You need to think about what sets you apart from the rest–what is your hook?</p>

6

<p>I suppose there’s really no specific reason that I do it…I don’t know anyone involved with it. My father works for Raytheon and they sponsor the event so that is why I became involved in the first place. I enjoy doing service, but I always kept the importance of volunteer work on a college application in the back of my mind. I was already thinking of putting that in my essay. Another topic I am considering is my viewpoint of collaboration between religion and science, which is important to me and of which I have written about in the past.</p>