<p>Vassar and other high-ranking colleges will require 3-4 years of language, so you should arrange to take a foreign language in a community college, perhaps over the summer (be aware that 1 semester of college language = 2 years of high school language, so that you’d be enrolled in Spanish 2 in college, then perhaps you could schedule Spnaish 3 college as an evening class for the Spring semester? Spring rather than Fall because Fall will be very busy with applications - think of apps as an extra class). Your guidance counselor should explain how you had no choice but to stop Spanish at level 2… yet had enough drive to find a Spanish class to take.</p>
<p>That’s the only problem I see with your curriculum; your grades are excellent and you’re obviously both talented in art and strong in other subjects, your test scores sound good too.</p>
<ul>
<li>After school science research classes => keep doing it, but will it lead to something? Might you be able to present something at a high school conference, to participate in a science competition?</li>
<li>Same thing for the paid internship at Columbia: it’s impressive on its own, but will it lead to something such as presenting at a science fair, a high school or even undergraduate conference, etc? - furthermore, would a supervisor be able to write you a recommendation (beside your guidance counselor’s and your teachers’ recommendation, you’ll be allowed one “extra” and that would be very important)</li>
<li>ceramics club => have you exhibited anything? Or donated pots for a “day of empty plates” (ie., students take a plate, pot, jar… and donate the cost of lunch instead of eating, and the money is given to a food pantry)? Can your creations be sold (if you can get adults to buy your creations on a regular basis and make money off them, it’s considered as well as if you can have an exhibit).</li>
<li>making and selling tee shirts absolutely counts and shows both business acumen and creativity, two very good qualities to have and that colleges value! Now, do you sell them to classmates? random customers (in a store, ie., you have an agreement with someone in a local store?) Or just to your relatives (less impressive, obviously :p)</li>
</ul>
<p>One key element that’s missing is financial: run the Net Price calculator on your state flagship’s website (SUNY Bing or Geneseo?), on Vassar, on FIT or a CUNY, on another private college. Bring the results to your parents: can they afford the “out of pocket” amount they see (before any loans)? Are they willing to pay? Will you need need-based financial aid? Will you need merit aid?</p>
<p>Since your top choice is Vassar and you know it’s a reach (reachable for you, but a reach anyway due to selectivity), you now need to find: 2 colleges you’re sure you can get into, like, and can afford (one will likely be your state’s public flagship or a local state college’s honors program); 3-5 colleges similar to Vassar but easier to get into and which you can afford.</p>
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