<p>Well, obviously I don’t work in the UW admissions office. So it’s hard for me to say exactly what you need to do to improve your application. But I think your stats are very good, especially your GPA. I had a slightly lower GPA than you (3.8) but a higher SAT score (2300). I got accepted for Fall 2009. Our course rigor was probably pretty similar. Our ECs were also similar. If you are truly having a panic attack about it (sounds like you are) you can contact your guidance counselor to see if s/he has statistics about the admitted students from your school. Maybe that would help you reassure yourself. You can also email UW admissions for tips.</p>
<p>As far as the foreign language, only two years are required for admission. And you have that. You can look here – [UW</a> Advising - Foreign Language](<a href=“http://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/degreeplanning/gebsrforlan.php]UW”>http://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/degreeplanning/gebsrforlan.php) – to see if you will complete the UW graduation requirements with your Vietnamese.</p>
<p>I think you are over-thinking things…UW looks at your whole application, they aren’t going to reject you simply because you didn’t take AP US History or whatever.</p>
<p>All right. How manageable do you think my senior schedule will be, providing I don’t procrastinate and such?</p>
<p>You want 3+ of foreign language though. </p>
<ol>
<li>it looks better</li>
<li>you aren’t required to take any foreign language at the UW</li>
</ol>
<p>Well, it’s really too late to change that now. Japanese is the hardest language at my school, and third and fourth years of Japanese are independent study only.</p>
<p>But overall, is it a pretty safe bet that I can get into UW? Keep in mind that I’m not actually in National Honor Society yet, nor do I have a job.</p>
<p>I don’t think being in NHS helps much because think about it, nearly everyone that gets into UW is either in NHS or qualifies to be in it. Admissions probably sees NHS on a ton of activity sheets.</p>
<p>Btw, I’m not in NHS nor did I qualify because of my GPA, but I still got in this year. ECs weren’t bad though in any sense.</p>
<p>Well, getting accepted is probably going to be even harder next year. With the stats that I have as of right now (including my planned senior year), what percent chance do you think I’ll have of getting in?</p>
<p>Honestly, it’s impossible for me to say your exact percent chance of getting accepted. I haven’t looked at how you “sold” your essays or activity sheet. The UW isn’t one of those schools where you can say “oh, this guy is for sure getting in”. If you want a better idea, look at the most recent “decisions thread”. It will give you a good idea.</p>
<p>^ I agree.</p>
<p>Here’s the recent decisions thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-washington/1101992-university-washington-2015-decisions-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-washington/1101992-university-washington-2015-decisions-thread.html</a></p>
<p>Like the poster above me said, it will give you an idea of what UW is looking for in an applicant.</p>
<p>Please don’t stress out too much! I’m sure you are a wonderful applicant so don’t worry too much about the tiniest things.</p>
<p>Wow, now I’m even less confident. By looking at those accepted applicants’ stats, it seems like extracurricular activities are even more important than grades, test scores, and academic rigor. For a school with a 50-60% acceptance rate, UW sure does make harsh cuts on some powerful, smart students.</p>
<p>It’s funny, because the College Board website says GPA, rigorous schedules, and the application essay are the most important. Not sure who to trust now…</p>
<p>Why does that make you less confident? Every single rejected or waitlisted person who posted in that thread has a lower GPA than you. A couple have slightly higher SAT scores, but you said you were planning to retake.</p>
<p>Those who didn’t get accepted:
3.2, 3.53, 3.2 </p>
<p>SAT I (breakdown): 520 reading, 560 math, 530 writing
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8 SAT I (breakdown): 2060 (670 CR, 690 M, 700 W)
SAT II: N/A</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.65
SAT I (breakdown): 2120 (730 CR, 700 M, 690 W)
SAT II: N/A</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.66</p>
<p>Yeah, but the guy with the 2120 SAT also had some nice EC’s and a rigorous workload. A 3.66 GPA should’ve been just fine under those circumstances.</p>
<p>He also had a worsening grade trend, which is the opposite of what UW wants. Who knows.</p>
<p>When were you admitted into UW? If it was for fall of 2010 or 2011, can you please show me what your stats were?</p>
<p>Or even 2009</p>
<p>I don’t have the EC’s that you do 
I’m not the leader in anything. But at least my friend reassured me that I have a great chance of making it into NHS next fall, so that’ll open up some possibilities. The vast majority of my volunteer work since 10th grade has been some sort of “teaching” duty. Can I write an essay about that, or should I try to write an essay about my cultural diversity and hope the already Asian-filled UW cares?</p>
<p>Oh, and if I write an essay about my teaching volunteer work, I plan to openly admit that teaching is not my primary interest for going to UW. I’ll tell them that my main interest is actually health sciences/pre-med. Do you think admitting this will hurt me or help me by making me look genuinely honest to them?</p>
<p>One word of advice. Don’t write about a topic that “sounds” the best. Write about a topic you can genuinely sell to admissions so they’ll be inclined to accept you. You probably already know this, but the UW wants 2 essays. So maybe you can write about your teaching duty as your personal statement and your cultural diversity for your…well diversity essay. </p>
<p>And if I were you, I wouldn’t write about how teaching isn’t a primary interest for going to the UW, and then turn around and tell them your primary interest is health sciences/pre-med. Just write about one thing. I feel that your essay could be disorganized/jumbled if you were to write about both of those. HOWEVER, that’s just my 0.02.</p>
<p>Well, I won’t just flat out say I’m not interested in teaching. Here’s what I have planned…</p>
<p>"(description of my volunteer work)
However, I would be lying if I said I wanted to pursue a career in teaching. While I do genuinely enjoy helping others succeed in their academic studies, I do it because I love the very concept of education. The brilliant minds of the present guide the eager minds of the future, and these eager minds will eventually carve their own niche and become the brilliant minds of their generation. I love educating those younger than I, as well as those much older than myself. But I myself am eager, and I wish to be taught by the established intellectuals of today.</p>
<p>Now you may ask, ‘Well, what does this student want to do, if not teach?’ To that, I must openly answer that I am interested in studying pre-medical and laboratory science at the University of Washington. Do I want to become a surgeon? A pediatrician? A nurse? I cannot say. But I do believe that with the help of the professors at your school, I can discover my passion. I want to make a positive difference for the people on our planet. Perhaps with the education and guidance available at UW, I will be achieve and meet all the astronomical goals and expectations that I have set for myself."</p>
<p>Of course, that’s not the whole essay. I just came up with that right now. Do you think that’ll work?</p>
<p>Yes, I think you have a “moderately decent” chance. :P</p>
<p>But, honestly, I do think you have a good chance of getting in. Like, you’ll probably get in. If you want to improve on anything, try doing more ECs. It’s not vital, though. And not taking AP US isn’t going to have a big effect on anything, so don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>I just got an “advertisement” from UW today. It’s been updated with the new application deadline and everything, as well as the percentage of students who were admitted this year. Unfortunately, it has fallen from 57% to 53%.</p>
<p>With your current stats, I would definitely say you are a strong and above-average applicant to UW. Now you just have to make sure you have a strong application essay and you’re good to go!</p>