<p>Rank: 6/29
Overall GPA: 3.9
SAT I: 1980 (M-680 CR-680 W-620) hoping to retake and score 700-700-660
Independently studied Russian and German, (2 years of Russian, 1 of German)
Extra curricular: I have worked at the same grocery store for 4 years, 20 hours per week.
Delivered food baskets for the local food pantry 3 years in a row
3 years in student senate
4 years in class-leadership positions
3 years in National Honor Society (1 year of presidency)
Have won various merit awards+attended leadership conferences for the past 3 years
I have taken the most difficult courses offered at my school (Which is a challenge, my school offers VERY few honors/AP courses, but I have taken all that are available, along with college courses at the local university.)
Helped raise money for the Make A Wish foundation.
Participated in various health walks/fundraisers
Played soccer and basketball during my freshman year then tennis my senior year.
Managed my own penny stocks/funds for the past 2 years (using my father’s account)
Founding member of the school Language Club.</p>
<p>Also, I come from one of the poorest counties in the country/an area with very low educational standards.</p>
<p>Washington county. My town has roughly 600 residents, so I’m thinking of tailoring my essay towards that, especially considering one of the choices was “connection to place.”</p>
<p>It is for US applicants… He doesn’t know what he is talking about. The fact you are a local boy and not rich will help. Have you thought about the ACT? The low SAT writing score is going to hurt you the most, because it will cause a worry about doing the work. Focus on improving that part.
Being 6th out of 29 doesn’t help either.You need an excellent essay and a compelling case for “why Bowdoin”</p>
<p>Agree with Oldbatesie, and yes, the ACT definitely is worth taking. Bumping up your scores will help. Being a Mainer from a non-affluent area weighs in your favor. You’re right about your essay topic. Do your best and be authentic. What’s your sense about how the interview with the alum went?</p>
<p>I feel that it went pretty well. We are both from a small town, so we connected on that level. Also, what was supposed to be a 30 minute interview lasted for roughly an hour. So I think it went pretty well?</p>
<p>So I see you are on the Bates board. Does that mean you didn’t do ED at Bowdoin? An interview lasting longer is a good sign, but I’m not sure how much weight the interview has. Bates is slightly easier to get into, probably because Lewiston is such a downer.They are also, as you know, SAT optional.</p>
<p>Nope, I’m still applying ED to Bowdoin. I’m just wondering about Bates because there’s always the chance that I get waitlisted/rejected from Bowdoin.</p>
<p>If you still have time on the app, be careful to word your ECs well. The long-term job is a plus. Raising money for Wish and the walks/fundraisers, delivering foodbaskets- at first glance, these can seem like once-in-a-while things. If some or all are routine committments thoughout the year, that’s stronger. Word them to your best advantage- and, both Bowdoin and Bates will like it if you can highlight any organizing responsibilities or leadership in external ECs.<br>
Make sure your essay shows your strengths- not just a commentary on connection to place, but something that shows how you have been inspired to do something worthy. Good luck, great schools.</p>