Extra Curriculars - Are mine good or nah?

Applying to College
1

Alright, here we go. Quick info: rising Undergrad. Looking at Brown, Stanford, Yale, USC and U Chicago. (Looking at Canadian Universities as well, but I won’t put them here.)

-GPA: 3.8, weighted? (My school doesn’t normally do this, so I’m not entirely sure.)
-1st SAT score: 1650; I took this as a “practise” test, meaning no studying, no prep, no tutors.
-2nd SAT score: TBD, will take in December 2015.

Applying for: English and a minor in Music

And, for the finale, extra curriculars. I go to an arts-oriented school, hence artsy activities. Here goes.

1.President/Co-Founder of school’s Black Student Union
2. Co-founder/Active Participant of school’s Inter-school arts foundation (not going to explain here)
3. Model UN (Pakistan Presidential Delegate)
4. Chapter Head/Submissions Reviewer of an online, Student-created ,creative writing publication
5. Performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City and Lincoln Center on many occasions (for confidentiality reasons, not going to name performances.) with people such as NY Phil, Kronos Quartet, Barbra Streisand.
6. My chamber music group has performed in private masterclasses at NEC and Boston Conservatory
7. Published in 2 regional newspapers (so far)
8. City Council Internship
9. Internship at very prestigious company. Not going to name here.
10. Intern/Journalist at another state newspaper
11. Volunteer of Music and Memory
12. First-chair musician on many occasions
13. Performed solo in masterclasses for well-known musician.
14. Has been accepted (and went!) to a music program that is very selective-- it accepts 35 participants out of thousands of applicants.

Awards include two state-wide awards, one national music award of excellence. No academic awards as of yet.

…Also National Latin Exam Honorable Mention LOL but probably won’t mention that.

Okay, so. There’s the list, exhausting, I know. I would love to know 1) ideas of what to include and what NOT to include on college apps, and 2) if these EC’s look “alright” to put on college apps, or if I should strive for more substantial things.

2

Looks like a pretty good list. In your shoes I’d probably bundle some of the Music ones and then write more about the internships through one of your essays. Or you may want to write about misc in your essays. My kids tried to make sure everything ended up somewhere. Internships can be volunteer or work, even the Latin exam may end up finding space under awards. Group similar activities if you have to.

3

Whether your ECs are good or not is irrelevant for you.

A first sitting SAT 1650 says that none of the American colleges are viable whatsoever. Why? Because a second sitting usually won’t generate a 500 point boost – which is about the range you’d want be at for the schools in question. The people who have told you otherwise are severely mis-informed. Please meet with your HS guid counselor and get honest feedback about viable schools.

My sincere advice for you: pare down every single one of your ECs, eliminating some altogether – and prep for that December SAT – (or possibly an impending ACT).

At your current rate, you’ll only be viable for the sorts of schools where ECs will not be weighted whatsoever. Thus, any incremental improvement in your SAT/ACT and GPA will be 500x more important than your slate of ECs.

Colleges are looking for scholars, not employees or event coordinators. Canadian unis are particularly stats focused and won’t give any weight to your EC list.

Please re-calibrate. Good luck to you.

4

“At your current rate, you’ll only be viable for the sorts of schools where ECs will not be weighted whatsoever.”

Not necessarily; this student could apply to some test-optional LACs where they will evaluate holistically.
But agreed, that SAT will not work for the schools on the current list, nor for the Canadian unis.

5

What’s a “state newspaper”? Is it more important than just a “city newspaper”?

6

I agree – your issue is not ECs, but it is a 3.8 weighted GPA (what is GPA unweighted?) and very low standardized tests. Solid ECs will not make up for low academic statistics. I think your list of schools needs to be revised.

Do you need aid or are you applying as a full pay applicant?

7

Your ECs are very strong - certainly up to par for the reach schools you are applying to. But even as a URM, your test score needs to be way up. Your unweighted GPA is also important. To chance yourself, you can go to the Common Data Set for each of the schools on your list (google it) and scroll down to Section C for admitted students. Take a look at Yale, for example: http://oir.yale.edu/sites/default/files/CDS2014_2015.pdf

What are your match schools? And do you have a solid safety?

8

Need applicant - thank you for the feedback! Yes, definitely, I need to go over my school list. These posted schools were really a display of my “long-shot” colleges; I didn’t want to bombarde readers with over 17+ options.

What schools are on the “good” list for SAT scores of, let’s say, 1700 to high 1800’s?

9

I guess it’s the same thing :slight_smile: I didn’t know exactly how to classify it.

10

I agree, and will look more into this. Thank you!

11

GUYS. Incredibly sorry. Miscalculated weighted GPA (I guess I really didn’t know how it worked.) my weighted GPA is actually 4.3, not 3.8. Sorry for confusion. Would still love feedback!

12

Weighted GPA doesn’t mean anything. What’s the UW #?

13

On a 4 pt scale, 3.52 Freshman, 3.54 Sophomore, 3.82 Junior, TBD Senior

14

That’s much better than I expected. Basically you are an A- to A student with a rising GPA. I’d suggest you look at some test optional schools. Fairtest.org for a list. What were your CR and Math scores? Many colleges discount writing. Have you taken any AP tests? And if you have how did you score on them?

15

What are CR scores? I have taken an AP (English Lit. and Comp.), got a 4. Not planning on taking another one soon. My school doesn’t offer any AP courses, and since I had to study on my own, I don’t plan on enduring the same stress. I also plan to take French SAT II test this December.

16

@Hazela35, Mathmom is asking what your SAT breakdown is. Your total (Critical Reading + Math + Writing) is 1650, but most colleges use only the Critical Reading (CR) + Math (M). What did you score on those 2 parts?

17

CR is critical reading. Math mom is asking for the breakdown of your SAT scores. It matters if you are very strong in one area and weak in another, vs. generally okay across the board. The former is actually better.

18

^CR is Critical Reading portion on the SAT. Colleges weigh that and the Math section more heavily than the writing section.

19

520 and 480, respectively. I am also taking the ACT in addition to the SAT, as I have found I do better on ACT practice tests (not to imply that it will affect my scores the same as an actual test, though I hope it would.)

20

@Hazela35, Do you have affordable safeties lined up? You have several threads that seem to be focusing on the Ivies, but I don’t think a 1000 CR+M is viable for the Ivies. As a low income student from NYS, you need to have at least a couple SUNYs on your list.