Another thing to consider is where students from your private school with similar stats have been accepted? Not sure if you have Naviance or speak with previous students but that is something to check into. As for Jack and Jill in my region it is viewed as an exclusive group where you have to pay for membership. Since you are in that network you may want to tap into those connections for any hooks it can provide.
“I think being the lone athiest at a small private Christian school gives me a unique perspective”
It’s not that simple, you need to “show” via your record of actions, not just “being” a minority religious perspective. And though this may be unusual in your school, adcoms encounter atheists all the time.
As I said before, most kids who belong to J&J are doing more in their communities, concerted, valued efforts alongside adults, not just traveling to seminars or panels, which is what you previously described.
The grades are an issue for the reaches.
I go to J&J weekly and we participate in a wide range of community outreach, but that won’t be what I emphasize on my paper. That’s why I was talking about traveling for journalism panels, because to me that’s valuable experience that many applicants don’t have. As for being the lone atheist, I constantly have to defend secular positions against evangelical classmates which often results in me being ostracized. I don’t know what action I could discuss other than heated debates betweeen myself and other people at my school. Grades aren’t very good, however that’s not all colleges look for in an applicant. What do you think my real chances are of going to some of my reach schools?
Do you know what the reaches look for? Have you dug for this in the colleges’ web pages, in order to properly match yourself? And in order to show the right things in your apps? Eg, they look for X quality and you have it, Y is covered and Z. And it all shows, not just you saying so. Not passive, “I’m different.” Rather, a record of actions. You have a lot of assumptions.
One of the first things a tippy top looks for is the ability to survive 4 years in that tough environment, where peers come with top preparation and profs set a high bar in classes. That’s seen- or not- in your academic performance in hs.
For ECs, it’s not enough to go to meetings or participate in seminars. Again, generally passive, you register and go. I assume you also have some comm service through NHS? But how will you show adcoms your drives and follow-through? On your record.
These next steps are up to you.
Interesting, thank you for the comment it’s very helpful.