Final list of colleges! Whoo!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know that chance threads are stupid, and that there's no real way to predict whether I'll be accepted, deferred, or rejected from these schools buuut... I might as well just give in and post my stats =)</p>

<p>White female
Competitive public HS (or at least that's what our teachers say... ha)
Rank: ?/367 (was 2nd as of 1st semester junior year, and my grades went up slightly, so I could be 1st now...)
Weighted GPA: a little bit over 5.0/5.3 (5.3 = A+ in H/AP course)
Guidance dept. doesn't give out UW GPA</p>

<p>ACT: 34 (SAT... ehh... I had a bad math day. Retaking!!!)
Math IIC: 740 (retaking)
Chem: 800
US: 770
APs: 5s on all three (Chem, US History, and Envi Sci)</p>

<p>Volunteering:
Council on Aging (manymanymany hours by end of summer!)
Mural in public school
Band stuff
Town Council stuff
Habitat for Humanity
Lots of other things around my town (toy drive, book fair, 7th grade orientation, etc.)</p>

<p>Job:
French tutor</p>

<p>EC's:
DJ on radio station (11, 12)
Music blog, mildlysuccessful.blogspot.com (11, 12)
Producer (~co-director) of gigantic senior show*
French Exchange 2007!
VP - National Honors Society (11, 12)
Workshop Coordinator - Town Council (10-12)
JV XC/Track ... hopefully Varsity XC this year!!! (11,12 for XC, 10-12 for track)
[some leadership position**] - French Club (10-12)
Chamber group (10-12)
Chamber music librarian (12)
Pep Band (I play the saxophone) (9-12)
Concert Band (1st clarinet all four years of HS- will hopefully conduct Bach's Little Fugue in G Minor- it depends on if some sections can handle the solos) (9-12)
Marching Band (section leader junior and senior year) (9-12)
Student Council (9)
Destination Imagination (7-9, although of course middle school doesn't count!)
Literary Magazine (9, published in 10th grade)</p>

<p><em>the largest event Senior year is a giant comedy/talent show. The board works on it from the end of Junior year to March, when it happens. It is about three hours long, and requires an IMMENSE amount of work, from planning the skits to recruiting people to designing sets to perfecting the lighting to advertising the show to dealing with the economic aspects of the show...... basically, it's probably the most time-consuming, exciting, and biggest event of the average student's high school career!
*</em>elections will be held next year, but I'm 99% sure I'll get something, because I have a big role in the club as it is, and seniors always get the positions =)</p>

<p>Awards (almost done!)
High Honors every semester, every year (Gym doesn't count towards GPA)
Outstanding Achievement in Biology (9)
Outstanding Achievement in English (9, 11)
Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science (11)
[Retired Teacher's Name] Award for Excellence in History (11)
Spirit of French Award (ha, ha) (11)
Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry (10)
Outstanding Achievement in Concert Band (11)
Gold Key RAL in Scholastic Writing Awards
National Recognition in Le Grand Concours (Nat'l French Test)
Commended (or Semi-Finalist) for PSAT
First female in my school to ever qualify for USNCO
Harvard Book Award
Nominated for NCTE Achievement Award in Writing (will find out if I won in October)
First Prize winner in school science fair (9)
Grand Prize winner in school science fair (11)
^research projects cannot compete at the state level, only experimental ones. However, I put an immense amount of work into both, and a judge even told me that I could publish my paper on my topic. That isn't meant to come off as braggy, by the way... I'm only trying to show that these were legitimate projects, despite the fact that they weren't experimental =)</p>

<p>Other Things That Are Worth a Mention:
My friend and I worked for about two months on a grant application. We met with several other "sources" to discuss our idea. I had to give a speech in front of the school board and get their approval. That last part probably isn't important at all, but giving a speech in front of the board makes me sound pretty cool, eh? We didn't end up winning the competition (the winner was awarded the grant), but it was still a substantial project. My teacher will probably mention it in his recommendation.
I also taught myself Spanish this summer.</p>

<p>Schools:
UChicago (EA)
MIT (EA)
Hamilton (RD)
Dartmouth (RD)
Vassar (RD)
Brandeis (RD)
Johns Hopkins (RD)
Tufts (RD)
University of Rochester (RD)
Wesleyan (RD)</p>

<p>Major: Biology/Biochem
Minor: Creative Writing (if offered)</p>

<p>If I do not get into either of my EA schools (which I am semi-expecting), I will probably remove a few of the more reach-y schools from my RD list and replace them with some safeties.</p>

2

<p>I didn't know U of Chi was EA but not single choice. That's pretty sweet.</p>

3

<p>I think u have a chance at all of them</p>

<p>HOWEVER, achievements given to you by YOUR SCHOOL ONLY do not really help your chances.</p>

<p>now things like scholastic do</p>

<p>and that grant application thing doesnt make u sound more appealing</p>

4

<p>I know that school awards are stupid. I'm not planning on listing them on my application, so I'm not really sure why I listed them on here...</p>

<p>The only reason I wanted to mention the grant is because I don't have many science-related things (outside of test scores and classes), and the grant would have been used to fund new equipment for our science department. I'm pretty sure that my teacher will mention it in his recommendation, as we worked on it together, and it will hopefully show a side of me that isn't necessarily obvious from my list of ECs.</p>

5

<p>i understand your intentions, but its really really not going to make u appeal to the adcom at all. had you gotten the grant, maybe somewhat, but since you didn't, i wont help much (if any) at all</p>

<p>id reccomend not putting it on your apps</p>

6

<p>Like I said, -I- wouldn't be putting it on my application. My teacher is going to mention it. All of the different parts of an application are meant to fit together like a puzzle, and reveal a complete picture of the applicant. We can agree to disagree here, but the application process (for the grant) consumed a good deal of my time. I think that it will help adcoms gain a broader sense of what I'm like.
Anyway, the grant is only a tiny part of my application (it would just be an anecdote in a recommendation), and I don't think that it's worth arguing over.</p>

7

<p>Also, maybe I should have been a bit clearer about the USNCO. I was a semifinalist. Obviously, that's not a huge achievement buuuut... =)</p>

8

<p>I hate bumping. Even the word "bump" makes me writhe inside. Buuut... bump. Euuuugh.</p>

9

<p>I would just like to comment on what you metioned about your research...while I agree that non-experimental research is a legitimate enterprise perhaps for school assignments or even personal gratification, I must concede that I am in agreement with your state that only experimental reserach belongs in a state science fair (I would even contend your winning your school fair). </p>

<p>The consequence of this opinion is that in several applications, there is a question asking if you have engaged in any significant research. While I would feel free to mention your paper in a general essay, when asked for an abstract or a similar question, despite your own opinions it may be inappropriate to insert something about your investigation of other peoples work.</p>

10

<p>did you ever make it to albequerque?</p>

<p>NAW THATS WUT I THOUGHT</p>

11

<p>My project was not simply a report of other peoples' research.
I had read about epizootic lobster shell disease, a disease whose etiology is not yet understood. For my project, I investigated several possible causes of the disease. While I did not run experiments myself, I used several online databases to compile graphs and tables (I did not use data from existing experiments directly in my project; I only included it in my report as an introduction to existing studies and theories. The data that I used was separate). As none of the papers on ESD (epizootic shell disease) detailed exactly why one factor would lead to its very high incidence in recent years, I studied this myself and came up with theories on how a certain compound would trigger the appearance of ESD. I even formulated a possible chemical reaction that would explain the role of this compound; my chemistry teacher verified that the reaction was legitimate.
My project did not simply include me copying information from a book and pasting pretty pictures on a poster board; I honestly had to think creatively and scientifically to create my project.
...Sorry if this sounded obnoxious, or if it was too long. If you're still confused about what exactly I did, generalobserver, I could try to explain again.</p>

<p>Oh, and I wouldn't check the "significant research" box. That would be waaaay too presumptuous of me.</p>

12

<p>LesOs!!! wat's up!
Okay, I was pretty thrilled looking at your stats!
Academics: as good as it can get! the ACT score will definitely help you out too!
ECs: looks comprehensive too. The awards you've listed seems a bit shaky though, but don't worry, ur ECs are enough to prove that u r well involved...just don't forget to reflect your 'true' passion in the essay. Also try to ensure that ur awards and achievements kinda show ur passion too.
You look to have great chance for all of them. (well, no one can be sure of MIT...but eh, u never know RIGHT?)
BEST OF LUCK! :)
Keep us updated of ur going at the Cafe!</p>

13

<p>Haha, thanks... I will =)</p>