<p>What is my liklihood of getting accepted at Obs? Also, how likely am I to get fin aid? How is the financial aid here? </p>
<p>I am a high school junior. I have a 4.22 on a 4.0 scale (3.98 unweighted). I got a 28 on the ACT, but I am retaking it soon. I am ranked 20ish in a class of 530. A few of my literary works were published in our school's literary magazine and I am a reporter and HR manager of our school's student newpaper. Also, I am president of our school's Diversity Club, member of NHS, and co-founder/vice president of Creativity Club (formerly the corresponding secretary of History Club and a member of Art Club, but both of them were canceled last year). I participate in competitive artistic roller skating and practice about three hours a day six days per week, with this I have won eight national and regional metals and this year I won Leslie Elder Michigan Skater of the Year. For community service (I do at least 11 hours/week), I work as an assistant for my former chemistry teacher once a week, I volunteer at the Michigan Humane Society every weekend, I teach a roller skating for beginner and advanced classes, and I volunteer and job shadow at the hospital near my house (which is nationally ranked) every Friday. Also, last summer I did a medical program at Michigan Tech, this summer I am doing the medical program at U of MD with the National Student Leadership Conference. This summer I also plan on teaching French to elementary school kids. </p>
<p>Classes: Jr yr: (I took AP US History sophomore year) AP Gov, Honors English, Independent Study: Physiology (alot of research involved), Genetics/Evolution, Advanced Journalism, Alg 2, French 3, Physics</p>
<p>Tenative classes for Sr yr: AP English, AP Bio, Advanced Journalism, Psychology, Epidemology, French 4, Pre Calc/Trig</p>
<p>You sound fine. Financial aid is fairly generous here, and merit scholarships are sometimes offered, so it's not something I'd be terribly worried about.</p>
<p>I forgot to add that for skating I also received the Michigan National Acheivement Award for Junior Olympic Figure Skating and the Maggie Eng Club Award for Junior Olympic National Championships in 2004, and the Michigan National Acheivement Award for Figure Rolller Skating in 2007. In Diversity Club, this year I organized a Save Darfur campaign, met with Governor Granholm for a Youth Roundtable Program Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., organized multiple fundraisers for Freedom House (an asylem for refugees in down town Detroit). </p>
<p>I resigned up for the ACT in April.<br>
THANK YOU everyone for your HELP!!</p>
<p>PS I'm visiting for my first time on April 24, YAY!</p>
<p>You'll have a chance to list all those EC's and volunteer activities, which should be well received by Oberlin. At some points in the essays you'll also need to express what meaning you derive from them (in addition to how many they are and how busy you are...). My suggestion, as you continue exploring and living your junior year, is to begin to notice or reflect on things from the activities.</p>
<p>Perhaps you want to keep a journal, or write just occasionally, or note in bullet point some amazing things that happen every now and then at these activities.</p>
<p>If you can demonstrate depth, thought and reflection about the meaning you get out of your (wonderful!) activities, that will help you be ready to write about one or several of them. </p>
<p>If this is not a helpful comment, just ignore it; as I'm sure the essay will come to you at the right time when you actually need to write it.</p>
<p>In addition, keep in mind that a very important essay is "Why, Oberlin?" When you visit, take note (or keep notes) of some specific things that you think resonate or connect with you and your interests. If you see a small place to sit in a certain building, take note of which building it is so you can name it in your essay. If you hear some wonderful dialogue around you as you visit that makes you think, jot it down. You can reflect on these when it's time to write a "Why Oberlin?" essay that will be very much your own response.</p>
<p>Good luck and enjoy your visit! Let everyone know you're a "prospie" (prospective student); ask if they have time to answer a few questions, and then go ahead and ask freely. You can learn more than just what the tour guide says. People are very friendly and open, in my experience there.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with paying3tuition's last comment. Tell people that you're a prospie and ask if they can answer some questions. People tend to be very friendly, and are always willing to share information with prospective students.</p>