First Generation Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Thanks for opening this thread! Any help would be appreciated. I am a first generation college applicant and I'm a little confused about the admissions process. I'm interested in Harvard, Dartmouth, Penn, and Duke particularly.</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT I: 2160 760M / 690CR/ 710W From 2 testings</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 740, 740, 740 (Math 2, Chem, US History)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW (hardest courseload offered), 4.2ish weighted</p>

<p>Rank: #1 of 650ish, possibly down to #2 due to unweighted band class</p>

<p>APs: 3 / 4 / 5 / 5 (Euro, Bio, US History, Chemistry) [AP Scholar w/ Honor]</p>

<p>Spanish at local community college, Harvard SSP distance Ed</p>

<p>EC's: </p>

<p>Professional snare drumming with traveling choir (weekends Oct-Dec)</p>

<p>2-year veteran and co-section leader of state champion (2006) percussion ensemble. I was a featured soloist. (about 15 hrs prac/week Oct-Apr)</p>

<p>Alternate section leader for nationally known Drum and Bugle Corps, 2005</p>

<p>University of Michigan Hockey Band: 2003, 2004, 2005</p>

<p>Destination Imagination, 2nd place regionals, 2nd place States, 8th place Globals (of a few hundred) in 2004</p>

<p>JV and V quiz bowl (captain for JV). 9.5 hrs/ week</p>

<p>Volunteer at hospital, 3hrs/ week (just started Dec 2005)</p>

<p>HS drumline section leader (3 years of leadership)</p>

<p>Spent frosh-soph summer trimming trees (not for long, though, just a few weeks)</p>

<p>NHS</p>

<p>Student Council member (a joke at my school)</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: MI
School Type: Large Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M </p>

<p>I know the SAT scores arent steller, but, if it means anything, Math and Writing set school records.</p>

<p>Does anyone know if any of these schools give personal evaluations for their marching bands? I know symphony/ concert bands are probably a bigger priority, but I wonder how much of a "hook" my snare drumming experience will be (if any). I am definitely interested in playing for a college drumline.</p>

2

<p>If you could possibly get that CR score up even a bit, you'd be in good shape for Duke. Marching band is always recruiting (after admission) because people would rather play at basketball games than football games. :p As a result, you have to be in marching band before you can try out for pep band. The marching band is a really great group (I play trumpet, not drum), and it's a lot of fun. Make sure your essays express your desire to come to Duke, and you have a good shot. Dartmouth and Penn are slight reaches, but Harvard is definitely a reach (as it is for most people).</p>

3

<p>Alright, thanks for the comments. Is a 1450 / 2160 really that chronically low? I know it's far from steller, but I thought it was at least good enough to not have to retake.</p>

4

<p>It's below average for all your schools. You don't have a hook and unhooked whites and Asians seldom get in with below average stats. If you are really low income and your school is inner city, that will help but hardly assure anything. If not, retake.</p>

5

<p>So i guess, even w/ state-level awards, contributing to the music department will never be a "hook," since there are so many muscian applicants (even for drumline, etc). That's kind of a bummer. :( But in the off chance that the band requests a snare drummer, hopefully it could be somewhat helpful.</p>