<p>GPA 4.68 Weighted (where "honors" classes get 5.0)
3.9 Unweighted
All A's except first semester freshman English, and fall semester of Calculus BC.
(I did precalc during the summer before my freshman year so i could skip ahead into BC. I received A's for that course from the University of Missouri: Columbia.)
I took Latin I extracurricularly (is that a word?) my sophomore year because it wouldn't fit into my schedule.
Given my blocks being filled with Band and debate all four years, I have otherwise maxed out all possible departments from my school with the exception of a couple science IIs. (Bio and physics)</p>
<p>Rank: 12 out of ~450
but that should go up after this last semester of all A's. There is no way for me to check over the summer.</p>
<p>ACT: 35
SAT: 2180, 770m, 740cr, 680w
i plan on retaking the SAT, and i still need to take SAT IIs (gah i'm behind on that!)
PSAT 219 (hopefully NMF)</p>
<p>Extra Curricular:</p>
<p>Band 4 years - Marching Band drum major for 2 years. Top Jazz band senior year. Lettered for last two years.
Debate/forensics - Competed on the Varsity level for sophomore and junior year. 8th at state.
Went to NFL nationals in student Congress.
Member of National Honor society
Founding President of Kansas Young Democrats.
Participated in Boys' State of Kansas. Qualified to be one of 98 to meet at Boys' Nation in D.C. later this summer. Bill Clinton went to Boys' Nation and met (then) President Kennedy. fun stuff
Started an elementary Debate club program.
Will be active volunteering for campaigns this fall.
200+ volunteer hours working at a hospital. received Presidential Service Award.
No sports, unless you count debate.
I am working at a law firm for a paid internship this summer for a few weeks. Besides that, no work experience.</p>
<p>"Hook":</p>
<p>I love politics. Most of my time is spent reading news/books. Because of this, i can expect excellent rec letters from government and history teachers. I want to major in Poli Sci. </p>
<p>Also, I am fairly liberal, Kansas is not. I plan on doing some pretty cool event type things early this fall for the election. A friend and I are also considering starting an Atheist organization. However, we feel this could compromise our rec letters from some teachers. Thoughts on this?</p>
<p>I feel like my interview will be very good. Thanks to debate (yay pretty speaking!), and my passion for what i want to study.</p>
<p>YES! Forensicators strike again! We are just plain awesome. mwahahaha
18th at Vegas in OO right here :D
lol I tried StuCo for the very first time at districts, just for the heck of it, and got like a (4,5,15) from three judges LMAO. That one judge screwed me over, but I was ok with it, because Southlake Carroll, the best StuCo team in Texas, was there (Have you heard of Dylan Huff? I think he semi-ed this eyar at nats or something).</p>
<p>Wow. long story lol.
Dude I love that you do StuCo and that you're interested in politics. Let's pwn the Ivy League together as forensicating superstars.</p>
<p>i am telling you this because i've read your activity statement (AWESOME!)
besides your gift for speaking, you're a good writer and, on the top of everything, you play jazz (college loves music people who are also strong in other areas). your scores are within the range, and so does your GPA. even though you have some regular activities (boys' state, summer internship, and all that stuff), you're definitely somebody with a shot at ivys.
good luck! and keep me posted with your essays (if they end up as good as your activity statement, you'll get into anywhere you want).</p>
<p>If you really want to run for public office one day, starting an Atheist organization is a sure way to put you on the path of never being elected.</p>
<p>I am from Kansas and got in--I'm African American though. </p>
<p>You have a better ACT than I had. I had a 32 (34M & 33E) . On the subject tests I got a 780 on Math Level II, 780 on US History, 700 on Chemistry (without having taken AP Chemistry). On AP's I had a 5 on Calc AB, and a 5 on US History. (The way my school is set up makes it difficult to take many AP's before senior year.) Senior year I took Calc BC, AP Phys C, AP Chem, AP Lang, AP Lit, and AP Gov. I was in the top 5% of my class.</p>
<p>I think my application is a lot stronger when it comes to subjective things though. I had more work experience and my extracurriculars were a bit stronger than yours--I think you need to show more leadership. I also had a lot of interesting hobbies I was good at.</p>
<p>Tips:
- Make sure to write an essay that tells the admissions officers who you are.
- Don't try to "play the game/system."</p>
<p>I think "playing the game" means tailoring your ECs and life with the goal of admission in mind. (as opposed to just doing what you're interested in)</p>
<p>That's what i do mostly. But i don't know how accountable i can make that time i spend. I really like to read the NYT, a slew of blogs, and watch a little TV news (gah but's it's gotten so bad!). I like getting coffee with friends and sometimes teachers and talking about issues (political) and whatnot. I don't know how to make that into a resume item. </p>
<p>I guess i could organize a club, but that's not really efficient methinks.</p>
<p>As VP of NHS, I helped create/teach an after school tutoring program to help urban kids/whoever wanted free tutoring prepare for my high school's entrance exam. My friend (Pres of NHS) and I created this with the intention of making our high school--95% white--more diverse. The program proved to be a huge success: all but one kid was accepted. (According to early diagnostic testing, none of them would have gotten in.)</p>
<p>This was a pretty significant activity because, prior to last year, NHS was pretty worthless at my school and hardly did anything.</p>
<p>Fastfood15:
I don't want to give out too much information. All I will say is that I went to a competitive private high school.</p>
<p>See thecount's post for what "playing the game" means.</p>
<p>As for your chances, I would say that it is pretty much standard/good. The fact that you are from Kansas will help (that's what my interviewer said). Also, going to nationals for debate is a plus too. The only weaknesses I see in your application are a lack of leadership experience--something you can work on senior year--involvement in your school's community, and activities that show you care about helping people. </p>
<p>Volunteering at a hospital sort of means nothing nowadays. I know a lot of kids who "volunteered" hospitals but really volunteered in gift shops. That said, I also know kids who helped transport patients, etc.</p>
<p>I would suggest you get more involved in tutoring and mentoring. It seems as though you may already be doing this though with the debate club thing.</p>
<p>Just curious, what did you write your activities essay about?</p>