Hey!
I am a sophomore - but my counselor wants us to think about colleges. He suggested using CCs “Chance Me” as a good gauge of what kinds of colleges to aim for.
Here it goes!
FYI - American from Connecticut living abroad in the Philippines and going to an international (IB Diploma) school. Grade scale throughout grades 9-12 is a 7.0 scale, with no special weighting. 5.2 is the school average. A grade of 6 converts to an A according to the transcript conversion guide, 5 = B, 4 = C, so on. 4 is the passing grade.
Demographic Profile Info:
Sex: Male (but more androgynous to feminine gender expression)
Hispanic?: Yes
Race: (will not declare as a political statement)
Family Income: $60-80K a year
Language: English
Intended major: Social Sciences/Government
Intended career: Secondary school teacher
Family:
Father: Business executive, Master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management)
Mother: Housewife, Bachelor’s in Business Administration
(I’m not taking Business!)
Stats:
No class rank
GPA: 6.3/7.0.
Took Honors Math (6 and 7), English (6 and 6), and AP Human Geography (7 and 7) freshman year (all the honors offered.) In sophomore year, not taking math honors, but took Honors English and AP US History. Anticipated IB Diploma candidate 11th and 12th grades.
ACT: 33 (34 English, 33 Reading, 34 Science, 31 Math)
APs: US Government (5) (8th-grade self-study), Human Geography (5) (9th-grade), Comparative Government (5) (9th-grade self-study), Psychology (10th-grade self-study), Env. Sci (10th-grade self-study), Literature (10th-grade), US History (10th-grade)
IB subjects: Geography, Global Politics, English A Language and Literature HL | Spanish B, Physics, and Math Applications SL. (they’re changing IB math - now there’s an applications course)
Honors:
International Geography Bee Nationals Winner and Asian Finalist (9, 10)
AP Scholar with Distinction (10) (I got AP Scholar in 9th grade)
Exemplary Student Award (9)
AP Human Geography Subject Award/Social Studies Department Award (9)
Honor Roll Honors Standing (9, 10)
Activities (the grade 11 and 12 are for activities in which I am assured of a position and therefore can say that I participated until senior year):
- International Geography Bee Competitor (9, 10) - Entered and competed in the International Geography Bee (won nationals, was an Asian finalist, and participated in the world championship) self-organized.
- School newspaper staff writer (10, 11, 12) (I may seek a leadership position in 12)
- Manages popular social science discussion and college admissions advice Facebook pages. (9, 10, 11, 12) (This is a real publication with interviews, profiles, and writing/editorial staff under me.)
- Co-Founder and Recruiter, Social Studies Club (9, 10, 11, 12) - Co-founded and served in leadership roles in the social studies interest club in my school. We offered tutoring, education outreach, etc.
- Head English Mentor, Project BEST (community service) (10, 11, 12) - This is an outreach activity with an underfunded elementary school. As Head Mentor, I designed the English curriculum, recruited/admitted a team of qualified mentors from an applicant pool, and taught lessons. I held the role of Head Mentor for all three years I was in the service activity. The club itself is very exclusive, even hiding their application form.
- Research and Administrative Internship - European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (summer break after freshman year) - Worked with the Advocacy Department in this internship for college students and assisted with coordination and research on international commerce.
- Self-studied (without any tutor or class) for various AP exams not offered by my school. (9, 10)
- German self-study (9, 10, 11, 12) - continued since Middle School with some teacher assistance. Intend to take the SAT II German by the end of 11th grade.
- Charter Change Committee discussion participant (9, 10) - Researched federalism and met with members of and assisted a committee responsible for modifying and replacing the 1987 Philippine Constitution with a new, federalist structure.
- Member, Asia Society Philippines (9, 10) - Youngest member of the Asia Society Philippines in 2018. Participated in events/discussions with regional experts/influencers.
Essay and Additional Info:
The essay was on adjusting to the new international school and how I dealt with people who faked their friendship just for me to help them with their essays and student council campaigns.
No criminal record
Additional Info: I contributed a guest piece to the school newspaper on female leaders. It referenced a prior controversial statement delivered by a high school junior (at the time) on the publication, regarding how a “lack of testosterone” made women unfit to serve as student leaders. My piece used evidence to refute those claims. Though highly controversial, it was met with widespread public support by community members, including (but not limited to) faculty and parents, especially by females and sympathetic members of other genders. (I’m planning on including the permalink on my college applications.)
Award Descriptions:
Exemplary Student Award - This award, awarded by 9th-grade faculty members at the end of freshman year, recognizes students in the freshman class who are intrinsically passionate about learning. Students who receive this award are those who exemplify school-wide goals and dispositions, which include: effective communicators; knowledgeable and skilled learners; self-directed, balanced individuals; inquiring and reflective problem solvers; responsible, caring, and ethical contributors; and creative thinkers. Of the more than 212 freshmen, only five students received this award.
Social Studies Department Award - Awarded to the student that has demonstrated a high performance in and passion for Social Studies and their Social Studies course (AP Human Geography for this particular award.) This is a departmental award with only two recipients (one for AP Human Geography, one for standard-level Geography 9) in the 9th-grade year.
Hooks:
My father’s Northwestern status as an active alum
Hispanic heritage on father’s side
Participated in activities like the geography competition (which was an opportunity I found myself - the school is not a member) and creation of clubs like the social studies club, which was previously not offered.
Thanks for reading this lengthy post! <3