H/y/nu/

<p>Hi, I'm new to this community, but I like what I see thus far. I'm posting a "chances" thread partly to put some ice on these overwrought and incessant nerves of mine, but mainly to know what to expect come April letters (and showers, where I live). A little insurance against some hard feelings?</p>

<p>This is my tweaked resume:</p>

<p>**
Colleges**: (I’ve already heard back from my safeties/in-state schools; almost wetting my pants waiting until April for the following)
• Northwestern
• Columbia & Juilliard (for dual program)
• Amherst
• Harvard & New England Conservatory (for dual program)
• Yale</p>

<p>GPA/Academics:
School Type: low-middle class public
Unweighted: 3.85
Weighted: 4.2
Rank: 36/460
IB courses <a href="our%20school%20doesn%C2%92t%20offer%20AP">/U</a>:
IB Biology 1 & 2;
IB Modern World History;
IB History of the Americas (combined course with Advanced US History);
IB Junior & Senior English
IB Pre-Calculus (our only IB maths course)
IB Theory of Knowledge
IB Psychology 1 & 2
IB German 4
IB Seminars (hah!)
Advanced Chemistry (this was renamed to IB Chemistry 1 the year after I took it )</p>

<p>My only IB Exam score (due to other commitments, i.e. music): SL Math- 6</p>

<p>Standardized Tests
SAT I (Nov. 2010) composite: 2320
Math: 780
Reading: 760
Writing: 780</p>

<p>SAT II Subject Tests:
Biology (M): 780
U.S. History: 730
Literature: 760</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 32</p>

<p>ECs/Volunteer:
• National Honor Society 2009-present (honestly, probably the most enjoyable volunteer organization in which I’ve participated)
• JV Cross Country (2008-)
• Accompany church choirs on clarinet during worship 2009-Present
• D.A.R.E. to be G.R.E.A.T. Summer Camp Counselor 2009, 2010, Most valuable counselor award (twice)
• School Link Leader (2009-2010) – Organize and facilitate freshman orientation and integration into school/a nice buddy system for younger students 
• Public Library Volunteer (bookshelving, indexing and scanning, book sales, the works): 2009-Present
• American Red Cross Blood Drive Volunteer 2009-Present
• Fowler Middle School Volunteer: 2009-Present
o Childcare
o Instruct beginning clarinet students (a program I initiated)
• High School Theatre Pit Orchestra: clarinet (oh, those long hours in the dark!)
• Running and Ultimate Frisbee
• Piano</p>

<p>**MUSIC<a href="Clarinet">/B</a> (a separate heading for organizational aesthetics)
• Private lessons since 7th grade from several teachers
• Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP):
o 2009-Present: Portland Youth Philharmonic (Principal clarinet 2 years)
o 2009-2010: PYP Chamber Orchestra 2009-2011
o 2008-2009: Portland Youth Wind Ensemble (Principal clarinet)
o 2007-2008: Portland Youth Wind Ensemble
• Brevard Music Center Summer Festival 2010 (North Carolina): June 25, 2010-August 10, 2010
• School Wind Ensemble: Principal Clarinet, 2007-Present
• District and State Solo competitor
• Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS- although not during highschool, except for 9th grade, this was a major commitment that spurred musical growth)
o 2008-2009: Symphony Orchestra (Principal clarinet), Symphonic Band (Principal clarinet)
o 2007-2008: Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band
o 2007: China Tour
o 2006-2007: Concert Orchestra (Principal clarinet), Symphonic Band
o 2005-2006: Interlude Orchestra, Concert Band
• Young Musicians and Artists Camp 2005
• Portland State University Summer Chamber Music Program 2007 (credited)
• Portland State University Summer Clarinet Master Classes 2008 (credited)</p>

<p>**
Honors/Awards:**
• Young Artist Debut! 2010 Semi-Finalist
• PYP Jacques Gershkovitch Award Recipient 2010—“for noticeable improvement, outstanding effort, and commitment to the orchestra”
• State Solo Competition:
o 2011: Let’s wait and find out!
o 2010: 1st place; clarinet
o 2009; 2nd place; clarinet
o 2008; 10th place; clarinet
• Oklahoma University Clarinet Symposium 2008 Young Artists’ Competition Finalist
• Speech and Debate Team: 3rd Place (ugh, I just realized I forgot to list the competition name on my app), Humorous Interpretation (2007-2008)
• DARE Summer Camp Most Valuable Counselour (twice)
• Oregon Future Business Leaders of America: Regional Skills Conference – State Qualifier – Impromptu Speaking, 2008
• NMSC National Merit Commended Scholar 2011 (heck, I didn’t even know what this was until my counselour gave me a card at the end of 1st semester. )
**
Employment:**
• Tin Pan Alley Theatre Company (Summer 2009):
o 20+ hours/week
o Pit orchestra member (principal clarinet)
o Performed eight showings of Bernstein’s ‘Wonderful Town’
• Music Instructor (2007-2008):
o 2-3 hours/week
o Self-employed private instructor of the clarinet
o Taught elementary to middle school age children
**
Essay/Recommendations:**
Essay was a collage of “people watching” during my summer in a music festival in NC
Excellent relationships with my recommenders. </p>

<p>Extra note: I put in music supplements to all of the above schools, and as for Northwestern, my audition jury head (I also studied with him over the previous summer, if that helps) mysteriously said he'd do what he can.</p>

<p>Thanks, and I'll update with actual results in a couple weeks!</p>

<p>2320 SAT is obviously good. 3.85 GPA is fine but often depends upon what the schools know/or can determine about the rigor of your HS (which is not a typical elite feeder). Your SAT II’s are good so that is likely to help.</p>

<p>Overall, I would say you meet the academic threshold at any school. When it comes to “fit and contribution”, it becomes a little more amorphous.</p>

<p>I see a “passion” for the clarinet… which is a great thing. However, the rest of your EC’s are not overwhelming, and perhaps even underwhelming. You are applying to specialized programs so that makes it more challenging to assess your chances. I would say with several more solid EC’s (ones that require substantial time commitment) along with some better leadership demonstration, then I would rate you as on target for any of these schools. However, with your listed EC’s I think admissions will be somewhat more challenging.</p>

<p>• Northwestern - High Match
• Columbia & Juilliard (for dual program) - Low Reach
• Amherst - Match
• Harvard & New England Conservatory (for dual program) - Low Reach
• Yale - Low Reach</p>

<p>^Thanks for the response. I agree that my ECs don’t “show it” enough–that’s why I’m edgy right now. However, I don’t know what “high match” or “low reach”, or any of those terms really mean. Could you clarify?</p>

<p>Maybe something like:</p>

<p>“High reach”= 5% chance or less
“Reach” = 10% to 15% chance
“Low reach”= 20% to 35% chance.
“High match”= 40% to 50% chance
“Match”= 55% to 70% chance
“Low match”= 75% to 90% chance
“Safety”= 95% chance or better</p>

<p>the results are beginning to trickle in!</p>

<p>I’ve been accepted to NU, but I asked my friend to check me email and tell me what she saw (maybe she’s pulling a terribly cruel joke?). NU was my 1st choice for its flexibility and its almost tailor-made music/sci programs.</p>

<p>(now all I can hear in my head is the outback song, but with the words waiting. . .)</p>

<p>Congratulations! NU entrance is more like a gauntlet than a gate, so is certainly an accomplishment. I also agree that NU seems like an excellent fit for you.</p>