<p>okay, so i know that these "what are my chances" posts are annoying, but this is a forum for such things so i decided to put away my shame and give it a go.
so i'm a junior girl at a teeny tiny prep school in northern california and i'm just starting [to get stressed about!] the college search. my dream school has always been pomona, so i thought i would just show some of my stats as of now and see what you guys think my chances could be, and what i could improve on. (i can't really see myself at a big old ivy..especially harvard or yale...probably because the thought of getting in would be too intimidating and i love california weather too much to ever leave it behind).</p>
<p>okay:
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.13 weighted (probably going to go up because of lots of APs this year)
SAT1's: I've only taken them once. I got a 1510 (780M, 730V)
SATII's: none taken yet. sorry.
AP's: AP Euro-5, AP Chem-4 (these were in sophomore year)
AP Classes This year:
AP Spanish
AP US History
AP BC Calc
AP Bio
..i'll probably end up taking a few more next year. </p>
<p>EC's:
-Swimming (10 years by the time i graduate high school. My school doesn't have a team but if it did i would definitely be captain and would have been on varsity since Freshman year).
-Varsity Debate Team (since soph year)-Member of the Nation Forensic League with hopefully a Degree of Distinction by the time i graduate.
-Tutor a dyslexic girl from an oakland public school four times a week after school (since sophomore)
-Student Government (junior class rep-I really want to be student body president next year but that all depends...)
-Spanish Club founder and president
--Lit Mag-hopefully editor next year!
-Book Club-probably going to be president next year.
-Creative Writing-more of a hobby than anything. Although I had pieces submitted to the litmag fresh and sophomore years, and took a course this summer.
-Alto Saxophone player in Jazz Band</p>
<p>Other:
-summer of 2003: took a math class at UC Berkeley (got an A)
-summer of 2004: did a residential program with academic study associates at UC Berkeley. Took Developmental Psychology (A+) and Creative Writing (High Pass..there were not letter grades for this one/
-summer of 2005: not sure yet!..i've been invited to a bunch of leadership things and i got an application for RSI the other day but it's so intimidating and i really don't think i could get in. even though my math sats are high i am much more humanities inclined. i just find it more interesting.
-some chemistry contest finalist last year (****, it would probably be good if i found out what the name was!)
-many debate and swiming awards (especially lots of most dedicated for swimming)
-lots of community service awards
...um...im sure there is more that i am forgetting about now. i need to look back into the files. it seems like a lot of these posts have like every single award listed no matter how trivial it was. like even invitations that they got to apply to summer programs seem to be made more prestigious by saying "nominated" (in this case this list would be much longer). is this what is reccomended.</p>
<p>some other interesting things about me that make me more of a dimensional person (and possible essay topics):
-identical twin (who is my polar opposite)
-parents divorced about a year ago
-suffered from anorexia middle school through freshman year when i was hospitalized. spent sophomore year in recovery, in which i suffered from major depression. (this is part of the reason why my ec's are lacking earlier on and why i've really gotten back into most of these things this year). as of now i still battle it but i am for the most part healthy. i guess you could say i'm still recovering but definitely have come along way. this is defintiely my proudest accomplishment and is something i want to convey to colleges because i really want to help girls who struggle with the same thing.</p>
<p>...okay. i know that is in no way a complete picture of what my application would look like because im only a junior...but if someone could just give me some advice or tell me their opinion i would very much appreciate it! thanks!!</p>
<p>I personally don't know if mentioning your anorexia would help. But with schools like Pomona, who accept like 2 out of every 10 applicants, you better have a hook, which I think for you is your swimming for 10 years. I would recommend you do more things involved in swimming, like maybe starting a swimming club and have you and your members go out to your local park and teach kids how to swim, or be a lifeguard during the summer, etc.</p>
<p>Strawberryfield, you have done a great job balancing school responsibilities and personal struggles. I see no reason why you shouldn't write about it. It is something you feel strongly about and as such, it will shine through in your essay (s). Those are the essays that leave an impression on universities...those are the kinds of essays that get students accepted. </p>
<p>Anorexia (and other eating disorders) is a real epidemic on most campuses today. I read somewhere that over 50% of college students have some sort of eating disorder. Universities recognize that and those that don't are simply burrying their head in the sand. For those that recognize it, they may see you as an ideal candidate to help fellow students in need. They will also admire your courage and perseverance. And the fact that you are willingly and openly writing about it will demonstrate that you are well past the healing stage.</p>
<p>Some adcoms may not appreciate your accomplishments despite your obstacles, but the way I see it, why go to such a university?</p>
<p>One word of caution however. Do not limit your essays to that one topic. You should show the lighter side of you. Universities need to see the balance.</p>
<p>I also admire the fact that you know what university will make you happy (i.e., not Yale or Harvard). I can see you in a college like Pomona. Awesome school. University is first and formost about personal (not academic) growth. </p>
<p>Keep us posted on where you decide to go to school.</p>
<p>Sistah, as a sista from the CA hood, I would really like to encourage you to let go of CA weather for a few years and see the world. You can always come back! You have wonderful stats and can probably take your pick among the world's best colleges. Take the opportunity to see what's out there. If you love Pamona look at the wonderful LACs all over the Country, particularly in the East. And all the ivies are not big old schools. Princeton and Dartmouth are pretty similar to Pamona for undergrad.</p>
<p>I agree with Kirmum, although Princeton and Dartmouth are not the schools I would recommend. But there are plenty of awesome schools out there. Schools like Rice, Brown, Amherst, etc...</p>
<p>I think you're awesome because you choose what school you think will suit what you need and want - you don't simply want to go to an Ivy League school, though you seem qualified for some of them.</p>
<p>What you've posted is impressive, especially for a junior. G'luck with whatever happens!</p>
<p>aww thanks! you're so sweet. yeah, since i'm a junior i haven't really gotten a look at many schools yet. (although i have visited some. my parents insisted on starting the search process early because they have to do two at a time because of my sister!) and pomona has definitely given me the best feeling so far. just the fact that it's in california, close to home but not TOO close, i could swim there (i definitely could never compete at a D1 level)..etc. I also like the size a lot. I like the sound of smaller, undergraduate focused schools with a more personal feel than a bigger institution.
okay, i'm rambling. anyway, thanks again!</p>
<p>"-suffered from anorexia middle school through freshman year when i was hospitalized. spent sophomore year in recovery, in which i suffered from major depression. .... i guess you could say i'm still recovering but definitely have come along way. this is defintiely my proudest accomplishment and is something i want to convey to colleges because i really want to help girls who struggle with the same thing."</p>
<p>Congratulations on what you've done to overcome such difficult emotional problems.</p>
<p>Despite your justifiable pride in what you've done, I do NOT suggest that you highlight this on your essay. Unfortunately, due to problems such as students committing suicide, most colleges are wary of accepting students who they know have a history of major emotional problems.</p>
<p>If, however, you are doing something now -- volunteering with girls with eating disorders -- that relates to your own experience, you could focus on that in your essays. I don't, however, suggest that you highlight that your reason for getting involved was due to your own struggles.</p>
<p>If you search the archives, you'll also find similar threads in which students are advised not to highlight in their application any emotional problems. Some college application guides also advise the same.</p>
<p>In accepting students, college take on a large responsibility, which is even more difficult since by law, colleges can't contact students' families about emotional problems unless the students agree to this contact. As a result, colleges can be very cautious about admitting students who have a history of emotional problems. The colleges also know that for virtually everyone, freshman year is stressful. Depression is common in college freshmen, and students with prior emotional problems could be at risk of having setbacks in college.</p>