Help for Sophomore

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a white female from a small-ish Kentucky town. I'm a sophomore at a public high school of about 1,200 kids, and very, VERY rarely do graduates here go out of state.</p>

<p>I'd like a pretty challenge out-of-state private school in a big city... The big reach school's I'd consider are Harvard, Duke, and Brown, slightly-less-of-a-reach schools are John Hopkins University, Emory, and University of Chicago, and my good fits would be Tulane, Washington U (I have a legacy) and Vanderbilt (legacy).</p>

<p>I haven't been touring, yet, so this could change - just schools of about that caliber that are pretty good all-around, so when I decide my major I know there will be a good program for it.</p>

<p>I got a 31 on the ACT first time I took it - just to see how I'd do; I didn't study, though I think I might be able to boost it to a 32 or 33 if I try.</p>

<p>I got a 218 on the PSAT this year, and if I get the same or higher next year, I should become a National Merit Scholar based on this state's cutoff.</p>

<p>Haven't taken the SAT yet.</p>

<p>I've been on academic team since 4th grade, played up to the varsity team this year, and won state twice in written composition. I also do quiz bowl team with the Beta Club and have ranked 3rd and 2nd in nationals before.</p>

<p>I've done Girl Scouts since first grade, earned my silver award, and plan to earn my gold award next year.</p>

<p>I've done piano since first grade, band (oboe) since sixth grade and consistently am seated highly in the all-district band, will be a counselor-in-training at computer camp this year, and hold offices in the computer and literary clubs at school.</p>

<p>I take honors classes whenever our school offers them (no honors science or math, sadly), but because of its weird block system, I'll only be able to take 3 APs by the time I graduate - AP English, AP Calculus, and AP Computer Science.</p>

<p>So....</p>

<p>-Will schools take into account my location / give me more points because of my location? I hear about these kids who go do research in labs and intern and stuff, but really, there's nothing like that around here.</p>

<p>-Anyone get into any schools like this or similar schools? Do my stats match up? If not, I'm just a sophomore - what should I add?</p>

<p>-Finally, anyone know some safeties that meet what I'd like in a school?
-Anyone been accepted to these schools? Anyone have similar</p>

2

<p>First, as a fellow Kentuckian, please accept my apologies for having to live here. I feel your pain.</p>

<p>You have, frankly, great test scores for a sophomore you didn't study. You have a good residency for schools that care about "geographic diversity," and you have enough extra-curriculars. Since you only have limited courses available, most universities will forgive you if you take every challenging course you can. </p>

<p>My suggestions- try to develop a passionate EC; the key, according to many people, is depth, not breadth. You can easily deepen those. Keep a high GPA. Bring up your ACT (Did you take the PLAN ACT test this year? We did) and have a high SAT. Do Governors Scholars. Take some college courses if you can- do you live near Louisville or Lexington? Could you take a class or two at UK or UofL during the summer, maybe? </p>

<p>I think you'll have as good a shot as any one at Harvard (it's always a reach). I think you'd be a match to slight reach for your others if you do what I suggested above.</p>