<p>hey thanks for looking at this i really appreciate it! I've been really stressed by this whole college thing for some time. like you have no idea how much ive been stressed, but anyway im really interested in washington university-st. louis. I know my SAT/ACT and GPA scores are bad. Anything else I can work on?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5 unweighted 3.65 weighted
ACT: 25 (retaking)
SAT: 1830 (retaking)
Should get good recs and should write a great essay</p>
<p>ECS
-founded my own business which works with Amazon.com in book sales and distribution
-I love trading stocks and started when I was in grade school
-often talk about starting a business and the importance of academics to kids in underdeveloped communities (having been doing this on a regular basis for 2 years now) through a group that links business leaders to youth.
-berekly model UN
-summer at brown econ class
-taking two college classes at local community college
-work at local store for 10hrs/week
-Vice President (10,11) President (12) of a the teen advisory board which acts as a liaison between teens and the city council</p>
<p>Background:
- I now attend a very prestigious school in a very affluent neighborhood, however I came from a grade school that did not prepare students for this type of a challenging academic atmosphere. It was a fight to be able to go to the high school I do now, but I have always had the dream of attending a great college.
-I went through difficult transitional periods my frosh and soph years but beginning 2nd semester sophomore year have taken the hardest course load and have done extremely well.</p>
<p>Im a hispanic californian and would not need financial aid. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>apply early. that'll help your chances, as your gpa and sats are, as you said, a little shaky. although i think your ECs are more than outstanding.</p>
<p>Write a good essay that explains your business experience and how it's done x y and z to you in terms of skills learned (not just business skills, life skills, bringing in your speaking to kids part, etc.). It seems like colleges look highly on motivated individuals, and an essay on that can only help. Get those stats up a bit, and you'll probably have a good chance. Make sure to show interest in Wash U, and make sure to visit the campus. Good luck with the admission process!</p>
<p>Yea until you get those test scores up, Wash U is probly a reach for you, but still you have some very good EC's.</p>
<p>get that SAT up and apply early.</p>
<p>I think that WashU will take your e.c's into high consideration. Be sure to take the ACT again, because they say that most students score at least 2 points higher, plus WashU takes ur highest score in each category to get a composite score. or at least they did last year. Also, Im planning on starting my own business very soon, any advice? feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:tasha87@uchicago.edu">tasha87@uchicago.edu</a> or just post it. thanks and good luck</p>
<p>the fact that you're an URM will probably help--I recommend applying for one of wustl's diversity scholarships, too, to show interest. make your essays fabulous.</p>
<p>tasha87, i guess i can give you just some general advise/tips, but if you want some more specific advice just ask and i can e-mail it to you.</p>
<ol>
<li>have ample start-up money</li>
<li>have a really solid business plan</li>
<li>tell people what you are planning to do and establish contacts (BUT be careful to establish the right contacts--not someone who is going to rip you off)</li>
<li>have confidence in yourself and know where you want to go</li>
<li>understand the market you are getting yourself into--understand the competition</li>
</ol>
<p>these are just some general tips, as i said before i would love to talk to you more about specifically you want to start-up.</p>