<p>I'm at risk of being told things I don't particularly want to hear, but here goes. I feel like my grades aren't terribly strong but my extracurriculars stand out (from what I'm told). I just want to know if it would be pragmatic to apply to Cornell A/S ED in the fall. </p>
<p>Basics: female, Indian, I go to a public high school with a competitive admissions process.
SAT scores:
SAT II Math Level II: 760
SAT II Biology M: 740
SAT II Chemistry: 800
SAT I-- Taking it Saturday. Based on PSAT/simulated tests, projected is 800 Math, 780 Writing, 760 Critical Reading
GPA (weighted): 4.1
Hook(?): first gen</p>
<p>9th grade Courses/Grades
Design & Tech: A
Computer Science: A
HN Biology: A-
HN English 9: A
HN Algebra 2: B
German 1: A</p>
<p>Summer between 9th/10th:
World History 1: A</p>
<p>10th grade Courses/Grades
HN Precalc: B
HN Chemistry: C+ BUT I studied a lot last summer and took the SAT II for chemistry and got 800, so I'm hoping that has some sort of redeeming quality.
AP Biology: A/5 on the exam
HN English 10: A
HN World History 2: A
German 2: A</p>
<p>Summer between 10th/11th:
Summer internship doing genetic sequencing for some Hawaiian plant species under a mentor in the Nat. Museum of Natural History's Museum Support Center (lab for 10 weeks; was the only high school student selected)</p>
<p>11th grade Courses/Grades (PROJECTED final grades and AP scores)
AP US History: A/expected 5 on the exam
HN English 11: A
German 3: A
Advanced Neuroscience (semester): A-
Advanced Alternative Energy Systems (semester): A
Advanced DNA Science 1 (semester): A-
Advanced DNA Science 2 (semester): A
HN Physics: B
And here's my primary concern... AP Calc BC: C/on the practice test I got a 5</p>
<p>This summer:
Working again 10 weeks under the same mentor, this time on my own project with some graduate students. This is continuing into a fall semester mentorship and my mentor says that we will likely publish a paper on these findings, which my name will be on.
The Smithsonian internship is thrice a week-- Twice a week I am going to Georgetown University Hospital and shadowing a doctor in the neonatology department for the first four weeks, and possibly switching into research (neonatal) for the remainder of the summer.</p>
<p>Self Studied AP Scores:
AP Environmental Science: 5
AP World History: 4</p>
<p>Projected Self Studied AP Scores (for tests I'm taking in the next two weeks):
AP Art History: 4
AP Macro: 5
AP Micro: 5</p>
<p>Awards:
1st Place in the Modern Foreign Language Tournament all three years
4th Place in the Statewide Science Fair last year. The paper I wrote for it is now published. (I'm going again this year with a new project which I expect should place somewhere in the top three seeing as I am even applying for a patent... fingers crossed XD)
National AP Scholar IF I get 4s/5s on those self-studies as predicted.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Every summer I host my own science camp (my mother has a licensed school so she supervises it all, of course) for kids in grades 2-5. It's usually five days/one week, and I do Steve Spangler types of activities with the kids and introduce them to chemical/biological concepts.
Similarly I'm the activities coordinator for GEMS, where every week I and a few girls from my school go to a local middle school and run an after school program doing the same kind of thing (spreading STEM)
I developed and continue to manage websites for three school clubs.
I co-coach an FLL robotics team (I am primarily responsible for leading the research aspect)
Wrote a chapter on infant neurology for a book currently in production on infant care.
For the past two summers (and continuing this summer) I've volunteered on weekends at a therapeutic horse-riding center in the area (leading horses, managing office activities like making flyers, updating the website, etc.)
From '05-Present I've taken art classes at a local studio and had a few exhibitions in the summer in the Town Center with other local artists (I am the only non-adult member of the Town Arts Association).
I do 8 hours of community service/week, including tutoring 2 ESOL students in math/English and working in a local environmental club. </p>
<p>There's a bit more but I think these are the most important aspects. My teacher recs should be great (one from my German teacher, the other from my Neuroscience teacher), as should my counselor rec, and I probably plan to get a supplemental rec from my mentor as well.</p>
<p>Other Colleges (assuming Cornell doesn't work out):
UVA
William & Mary
Georgetown
UChicago
U of Washington in St. Louis</p>