High SAT, but Average GPA

Applying to College
1

<p>Here's me:</p>

<p>2290 SAT (800 CR, 700 M, 790 W)
3.62 GPA (10-12, Messed up Fresh/Soph, but a lot of improvement Jr/Snr)
I'm only ranked 161-803 (Barely Top 20%)
Academic Rigor on a scale of one to ten: 7 or 8
African American
Boys' State Delegate
National Achievement Semifinalist (Don't know about finalist yet)
Track (All League 2 years in a row) & Soccer
Not as much volunteer work as I should have (but I hope to counterbalance by stating my intent to join the Peace Corps after graduation, which is true)
I'm from California, so you know the schools around me</p>

<p>Two questions:
1) What should I write in my essay to boost my application? Should I include that I am African American? And should I try to explain the improvement in my grades or ignore grades all together?</p>

<p>2) What are some examples of competitive schools that I have good chance of being accepted to? Or should i look to less competitive schools? Basically, what's the best school that you think I have a chance at?</p>

2

<p>Why won’t anyone answer my question :-(</p>

3

<p>Your stats aren’t bad at all. Don’t let all the insane stats you see on CC scare you too much. You’ll want some safeties, of course, but go ahead and shoot for some of the nicer colleges.</p>

<p>Also, the topic of your essay isn’t as important as the quality. Pick a topic you can write well, though you probably don’t need to mention that you’re African American. That’ll show up somewhere else on your application.</p>