Hopeful Junior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey all, my first time snooping around here. The college-ing world is a lot harsher than I had originally imagined. Well, here we go:</p>

<p>GPA (as of end of junior Semester 1):</p>

<ul>
<li>3.75 unweighted GPA</li>
<li>3.99 weighted GPA</li>
</ul>

<p>AP Classes: (All As except for 4 anticipated Bs)</p>

<ul>
<li>Sophomore: 1/3 AP classes (AP Bio, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB)</li>
<li>Junior: 1/2 AP classes (AP Economics, AP Physics, AP Statistics, AP English Language)</li>
<li>Senior: ?? AP classes (AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP Western Civilization, AP Government, Advanced Health Careers -OR- Careers in Engineering)</li>
</ul>

<p>EC by the end of highschool: </p>

<ul>
<li>Speech/Debate 4 years</li>
<li>Cross country 4 years (2 varsity)</li>
<li>Track/field 3 years (2 varsity)</li>
<li>Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams 3 years (president 2 years)</li>
<li>Internship at Intel 1 year</li>
<li>Internship at Primate Research Center 1 year (biomedical things)</li>
<li>Summer internship in psychology</li>
<li>Piano 4 years</li>
<li>Homeless shelter volunteering hours (50+)</li>
</ul>

<p>SAT:</p>

<ul>
<li>2060 as of now, but getting around 2200 on practice tests</li>
<li>Math: 770</li>
<li>Writing: 660</li>
<li>Reading: 630 :(</li>
</ul>

<p>Others:</p>

<ul>
<li>Duke legacy</li>
<li>Purdue legacy</li>
<li>Planning to take SAT II in Physics and Math</li>
<li>Either mechanical engineering or premed.</li>
</ul>

<p>Schools:</p>

<li>Duke</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>University of Washington (Seattle)</li>
<li>Purdue</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
</ol>

<p>Of course, seeing as I am a junior, I have a lot of time for improvement for the SAT, and I have yet to take the real ACT. But I’m wondering how I stack up for these colleges? (I’m also looking for college recommendations; I haven’t really looked too in-depth.)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance, and happy New Year.</p>

2

<p>recs are what can make or break you- so make sure you get teachers that know you really well and can write great + original things about you.</p>

<p>essays are equally important, so start thinking of ideas and writing them during the summer.</p>

<p>legacies always help- so you're in good shape especially if you make it to that 2200 and do decently on the subject tests.</p>

<p>your extra curriculars look solid- varsity sports, president of that team, internship, etc.</p>

<p>i would however, add one or two more safeties/targets because most of the schools on your list are ivies and are difficult to get in to.</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

3

<p>Disucssed with my parents:</p>

<ol>
<li>Duke</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>UW</li>
<li>Purdue</li>
<li>UC Berkley</li>
<li>Reid College</li>
<li>OSU</li>
<li>Portland State</li>
</ol>

<p>Last three being safties.</p>

<p>As for recs, my physics teacher (who has known me for two years and is the mentor of InvenTeams) would be one of my first choices. Thing is that he's had some problem with his hearing since he was young, and because of this his writing/English has suffered. I don't suppose it's orthodox to have him write a rec and have somebody else check it over?</p>

4

<p>Fool i know you. You goto to westview. Inventeams!!!
You won't get in anywhere. no chance, go back to romania. lol just kidding :)
BTW, you spelled Reed college wrong</p>

5

<p>Thought I'd see you around here.</p>

<p>I know; it's Reed. But these forums won't let me edit after a certain amount of time.</p>

6

<p>Bump/update, kinda.</p>

<p>The main college I'm looking at is Duke. I've been reading about Duke for the past two days or so. I've found the six factors they admit people by:</p>

<pre><code>* The rigor of a candidate's academic program
* Academic performance
* Letters of recommendation from teachers and a counselor
* Extracurricular activities and personal qualities
* The quality of thought and clarity of expression evident in a candidate's personal statement/essay
* Standardized testing
</code></pre>

<p>Rigor: Excellent
Academic Performance: Average (most As, several Bs)
Recs: Good
EC: Excellent
Essay: Very Good
Testing: Very Good</p>

<p>I know it's vague, but do you think that with this and sibling legacy, Duke would accept me?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>EDIT: By the way, if I have a legacy at Stanford through marriage (my brother-in-law), would I still be allowed to list it as legacy?</p>