So I just finished freshman year and i know it is probably very early but i would like to know how i can improve in order to have a chance to enter an ivy or uc.
DISCLAIMER: The main problem is that im greek and that in my country we have a much different system. Thus there are no AP or IB or i dont know what classes in to which everyone is paying much attenition and that because we have the exact same classmates for every sybject and all subjects are compulsory (no chance to choose classes except for choosing between Art Music Theatre in sophomore year). We get the chance to choose subjects in junior and senior year, when again we do all the subjects we just have to choose a “direction” (the exact translation from greek). The one direction is about Math Science Chemistry Biology and the other is about Literacture History Ancient Greek etc. All students do all subjects (from both directions plus art, pe, computers etc) but they take different classes for their direction’s subjects to study them more in depth and finally give exams for four subjects in the Panhellenic exams. I dont know if this could be considered as AP classes though. I dont even know what exactly AP classes are (if someone can explain).
Anyway after all those explanations im finally getting to my resume
School: Model Highschool of Evangeliki in Smyrni
School type: public but model
Location: Athens, Nea Smyrni
Ethnicity: Greek
Gender: Female
Prospective Major: not sure but i think Architecture/Engineering or Math (class of 2020)
Class rank: My school doesnt rank but from what i know about top 7%
GPA freshman year: Again we have a different system (we are voted out of 20) so i tried to convert it
Greek gpa: 19.6/20
US gpa: uw 3,96/4 and I dont know exactly what weighted is but if its the thing with + or - 0.33 then its 4,17/4 (if its not that then please explain what a weighted gpa is)
My gpa has always been more or less the same so unless something extraordinary happens my senior years gpa will be like this one
note: there are very few model highschools in my country so my school is one of the best nationally. For anyone who doesnt know what a model highschool is, its a school, that you give exams to be admitted before 7th grade so its very competitive and selective. Its a small school with about 450 students (7th class-Seniors) and my year (year of 2002) has 78 students
SAT and ACT scores: I havent taken them yet but im willing to take them as many times as i need to score a 1200 and 34 at least (im sure i can make it)
ECs
-Speaker of 3 languages: Greek (native speaker-excellent), English (i can speak very well and im still learning so by the time i get to go to college i will be fluent. Plus i dont know if this counts but i have the C2 certificate) and German (average- i have the B2 certificate and i can speak about most things)
-11 years of ballet (took part in 11 shows)
-9 years of other dances including contemporary, modern and greek traditional (9 shows)
-2 years drawing lessons
-1 year swimming
-have taken part in 7 school plays
-helped create the botanical garden of my school
-helped host the art gallery of my school
-have taken part in several art actions with my school
-joined math club for three years
-joined psychology club for a year
-joined creative writing club for a year
-i was voted by the students of my school to represent them among with 14 other students for two years in a row (15-member counsil of the student body)
-i was voted by my classmates for the 5-member class counsil for a year
-ECDL expert certificate
Honors:
-have taken part in national math competitions with 4/6 success
-first place in the international Purple Comet Math Meet contest (with the math team of my school) in 2016
-second place in the international Purple Comet Math Meet contest (with the math team of my school) in 2017
-first place in the exams to enter my school (1/ about 700)
-first place in a swimming contest
-have received 3 honors awards from my school (award that all students with very good gpas get) and 1 award for being first in my class for a year
Interesting note: I have visited CERN during my school’s trip to Switzerland
!IMPORTANT! About the future: As i’ve said my gpa’s will remain the same if not get better. Im planning to join math club for 2-3 more years and also 1-2 more clubs. I will also probably be voted again for both counsils once or twice during the following years. I will for sure keep taking part in math contests and maybe i will try Science contest and Scratch programming contest next year too. Another thing i will do for sure is apply for a scholarship to a summer school by the Greek-American Instituition next summer, and I think i will be accepted. I’m young to have taken an internship but maybe ill take a shot for a summer job in the future. I’m planning on getting 3 more honors awards and i am going to try for the best student in class award too. Moreover i will take graphic and linear classes for two years if i decide to apply for Architecture. Finally i have looked up some art contests and i think i will take part in some ofthem during sophomore year, when the school programm will not be overwhelming. Unfortunately, i dont plan on keep taking dancing lessons (perhaps for a year more)
Note that the essays from my teachers will be very well written and that i can write greatly if i try i just dont have an impressive past (anything traymatic or something)
I know I’ve talked too much but i needed to explain some things and i hope that someone has come to that point. If youre kind enough, please explain me those things that i’ve asked and also answer some (or all) of the questions below:
Will being greek be a pro or a con or it doesnt matter?
Are my EC descent?
Are my future plans going to lead me somewhere?
What do you think I should include more in my resume and what steps should i take in the following years?
I know its too early, but do i have a chance to get in one of my dream schools?
Thanks a lot for reading this whole book and i would really appreciate any kind of answer! It would mean a lot and help me infinately if you could give me some piece of advice!