So here’s the thing,
I’m going into my senior year and I come from a very small school in Southwest Michigan (my class size is 52!). We are technically a reward school (one step up above a priority school, meaning our average test scores are horrible). As of last year, I was the fourth of my class, almost tied with third. Anyway, really small school. We literally have one AP class. We have only basic sports (football, volleyball, wrestling, cross-country, track, basketball, baseball, and softball). Our only “clubs” are R.A.P.P. (Raiders Against Peer Pressure), NHS, Student Council, Spanish Club, Yearbook, and Science Olympiad. What I’m trying to say is, maybe try and chance me, help answer some questions, and/or sympathize with a very, very, very small towner.
My grades history:
I’ve been in as advanced classes as possible since 7th grade, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a B, but I might of once or twice. I’ve kept a 3.8 (or so) or above (out of 4) my entire high school career, over four with a weighted GPA (dual-enrollment). Got a 30 on the ACT+Writing. Got a 3 on AP Lit. and Comp. Exam. Plan on taking The SAT ST Chemistry and Math 2 in October, I’ll get in the 700s without a doubt.
My class Schedule of last year:
1st Semester Dual-Enrollment: Psychology and Intro to Human Communication
2nd Semester Dual-Enrollment: Philosophy and Public Speaking
Year-Long Classes at High School: Chemistry, AP Literature and Composition, and Pre-Calculus
Clubs/Activities:
-I have worked with our schools Director of Technology since the summer before freshman year. Being one of the, if not THE, most technologically advanced schools in SW Michigan, that’s a pretty big thing. Desktop computers, laptops, ENO smart boards, document cameras, school servers, and whatever else that I’m asked to do. Me and him are responsible for all three districts (Elementary, Middle, and High) and we are needed everywhere. When Boss-man isn’t around teacher and school administrators come to me to help them. I’ve taken apart and put together nearly all of the tech listed above. I work for anywhere from 2-6 hours after school (which is 7:50-3:100. And in the summer I work several weeks after school ends, and before it begins, for anywhere from 6-14 hours a day. This year I am helping implement a whole to school wide wireless network, and a one-to-one technology initiative with 900 Microsoft Surface Pro 3’s. This is my main EC because it takes up the most time, and it has actually helped keep my family afloat since freshman year. I pay for my own gas, snacks, school books, some bills my Step-dad couldn’t stretch pay, and even some clothes.
-Was inducted into NHS first year they recruited (sophomore) with only 5 other sophomores, and I’m now the President. We do a lot: Host and work a red-cross blood drive 4 times a year that is one of the most successful in the region, tutor Elementary, Middle, and High on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, host and work multiple spaghetti dinners and soup suppers a year, run over-successful food drives for the Human Services, design and build a town Haunted House every year, many fundraisers, and a little more that I can’t think of right now. I, as President, also am going to push for more things to be done this year, such as sending care packages to Military overseas (as my father is in the army), adopting our local highway to cleanup, and doing more for the teachers.
-It’s not really an EC but I am one of my classes “spokesman”. If there is an issue or something we don’t like, I don’t hide from it, I go straight to the head of the problem, be it the principle or a teacher! It’s not recognized but I’ve been asked to do it several times. I also pushed for an Honors Biology class this year and got it!
-I am currently teaching myself Modern Greek with the Michel Thomas Method. It’s going pretty great if I do say so myself. Its all audio though, so I would die if you asked me to spell or read. I aced both years of Spanish my school offers as well. Languages come easily to me.
-When I can find the time I cycle around the countryside. I really enjoy it. Both speed and long distances are decently easy for me. I have a loose kneecap that comes out of place whenever it wants to, that’s why the only sport I’ve played was track in 7th grade! But it doesn’t do it when cycling, so I cycle. (My school doesn’t have a cycling team, but Stanford does!)
-Throughout Middle school. 9th, and 10th grade I was in my church’s youth group, a leader, and we did soup suppers (and lunch) for the homeless (so it was free), we picked up roadways, we planned a town fair, and we raise money and walk for Relay for Life (Mom was a survivor!) Since work, and in 10th grade NHS I’ve had to give it up. To stressful.
-I participate in Science Olympiad, started in 8th grade. Got 2nd in keep the Heat, and got 1st in Thermodynamics in 9th grade. (The discontinued it after that.) Went to State in 10th grade (amazing for a team of maybe 15). We got like 36 out of 52 teams, I think. Even better for a team of 15 going up against huge schools from around the state. I took a break in 11th grade because all of the events were crap and the addition of dual-enrollment meant even more stress. Am planning on going back for this year.
My Tentative Senior Schedule:
Art, Honors English, Health, Lifetime Fitness, Anatomy and Physiology: Independent Study, Financial Literacy, and Digital Design.
I didn’t take college courses this year because they would do nothing for me intellectually. I got more out of my high schools offerings. Also this saves money (books and gas). This also forfeits my class ranking. Since they do it by GPA, and I don’t have my colleges weighting anymore, I’ll be booted down to at LEAST low top ten, probably low teens. This essentially makes me look stupid based on rankings. But, I am not stupid. I was going to write on the “challenging beliefs” prompt (that smart students dual-enroll) in my long college essay, or possibly the “essential story” prompt (working, sacrificing time with friends, sports, other ECs in favor of helping my family.)
As I see it, my app looks kinda weak. I have a way with words, so my essays would at least be halfway decent.
And how would I work those into the common app (so they really stand out) when they only allow a 150 character description???
I know this post way longer that was necessary, but maybe chance me for Stanford please? Anything would be good. I plan on applying EA. If you need more clarifications, or have questions, please feel free to ask.