I'm sooo scared...will i get in?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Wow...im sooo scared..i never thought applying to college would be this hard.. but anyways here are my stats...i would like to know if you guys think i'll get into</p>

<p>Possible Major: Biology/Pre-med</p>

<p>THESE ARE MY TOP 5 CHOICES:
1) Columbia
2) Georgetown - applied EA
3) Cornell
4) NYU
5) BU</p>

<p>OTHER'S I APPLIED TO:
6) Brown
7) UPenn</p>

<h2>8) JHU</h2>

<p>GPA: 3.78/4.3
Class Rank: 17/230</p>

<h2> Top 7%</h2>

<p>SAT I: M:760 V:580 T: 1340 (my verbal score sucks!)
SAT II:
MATH IC: 760
MATH IIC:750</p>

<h2> WRITING: 690</h2>

<p>APS:
1) Calc AB: 3
2) US History
3) Psychology (currently taking)
4) English Lit (currently taking)
5) Physics B (currently taking)</p>

<h2>6) Calc BC (currently taking)</h2>

<p><strong>ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS/HONORS</strong>
•Governor’s School of Public Issues and the Future of New Jersey 2004 Scholar - only 100 students from the state of New Jersey were selected to spend a month at Monmouth University and learn about issues affecting our society and experience first-hand the concerns of the people
•Graduate of Bharata Natya (Indian Classical Dance) – Received a plaque on August 17, 2002 – Recognized as a professional dancer – after 7 years of training
oReceived 2 plaques for participation in the 3rd Annual Indian-American
Festival
•Tae-kwon-do Black Belt after 7 years of training
oPlaced 2nd at Karate in Motion Tournament
oReceived 2 Medals for the Board Breaking Contest
oReceived trophy as an Outstanding Student at the Edison Martial Arts<br>
Academy
oPerformed at the Special Olympics
•Received Certification of Completion from the University of Medicine and Dentistry Pre-Medical Honors Program
•Accepted to the National Honor Society
•Accepted to the French Honor Society
•Received Professional Certification for Lifeguard
•Received Professional Certification for First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer
•County Semi-finalist in Mock Trial 2004 Competition
•Participant of John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
•Invited to the National Student Leadership Conference 2003
•Received National Honor Roll
•Received Academic Honor Roll
•Received Attitude Honor Roll
•Gifted and Talented Student – students are given an IQ test, those with an IQ over 130 are selected to the 4 year high school program</p>

<p><strong>VOLUNTEER</strong>
•Cadet/EMT at the Woodbridge First Aid and Rescue Squad
•Roosevelt Care Center – local nursing home
oDecorated a bookshelf for the residents
oOrganized a Thanksgiving Dinner
oPainted a nursing unit with the residents
oOrganized the library
oRead books, played games, and talked to residents
•Swim Instructor for the YMCA
oTaught 2 year old to 48 year old students how to swim
•Iselin Branch Library
oOrganized books and housekeeping
•Assisted the BAPS organization in raising money for victims of the earthquake in India
•Wrote, published, donated, and read children’s book (English I Honors class)
•Made cards for Veterans and delivered them to the nursing home for veterans
•Made cards for senior citizens for Valentine’s Day
•Collected Band-Aids for hospitals in Haiti
•Assisted with the Hand-in-Hand fair for Handicap individuals</p>

<p><strong>LEADERSHIP ROLES</strong>
•National Honor Society President
•Editor-in-Chief for the School Newspaper – The Torch
•President of the Math Team
•Captain of the Cricket Team
•Chairperson for the Empty Bowls Collection
•Lead Witness in Mock Trial
•Student Council Representative
•Math and Reading Tutor at the Kumon Math and Reading Center
•Taught Tae-kwon-do classes at the Edison Martial Arts Academy
•Taught Bharata Natya Classes to five and six year olds for the Rhythm of Life 2003 Program</p>

<p><strong>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES</strong>
•Girls Junior Varsity Tennis
•French Activities and Cultural Experience
•Students Assisting English as a Second Language students
•Word Master National Competition – word competition
•Yearbook – layout editor </p>

<p><strong>WORK EXPERIENCE</strong>
•YMCA lifeguard and swim instructor
•Jewish Community Center Lifeguard and Swim Instructor</p>

<h2>•Math and Reading Tutor at the Kumon Math and Reading Center</h2>

<p>Ok...so i have a gazillion activities...and over 1000 hours in volunteer work.. plus I will be in the ER for 10 hours and I am going to work at a Doctor's office starting next week..but my SAT I scores are kinda low...</p>

<h2>I AM SO NERVOUS!!...please let me know what you think</h2>

<p>P.S. GOOD LUCK TO ALL EA AND ED APPLICANTS!! I HOPE WE ALL GET IN!</p>

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<p>ok so this is a long post!...but dont read all of it!...please reply!...im sooo scared and confused</p>

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<p>where is ur third SAT subject test?</p>

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<p>where are you from??? are you a foreigner? i mean us foreigners do have low SAT verbal scores, b/c i am in the same predicament</p>

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<p>1.) Math Ic: 760
2.) Math Iic:750
3.) Writing: 690</p>

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<p>i thought that the third subject couldn't be an extra math. ...</p>

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<p>yes it can...you need a writing and any two..and because they have two maths you can take the two maths as two separate tests</p>

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<p>no i am not a foreigner..i was born here..but my verbal score is still low..i dont know why..i studied sooo hard for it too</p>

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<p>hmmmm... maybe i will take the ic this saturday</p>

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<p>so how are my chances looking?</p>

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<p>oPerformed at the Special Olympics</p>

<p>do you mean volunteered?</p>

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<p>there is a difference</p>

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<p>i performed a karate demo at the special olympics...my karate school volunteered to do a performance for them before the olympic started</p>

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<p>I don't know what you're chances are... I'm a measley hs senior. But you do have a lot of activities, thats sure to help. BTW- don't feel bad about your verbal, i have the same score. I'm retaking this weekend, ugh.</p>

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<p>Having a gazillion activities doesn't necessarily mean admission. Your academic qualifications are first and foremost, unless you are truly outstanding in a single field such as sports or music. By truly outstanding, I mean being a national caliber oboe player or rower.</p>

<p>Also, while you seem to have "done a lot" in terms of your extracurriculars, I don't seem true initiative or originality, which would be key for someone with your scores. Many of the extracurriculars and awards are extremely ordinary, and their presence detracts from some of the more substantive achievements you have. Even if you do not distill them for the convenience of the admissions officers, I guarantee you that they will make your description into six lines or less.</p>

<p>I don't see that much academic fire, honestly, which is key for most nontagged applicants. Your Verbal score is very bad for a nondisadvantaged applicant, and is not admissible to most highly selective colleges. Your Math scores seem high on the surface, but the 3 on your single AP exam also detracts from your academic merit.</p>

<p>If your reccomendations really depict academic spark and superb intellect in the context of your area, you have a much better chance.</p>

<p>Sorry if I ragged on you. I'm just telling you what I feel is true, and if this were my thread, I'd want to hear the same exact thing. I really do wish you the best of luck.</p>

<p>Joey</p>

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<p>thanks joey...i really appreciate that...my recommendations are quite amazing and i have recommendation letters from various subject teachers..</p>

<p>about the academic fire...i dont know what you'd consider as academic fire and i'd appreciate it if you could let me know..</p>

<p>the verbal score..i dont know where i went wrong... and yes i understand what you are saying with the 3 on the AP test...but I do plan on taking the BC test</p>

<p>I really appreciate your detailed post and would love it if you would post again. </p>

<p>Thank You</p>

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<p>Captain of the cricket team? Tell me about it.</p>

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<p>i have almost the same scores as you...but 10 pts higher in verbal...u def. have a chance @ NYU..my sis got in w/ a 1320...indian dance is good too..i put it on my app...good luck 2 u.</p>

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<p>accepted into nhs?
accepted into fhs?</p>

<p>are you in them or just accepted?</p>

<p>anyone can be accepted, do you actively participate in every single one of these activities???</p>

20

<p>
[quote]
thanks joey...i really appreciate that...my recommendations are quite amazing and i have recommendation letters from various subject teachers..</p>

<p>about the academic fire...i dont know what you'd consider as academic fire and i'd appreciate it if you could let me know..</p>

<p>the verbal score..i dont know where i went wrong... and yes i understand what you are saying with the 3 on the AP test...but I do plan on taking the BC test</p>

<p>I really appreciate your detailed post and would love it if you would post again. </p>

<p>Thank You

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, here's what I mean.</p>

<p>In A Is For Admission, Michele A. Hernandez, Former Associate Director of Admissions at Dartmouth, outlines the importance of "academic spark" - your ability to add to the intellectual environment at the college. Now, I realize that your teachers may write you very strong reccomendations, but follow me now. Your teachers must say that you have outstanding potential, and the ability to make a difference, especially in a top-notch environment. </p>

<p>Most teacher reccomendations will simply say that a person is a hard worker, earned strong grades, etc. However, the best reccomendations, and the ones that make a difference, will say things like - he is one of the most outstanding mathematicians I have had the privilige of teaching, or he is a budding young historian with a keen eye for speculative reasoning, or that the world may expect great things from him. </p>

<p>There's a big difference between the student who will recieve "you're a great kid and a strong student," and the student who will recieve, "you could earn top grades as a math major at any ivy league." The first student is merely ordinary. The second one is truly outstanding. Now, the admissions officers are trained to recognize certain phrases. They also believe that test scores can often indicate great talent. </p>

<p>The vast majority of admissions officers would rather take a risk on a somewhat less diligent student with truly outstanding scores and reccomendations, than a diligent student who comes across as a plugger that will always hand work in but will never make a true contribution. I hope you now understand what I mean.</p>

<p>Joey</p>