<p>Hi, so im in Transition year in Ireland and I hope to apply to Princeton and Yale and other top schools in 2011 ( hoping to attend autumn 2012)
Note: Secondary school system, three years doing 'junior cycle' i.e. studying for the 'junior cert' with 11 subjects, optional 'transition year' where you do a broader range of subjects with more 'extras', two years 'senior cycle' with seven subjects cuminating in the 'leaving cert'.</p>
<p>Im just going to write what im realistically estimating i'll get but i'd love to know where im weak/what i need to improve. After all i have leaving cert cycle ( junior and senior) as well as the rest of this semester to improve.</p>
<p>Sat
writing: 790
reading: 800
maths: 750</p>
<p>Sat subject tests
english literature: 800
maths 11: 780
biology: 800
french with listening: 780</p>
<p>note: i wanted to do a sat subject test in history as its my best subject but, alas the curiculum is too different.</p>
<p>APs: Im doing the irish curriculum so this isnt provided, however we do subjects at higher or ordinary level. Im doing all my subjects at higher level for leaving certificate(refer to first note) so will they take this into account as it is a much much heavier course load.</p>
<p>GPA: we dont do this at my school</p>
<p>class rank: Im the top in my year,(around a hundred students)</p>
<p>Volunteer:
. When it comes to volunteering my main passion is helping people with disabilities. I voulnteer once a week in a local charity shop whose profits go to helping those with disabilities, i also will be volunteering with special olympics ireland and i also volunteer with a local school helping to run a week long summer camp for children with moderate to severe disabilities.
. i also volunteer once a week at a local oxfam bookshop.
. I volunteer at the yearly book club feastival and ceifin conference ( inspirational speaches on different topics for two days)</p>
<p>EXTRAS
In ireland there is less emphasis on ecs and there importance ( leaving certificate exam results are IT ). I live in a smallish town with little local groups to join. In ecs there are little leadership positions avaliable, most of the time you are a member and thats that.
- member of local teenage theatre group ( five years)
- Performed in a school musical two years in a row ( maximum time )
- Won an irish debating competition,received a badge which is rarely given out and means im fluent in irish.
- Played a part in an Irish play which won a national competition.
- Played a part in an english play that won a regional competition.
- Have taken part in many public speaking competitions, of which i have generally placed.
- Have done work experience in my local court house ( pretty rare work experience position, was extremely interesting and unusual) as well as with a local theatre.
- Been a green school prefect for three years ( means I go to meeting about how to 'green up' our school.
- founded a small book club after the local one closed in the library.
- piano ( eight years)
- elected to serve terms as prefect and after vice prefect of my class.
Im sure theres more but it'll take me a little time to remember them, thats them off the top of my head.</p>
<p>The thing is most of my 'hobbies' or what not are things that i do but outside of a club or group.
examples...
- sailing and surfing, have gotten lessons and they are both activites that i love doing especially during the summer and after school in late spring early autumn.
- nature-y stuff. i.e. i have my own beehive, keep chickens and have an organic vegetable patch ( im just such a wannabe farmer;)
- reading. alot. more than is strictly healthy. Its my biggest passion, I helped teach both my brothers to read nad often read books aloud to my grandmother as she has failing sight.
- Walking two miles to and from school to help the environment.
- Music( like every teenager).
- travel, i was born in the united arab emirates and moved to Ireland when i was nine ( both parents irish though), i have a completely different and broader minded approach to the world than my school counterparts because of this.
- Foreign movies and photography.</p>
<p>and thats pretty much it.I just would love to know how to make myself more competitive.</p>
<p>additional:
I've been told im a very charismatic person and Im very outgoing and enthusiastic, i would consider my interview to be one of my strong points, likewise my essays and teacher recommendations.</p>
<p>Ultimately what I really want to know is if they will consider that my circumstances are different in Ireland, the massive emphasis on the leaving cert, the lack of volunteering ( I'd say my rate of volunteering is exceptional as no teenager i know volunteers in my area.no one. also will they take into account that there are less ecs avaliable to me to join ( especially school ones, we have a gaelic football team and hurling team, thats pretty much it) and lastly will they take into account my passions that are not easily confined into this club and that club, this position and that position?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your time in reading this, I appreciate it especially since this is my first post.And its so bloody long:O</p>