<p>Okay, so this feels really weird, but it would be interesting to see how this works. All right, then, what are my chances of acceptance (and perhaps even scholarship money) at the following schools, or perhaps even others I've neglected in a similar vein. Feel free to make suggestions!</p>
<p>Swarthmore College, Rice University, Middlebury College, Haverford College, Vassar College, Wesleyan University, Carleton College</p>
<p>My average in freshman year was approximately 96.5, but in sophomore year it went down to 94, if you include non-core courses like photography and health. If you leave these out, my soph average is about the same as frosh year. Junior year, however, my average comes out to something pretty hot, like 101 or something. Additionally, this counts even more in my GPA than the previous two years, because I took more classes. Senior year looks to be similarly high, and although my school doesn't do rank, this should leave me with an average in the top 5% of my class of about 400 students. These grades have been in classes including 12 APs and 9 honors classes. </p>
<p>A strong interest of mine throughout high school has been the study of foreign languages. I studied Italian independently for 2 years as a result of exhausting all of the resources readily available. I studied Italian during the summers succeeding both my sophomore and junior in preparation for accelerated semi-independent courses during the school year. I studied at the Language Immersion Institute at SUNY New Paltz over the summer, and at the Parliamo Italiano school in New York City during weekends in the school year. Additionally, I have taken 5 years of Spanish and 1 year of French, and will be taking both AP Spanish and AP Italian next year.</p>
<p>As for extracurriculars, I am highly involved in the publication of Images, the school's art and literary magazine. I have been on staff for three years, including one year as assistant editor and co-fundraiser. This takes up a significant amount of time, about 2-3 hours a week during the earlier part of the year and like 6-7 hours/ week as we near the deadline. This effort won the 2004 edition of the magazine the prestigious Columbia Associated Press Gold Medal, 1st place in entries from all over the state. </p>
<p>Additionally, I am an active member of both Spanish and Italian Honor Societies. I have participated in several regional Mathletes competitions, and am also a founding member of our school's Recycling Organization, petitioning for and getting a recycling bin for the school grounds. Finally, I am a member of SOVAH, Students Opposed to Violence and Hatred, including ushering at the club's Hunger Banquet, an event designed to raise money and awareness for issues of poverty and a living wage. </p>
<p>Oh right, standardized test scores! All right, I received a 2310 composite on my first and only SAT I back in March, which breaks down to a 760 math, 750 verbal, and 800 writing. I briefly considered retaking it, but I felt this would be fruitless. SAT IIs include 770 USH, 720 Span, 800 IIC, 740 Lit. </p>
<p>Other random awards: AP Psychology award for the most distinguished student in a class of 60 students. Several awards for excellence in foreign language study. 3rd place regionally on the competitive National Spanish Examination, multiple honorable mentions for Italian. Some mini-scholarship for an analytical research paper on Vietnam; I can't really elaborate, I haven't received all of the information on that yet. AP Scholar with Distinction Award, should be bumped up to National Scholar level by the end of Senior Year. And I assume I will receive a National Merit Scholar for a PSAT score of 226 (I live in New York). I'm sure there are some other acknowledgements, but I can't reall think of them now.</p>
<p>*Forgot to mention, I do a lot of tutoring, especially in math, chemistry, and Spanish. I generally do this without pay, and the commitment amounts to several hours a week, I think. This often counts as community service hrs.</p>
<p>Oh, and of course my recommendations are beyond excellent, and I believe my essays should be rather impressive as well. What do you think?</p>