Poor white male. Deceased parents, no generated income, living off of my grandmother’s disability. Parents were drug addicted dropouts before they died. In state for Vandy, Sewanee, and UTK. Rural west TN
34 comp 35 super ACT, 4.0 (our high school doesn’t weight anything), 5 or 6/322
President of French Club (4 1st place trophies in regional university competitions), member of German club, member of Russian club, member of Science club (1st place in physical chemistry at the Science Fair), member of math club (organized schoolwide ACT math prep), member of History club (2nd place in world civilizations quiz competition at Murray State University), Secretary and Vice President of Military Club (organized 3 Veteran Appreciation programs, 2 Veteran’s Day Parades, school-wide food drive for low-income veterans, and had homeroom classes write anonymous letters to deployed service members). We don’t have any AP languages or academic organizations beyond generic “clubs.” No NHS Science, for instance. Member of Speech and Debate team, got a 2nd place extemporaneous speaking trophy and a 2nd place debate trophy. Not gonna lie I absolutely hated it.
Poor rural school, lack of qualified makes for difficult scheduling (for instance, you cannot take both AP Stats and AP Psych). Barely any APs to begin with; 5 in APUSH, 5 in AP Lang, 4 in AP Comp Sci Principles, 3 in AP Chem (might not report, but my school has literally never produced a 5). Our school’s avg act is a 17 lol
I wrote my essay about how much I loved foreign language in a narrative style that detailed my nervousness and apprehension during my first language competition for French. I ended it by alluding to the Tower of Babel, and expounding upon how language is a gift that gives us identity and happiness, and how knowledge of multiples languages enriches our lives by allowing us to experience unfamiliar cultures, make sudden friends (anyone on here who is bilingual can attest to the happiness of finding someone who speaks the one that’s not English, I referenced the Ethiopian women I met who spoke French). I ended it by basically saying multiple languages aren’t a curse, because they shape our unique identities as people and make the world more interesting to live in, and those who pursue multiple languages can facilitate understanding despite existing language barriers and thus create a mini “paradise” on Earth so we don’t have to build a tower of babel). I also mentioned how we can read wonderful literature in other languages that we might not experience the same way in our native tongue, and how that benefits us with better cognition).
W&L first essay was about encouraging the humanities/arts in schools, and how the Oath of the Horatii is my favorite painting. I was pretty “academic” about it, and my girlfriend went over and helped me with it. She gets 1st place in state essay contests all the time, so I imagine she’s good at critiquing. If anything about it stands out, I’d say its the passion for what I’m talking about. Other one was a 100-word response about how the honor system of the school convinced me to apply, and how the joy I got from learning of such an attractive institution made my AP Chem homework easier. One friend told me that essay was trash, but my girlfriend and her English professor dad loved it. Who knows.
Vandy essay was about working in a Mexican restaurant as a white Southerner and using my Spanish skills to make friends and somehow enjoy washing dishes.
I attended the Governor’s School for the Humanities and Boys’ State. I studied Philosophy at GSH and was elected Alderman of my city at Boys’ State.
Four years of French, 2 years of German, self-taught Spanish, Russian interest.
Stellar teacher recommendations from two teachers who have called me one of the best students they’ve ever encountered, and the extra is from an Air Force colonel, lawyer, and communications professor from the University of Tennessee.
Volunteering at the Heritage Center, an organization which preserves and promotes historical awareness of my county. Also volunteered installing new internet cables at the freshmen high school.
Worked at a Mexican restaurant, my lawn care business, and car detailing (vigorously cleaning inside and out) business.
Currently enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and will be attending Reserve drills as I attend school.
Be honest, please. As I type this I realize how short and insignificant it seems, and it depresses me. I don’t think I’ve leaving anything out, though. What do you think? I’m drawing to a close in the first half of my senior year, and that e x i s t e n t i a l d r e a d is setting in like god-d***d cement.
I plan on majoring in Classics and minoring in Spanish, German, and Russian (yes, that’s a lot of languages and I’ll probably end up dropping them, but that’s not what this post is about lmao). I only want the degree of classics, and the minors are because I plan on working and traveling in Europe, either as a high school teacher or university professor.