Looking for feedback

Applying to College
1

Hey there,
This is actually my first post on this site, already have received some valuable info from just stalking some other forums. Anyways, I’m just going to put my “resume” out here, and I would love to hear any feedback from you guys about what I could improve that would potentially aid me getting into some colleges (Not really looking into ivy league, but something with a 20% acceptance or below is what I’m shooting for ). It’s really bizarre because my school, despite being in one of the most affluent and wealthy areas of the country (Bay Area), has a really laid back vibe. Consequently they don’t permit you to take any APs before junior year (with the exception of ceramics or “computer science”, which is basically a joke at my school), and additionally, counselors are constantly ENCOURAGING everyone to take easier schedules. I had to argue with mine for almost an hour so that she would allow me to take just 3 APs-- It’s that absurd. So I would seriously appreciate any harsh or brutally honest feedback you have to give me- Because my school deprives me of it. Anyway, here’s my junior year schedule:

Pre Calculus
Spanish 7-8 ( 1 level below AP)
PW (Advanced music class)
AP Chem
AP Comp
AP US History
Free 7th

If I wanted to I could replace my free 7th and I could double up and take AP Stat, or I could theoretically double up on science and take AP Bio or Physics. What alterations to my schedule do you think will improve my chances? Are any necessary? Do free periods look bad? (If I get all As I could potentially get a 4.5 GPA, APUSH and Chem are considered the two hardest classes at my school, although that’s not saying much).

I’ve received a 4.0 every year since 7th grade I think haha. However I’m really bad at tests. On my ACT, which I took beginning of Sophomore year (no studying), I got a meager 25. Just took the SAT (new version, no studying again) and got a 1250, which I’ve heard is equivalent to a 26 on the ACT, but then I’ve also heard it’s equivalent to a 28 as well. So some clarification on that would be great. Are books valuable in studying for the SAT/ACT or should I try and get a tutor?

As far as extra curriculars go, I’m ranked 14th in the state for mountain biking, I’ve been a musician for over 10 years, I’m serving a term as a commissioner on my town’s open space board, and I’m going to try to get an internship with my local congressman and go on a community service trip next summer.

Sorry!
I know that’s kinda long. I just want to get a consensus if this looks like a joke or not to colleges- Because the area and school system I live in has this “your perfect just the way you are!/ Try your best!”, kinda vibe and I feel like I’m really not getting any valuable feedback. So feel free to absolutely roast me if you want haha.
Thanks.

2

First off, congratulations on your mountain biking rank, that is something that you should be proud of. Make sure you write about that in your essays. Unfortunately, your ACT is the biggest issue. Many top schools will deny you because of that (which is stupid). As for your free 7th hour, take another course if you can handle it. If you have been getting a 4.0 for years, challenge yourself. Even if it causes your GPA to barely slip, it at least shows you are maxing out your potential.

As for trying to get into a college with acceptance rates below 20%, don’t get too caught up about it. With a 25, it is a stretch to get into a college such as UC-Berkeley right away. If you are interested in attending there, considering going to another UC system school then transferring in. Also, just because a college has an acceptance rate about 20% that doesn’t mean it’s not a top-tier university. For example, UT-Austin. Their acceptance rate is in the upper 30s. But break it down. Most of their student body comes from Texas’ top 7% rule (auto-admit if in top 7% in HS class). The OOS acceptance rate is actually in the teens.

I am going to rant here a bit, but the whole “your perfect the way you are” is the problem with both the bay area and liberalism. No offense, but you aren’t perfect the way you are. None of us are. I have had teachers that tell me they aren’t moving on until everyone understands the topic. I’m sorry but that’s bullshit.

3

It looks like you are doing very well. And count your blessings that you are in a school that has such positivity. Your schedule looks fine (as long as your guidance counselor will check the box saying you have taken the most rigorous schedule available at your HS in his/her recommendation). Your ECs are fine and the mountain biking is something different which is nice.

Right now it looks to me like the standardized tests will bring you down a bit. (If you want to compare SAT and ACT scores you can do a google search and there are conversion charts readily available.) A tutor or a class could help improve the scores and is worth trying. If the standardized tests don’t improve as you’d like there are a ton of great test optional schools out there to consider. https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional/state

If you haven’t yet, I’d also talk to your parents to see if they have any constraints (financial, geographic, anything else) on your college search.

4

A lot of schools with sub-20% acceptance rates are test optional, so if the score doesn’t improve (and you have more than a year to improve it), you could look at those.

My D’s ACT went up 6 points from 10th grade to fall of 12th. She did a little prep, just with a test prep book from the library and a few hours with me going over strategies I gleaned from this board, like ziggy’s (old version of the) SAT method, to be exact, it’s still here somewhere.

I found it: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html

My kids took both the SAT and ACT but did better on the ACT so used that. Prep method was very similar though,and a lot of points can be gained simply by understanding the rules about guessing, shortcuts to spend less time on each question, and familiarity with the format.

I think the mountain biking thing is cool, and unusual and I bet colleges will too.

Don’t worry about the # of APs your school allows. Your app will be evaluated within the context of your school, and the school profile will (or should - you can ask your GC to see it if it’s not on the school web site) make it clear that no one can take them until junior year and there is a limit on the # per year, etc.