Maybe just a little unique?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ch-ch-chance me please?</p>

<p>White female from NY.
Public high school.
1st decile (top 10%, school does not rank)
3.95 UW GPA</p>

<p>SAT: 2000 (CR 730, M 580, W 690) [Retook in Oct., I feel confident that I raised my math score]
SAT II: Biology M: 720, Literature: 730
AP: Biology: 4, English Language and Composition: 5</p>

<p>Senior Courses:
AP Spanish
AP Literature
AP Environmental Science
Precalculus
Government/Economics
Treble Chorus
Wind Ensemble</p>

<p>Clubs:
Conserve Our Wildlife Club (President)
Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity Club (Photographer)
Literary Magazine Club
Respect Committee</p>

<p>Music:
I've been playing bassoon for five years and I am very involved with music programs inside and out of school. I earned a 100/100 on my Level 6 NYSSMA solo evaluation in 2007. These are the groups I play/have played bassoon with:
Wind Ensemble/Orchestra
Woodwind Ensemble
Area-All State Band (2007)
Community Orchestra
Student quartet outside of school
Graduation orchestra
Drama production pit orchestra</p>

<p>I also play bass clarinet and sing:
Marching Band (bass clarinet)
Treble Chorus (auditioned all-female chorus)</p>

<p>Athletics:
Okinawa-Te Karate (1st degree black belt, 8 years experience)
Yoga classes</p>

<p>Volunteer Work/Employment:
ESL Student Tutor
Volunteer work during holiday season (band caroling at nursing homes, Salvation Army funrasing with band, organizing children's events etc.)
Computer Networking Assistant (summer job, 2007)
Organized 2007 Day of Silence at my school</p>

<p>Honors/Distinctions:
100/100 NYSSMA Level 6 Bassoon Evaluation
Social Studies Award
National Spanish Exam Recognition Award
National Honor Society inductee
National Hispanic Honor Society inductee
High Honor Roll (every quarter)
English Student of the Week (twice)
Science Student of the Week
Social Studies Student of the Week
Music Student of the Week
Phys. Ed Student of the Week </p>

<p>I am getting letters of reccomendation from a science teacher, an English teacher, and my bassoon teacher. I am also recording a supplemental CD that I will be mailing to colleges along with a musical resume and a photocopy of my NYSSMA score report. Here's a question...will a supplemental CD that isn't 100% perfect hurt my chances at all? I'm recording it myself and although I'm doing my best to make it sound great, the bassoon is neither esay to play nor simple to record...supplemental materials can either help me, or make no difference, correct? </p>

<p>So is being a bassoon playing black-belt enough of a hook? =b</p>

<p>Colleges I'm applying to:
Bard (1st Choice)
Vassar
Oberlin
Hampshire
Sarah Lawrence
Wesleyan University
Syracuse University
University of Vermont
NYU
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Binghamton</p>

2

<p>I can't answer your supplement question, but I think the music and karate is an interesting combination. You seem to be aiming for the right tier of schools and, with an improved math score, none of them seem like awful reaches. I don't actually know enough specifics of the schools to do a more in-depth analysis, but good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks--anyone else?</p>

4

<p>I can't imagine too many colleges having too many bassoons.</p>

<p>The biggest thing would be boosting the SATs, but even then, your list of schools doesn't generally weight them as much as other ones. I'd say you're in most places. NYU might be harder, but you'll be okay. I'd say Vassar and Bard might be slight reaches, but you'll probably get in.</p>

5

<p>Thank you!</p>

6

<p>I peg Vassar as Wes as the hardest to get into, but you definitely have a shot.</p>

<p>BTW, 2000 on the SAT is 94th percentile for females. <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/composite_CR_M_W_percentile_ranks.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/composite_CR_M_W_percentile_ranks.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

7

<p>Wow, 94th isn't half bad. Thanks! Can anyone help me out?</p>

8

<p>I'd say you're pretty unique, or at least not forgettable. When I was reading your stats, I was wondering if you were applying to Hampshire & related schools like Bard and SLC, and you are. You have a decent/good shot at all of them. I'd cut a few off your list, though.</p>

9

<p>Thanks--what made you think I should apply to those colleges?</p>

10

<p>Basically because you seem motivated/passionate, politically aware, and genuine.</p>

11

<p>Why thank you! Not only is that quite flattering, but I would say that that is all certainly true.</p>

<p>In my Common App essay, I wrote about organizing the Day of Silence and how it reflected my passion for activism and the impact the activity had on me (to the point that it confirmed my interest in a career in non-profit management), so hopefully those colleges will see the same qualities in me.</p>

12

<p>very nice you have a good shot</p>

<p>My only quetion is how do you manage to do all that and study?</p>

13

<p>Well, keep in mind, I haven't done all those activities consistently at the same time; some of the music groups I listed are annual, my martial arts classes are in the evening for only a few hours a week, and so on. Being the president of a club is kind of taking a toll on me, and practicing the bassoon can be VERY time consuming (almost an hour daily), but I have a strong work ethic and I am only a minimal procrastinator, so I get everything done.</p>

14

<p>B-b-b-bump!</p>

15

<p>As long as the Math score goes to 620 or above, I'd say you'll get in at all of your schools. </p>

<p>Interesting combination of interests--make sure your various interests and passions come across in your essays and you'll do fine--both in getting into the schools--and once you start college.</p>

<p>Best of success.</p>

16

<p>Thank you!</p>

17

<p>Bumpity-bump.</p>

18

<p>UPDAT: My new SAT scores!</p>

<p>2120 (CR:790, M: 600, W: 730)</p>

<p>I am submitting my first application tonight, so please tell me my chances!</p>

19

<p>Great job! Some of the schools may even see your score as higher than a 2120, if they disregard Math.</p>

20

<p>If you are interested in Bard and Hampshire, have you thought about Bennington?--great music program</p>