<p>Hello. </p>
<p>I am a Hispanic male of a low-income family who attended an average-performing New York City public high school. I have a 3.0 GPA (ehh, I know…) and my SAT score superscored is about a 1650. However, I do have a chance at retaking the SAT for a higher score. I ranked in the top 25% of my graduating class. I also scored a 5 on the AP Spanish exam and took a full year of afterschool college-level courses in Sociology and Humanities. I have 8 college credits that I earned while in high school. I also took AP Psychology (took the exam but scored horribly), AP English Lit. (dropped it after the first semester), and AP Art History (dropped it after the first semester).</p>
<p>The reason why my GPA isn’t as high as it could be is because of a myriad of things: from my anxiety disorder, my depression, to my family problems. These were severe obstacles that hindered me tremendously. I was incessantly surrounded in a very negative and hostile environment.</p>
<p>I plan to be a high school teacher and a university professor in sociology. Yes, my stats aren’t shining or very respectable. However, I have done a decent list of extracurriculars in relation to the education field (not all though). For example:</p>
<ul>
<li>I entered the Intel Science Talent Search and wrote a research paper about educational inequality in NYC public high schools. My high school did not help me with the project. I did it through a research class that I was accepted to at my local community college. I was the first student in my high school in nearly a decade to submit an Intel project.</li>
<li>I have interned for education organizations like DonorsChoose.org.</li>
<li>I participated in a paid, selective community youth board that aims to better the lives and conditions of NYC public schools/students. We presented to top DOE officials. </li>
<li>I worked full-time at a day care center over the summer teaching kindergarten students.</li>
<li>I worked in my high school’s main office, and have collected 100+ hours of school service.</li>
<li>I wrote in my school’s newspaper.</li>
<li>I took a day of classes at Columbia University in social science subjects.</li>
<li>I was very active in recruiting students to attend my high school in annual fairs and open houses.</li>
<li>I was head designer and operator of my high school’s website for nearly two years.</li>
<li>I plan to get another job, most likely at my high school (graduates can come back and work for a year).</li>
<li>I participated in various selective art programs. Last year at Long Island University, and this year at the Modern Museum of Art.</li>
<li>I was a part of student government.</li>
</ul>
<p>Now the question is, is this enough? Most likely not. But I took a gap year, and will start applying to colleges very soon. My question is: WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO meanwhile? People are telling me to do an abroad program and study social stratification, but the money situation in my family isn’t compatible. More volunteering? I’m really trying to strengthen my transcript as much as possible before I start applying. </p>
<p>Thank you. I sincerely appreciate any feedback.</p>