<p>I'll be a senior this fall. I will tentatively be applying ED at Pomona, but I'm not sure if I'm delusional here and it's out of my range. </p>
<p>~Legacy</p>
<p>~3.8 GPA (lots of honors, AP classes)
~2160 SAT (M: 640; W: 720; R: 800)
~highly respectable AP/SAT IIs (won't bore you with the details)
~great essays
~five years of Spanish, three years Japanese (interesting, I guess)</p>
<p>~white, middle-class girl (oh great)</p>
<p>~7 yrs. piano
~4 yrs. rowing; captain
~3 yrs. environmental club
~2 yrs. National Honors Society (like anyone cares)
~artist; I plan to include works in my application</p>
<p>I know it's a stretch... go ahead and tell me it's unrealistic; I want the truth! I've got lots of other colleges I know I could love to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Get the math up to at least a 700 on your SAT, and you’ll have a 50/50</p>
<p>Hi Rhiannon:</p>
<p>I agree with Anonymous91. If you can improve your math score significantly you’ll be in the running. </p>
<p>Secondly, don’t be defeatist. That is, after reading your post I believe you’re being unnecessarily hard on yourself. You must be your own best cheerleader in order to succeed at the college app phase. Don’t downplay your many skills/accomplishments, find a way to highlight them and demonstrate how, in combination, they make you a unique, energetic and exciting person.</p>
<p>Finally, since you have well-developed writing skills, concentrate on your essays to make sure they not only tell them more about you than the blanks on the app form allow, but that they are tight, logical and really shine! Put a little personality into them. Don’t be afraid to use a bit of gentle humour *but only if it works with the rest of the piece. A suggestion for what it’s worth: if possible, use one of the essays to explain WHY you challenge yourself. Explain the source of your energy and drive. If appropriate, write with passion about your love of learning for its own sake, and how you strive to become a better person and a healthy, sincerely contributing citizen of the world. Don’t denigrate your heritage, your perspectives on life are just as valid as anyone else’s. Everyone has a story to tell. Give them an idea of what makes you, YOU. Show them that you are working toward self-awareness, putting your life in context and understanding your place in society. Lessons learned, goals to be achieved, etc. </p>
<p>That is the essence of a true liberal arts education. Make it clear to the good folks at Pomona that you understand that and embrace it. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>One more thing: definitely submit the arts supplement! It rounds you out nicely.</p>