Hello everyone, I am currently a junior at a comptetitive public school. As I am applying to colleges next year, I’d really appreciate if you guys from the forum could review my resume and possibly tell me weak points, strong points, things I’m missing, etc. I am eying uPenn, Dartmouth, Brown, Duke, uChicago, and a few other top-tier schools. My resume:
Academics:
2400 SAT score
3.8-3.9 GPA (slow freshman/sophomore start, but straight As through end of sophomore year and a junior year with 4 APs)
National Honor Society
Extra-curriculars:
International-level pianist (5x Carnegie Hall, 1x Lincoln Center, performances in Russia, Israel, Czech Republic etc.)
President of math team (changed team from a small club, to a bigger one participating in more competitions)
Varsity debate (Multiple awards)
2 years of varsity tennis
Many, many hours of piano-related and medicinal-related (no desk job) volunteer work at big hospital
Fluent in Russian and Spanish (don’t think this really matters though)
Active in Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program
Honestly, I’m just concerned my GPA is too low for the schoola I want to go to, but I also understand that there may be holes in my resume. Anywhere I can improve? I’d really appreciate any feedback/suggestions and am open to questions.
In my untrained opinion, it all boils down to whether they are impressed with your piano playing abilities (I am!) and no one can know the answer to that on this forum Good luck!
How is your course rigor compared to others at your school? Even if your school doesn’t rank, where do you think you fall (i.e. top 5%, 10% etc)? Have you taken subject tests? Your ECs apart from piano are light but obviously piano is the big elephant in the room.
I have am taking and have been taking the top level of courses available at my school. As for subject tests, I took the SAT 2 Biology test when I was a freshman but I didn’t do that well on it (didn’t prepare that much). Apart from the 5 AP tests I will take this year, I am considering taking the SAT 2 in mathematics. Math is my strongest subject. However, I’m hesitating from taking it because of all the APs I have to study for. It’s still an option though. Should I taje it?
Also, I recently applied to a few selective programs that will happen during he summer and during the next school year. The Columbia University High School Science Honors Program is one I’m hoping to get into. That’s basically courses every Saturday during the school year, and it’s very tough to get into, so if I do get accepted it would look good on my resume. I applied to a few others too (Einstein science program at Yeshiva University for instance). All boosts to my resume if I manage to get in.
Gillifrids you should def be good for U Chicago and duke your scores are awesome. You are also a great candidate for the top Ivies also consider applying to Stanford or Berkeley for Music.
Yes you should take at least two subject tests and if you’re good in math definitely take the Math II. You are worried about your gpa but if it’s all right within the context of your school, you’re fine. That"s why I asked what your approximate rank is. Ivies are now rejecting about 75% of perfect scorers so that in itself will not guarantee admission. Your piano is clearly your hook and it will be evaluated by the schools you apply to - not us. SHP is not that meaningful, btw, especially if you’re doing it senior year. Much harder to get into as a freshman and still not that impressive. You shouldn’t be doing these things as resume boosters but for the love of learning, Still, I guess if you’re trying to branch out further beyond piano they can only help.
Even if you tell us how your gpa compares at your school, we couldn’t chance you because we don’t know how your piano playing compares with the other prodigies they’ll be seeing. From what you’ve written, it appears you are the real deal so I would assume you will get into some excellent schools. Good luck!
As things stand now, you’re a very competitive applicant. Better than most, as good as most any. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll have a good result.
