<p>While I can understand the few merits of posting one of these threads, I guess that I may as well put my name out there and see how I compare. I also have a pressing question concerning the ACT, denoted by the asterisk.</p>
<p>I am not a national award winner, and in my state I have won 1 award, but only for a regional tournament. I've only just heard about the Intel competitions and those like it, and as such I haven't been involved. That's not where my strengths (at least I hope) lie.</p>
<p>Here goes... (BTW gibby I read your post and the Applying Sideways blog; they were great reads.)</p>
<p>STATS
Name: Chris
Ethnicity: Latino
Location: IL, southwestern burbs of Chicago.
Grade: Rising Senior
Current UW GPA: 3.93
Rank: Top 1%, school does not numerically rank. Class is about 600.
ACT: 35*
PSAT: 213 - National Merit Semifinalist, will advance in the competition.
SAT: 2090* Essay: 9
SATII: Physics-790 Chemistry-790 MathIIC-720(retaking in the fall)</p>
<p>*My IL required ACT score; my school did not offer the writing portion. I took the June 8th exam and am awaiting those results with concerns, the main one being if that 35 from my junior year is at all utilizable. I understand that besides the written essay portion, there was no need for me to retake the exam at all. However, I'm worried that the 35 I received will not be considered because it was without writing. I cannot say whether I scored at the same level this time (this exam really felt difficult), but I slew the essay like it was a nasty dragon. Anywho, I also understand my SAT score isn't within the top tier, but to be frank the style of the exam was foreign to me; I don't understand why they carved it into ten sessions. But I digress.</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULAR
Orland Grassland Volunteers: A group I have been with for over a year now. Our goal is too restore 960 acres of abandoned farmland into grade A prairie and shrubland. I consider this place like a second home...It's so expansive it feels like you step back in time when you get far enough within the prairie...Have so many stories and feelings for this place.</p>
<p>Intramural Sports: I never made tryouts for anything, so I decided this was a cool alternative. Playing for fun and without pretense? Looking back, it feels better than any other team I've been on.</p>
<p>Scholastic Bowl: Fun club I was introduced to Sophomore year. Might become Capt. next year if I've gained enough respect among my friends.</p>
<p>Science Team: Does two competitions: the Southwest Suburban Conference one where there are different mini-events and the Envirothon, where teams across Northeastern IL are tested on different aspects of the environment. My school took 7th this year, the highest we ever got (AP Environmental Science has never ran at my school.)</p>
<p>NHS: Ran for president and lost. Didn't play the "you vote for me I'll vote for you" games that had gone on. Ah well. One responsibility I don't need to worry about. I also have had otherwise good experiences here.</p>
<p>Green Team: Founding member. We managed to raise some money for new recycling cans in the lunch room. Wanted to start an organic garden but some teachers found the concept of using vermicompost (worm poop) disgusting and we lost support. Will try next year.</p>
<p>Mu Alpha Theta: Not much to say... we tried to spread math around the school. lol. My main contribution here was PASS tutoring, where I'd tutor freshman algebra students once or twice a week who were struggling.</p>
<p>WYSE/JETS: Jr. year was my first year. I put tons of effort into those damn tests for tryouts. I made the Varsity as a junior, so I suppose I didn't do too bad. I won 2nd place in the regional Chemistry Exam for unlimited schools, and in the sectional competition was one question away from going to state via the wild card. That was a kick to the teeth.</p>
<p>Spanish Tutoring during homeroom - 80 hrs a yr for sophomore and junior year. </p>
<p>WORK:
I worked at Cici's Pizza for six months as a dishwasher. WASH ALL THE DISHES!!!</p>
<p>ALL THE DISHES?</p>
<p>Yes. All of them. Being stuck in a 12x10 ft room washing dishes for upto 9 hrs a night changes your view on life. Business tanked as time went on and I was let go.</p>
<p>I started my new job at a local pizza shop, Jet's Pizza, this February. I work 15 hrs/wk on school days and 25 hrs/wk now during the summer. MUCH better job, the managers care about you and the business. Plan on staying here till college.</p>
<p>WHO I COME FROM:</p>
<p>I'm a first generation American, and my parents immigrated from Mexico, both at around 18 and 20. I am the first generation to go to high school let alone college.</p>
<p>What interests me:
Agriculture: I grew my first bean sprout at about six and I've loved it ever since. I've grown squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelon with great success. My 7th grade science project was on organic fertilizers and I won superior at the regional level, almost made state.</p>
<p>Astronomy: I also love space and made it my job to know as much about it as a second grader could; I ransacked the library at school and downtown. My first telescope was a $20 Vivitar model from Walgreens. I used that until I was holding it together with Elmer's glue. Christmas 2009 saw me receive a Celestron Astromaster 76EQ. I could count the craters on the moon and see the moons of Jupiter with this thing.</p>
<p>Aircraft:
My dad's job as a cement laborer gave me and my family some benefits, like parking at the railyard next to the ballpark to avoid paying $30 (funny to see the faces of everyone else when my dad unlocks the fence separating the two). But one summer my father was repairing the levies at Lake Michigan, specifically North Avenue Beach. This was perfect timing; the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show was in town, and North Ave. was the venue. My father was able to get into the restricted construction zone, and my family could watch the show from very up close. Near the end of the show, I was sitting on a rock, enjoying the lakeside view, when, like a bullet, an F-15 broke the sound barrier about 100 ft above my head. I dove like a lunatic and glanced up to see the Strike Eagle loop back around. Been interested in aircraft ever since, and the first thing I drafted in CAD my freshman year was that same F-15E.</p>
<p>Field of Study: Engineering - Not sure whether to specialize or to stay general; there's so much I want to design.</p>
<p>Now where can I publish this book? Sorry. Turned out way longer than I had thought.</p>