MY UVA Odds?

<p>Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic (Puerto Rican)
Intended Major: History
High School Info: One of the best Public High Schools in America. We used to be #11 on the US New Report, but somehow this year we were in the 30s... Every year we send a minimum of 3 kids to Harvard, 2 to Yale... Dozens to Ivys.</p>

<p>GPA - 3.4. Its not that hot but I have a very steep upward trend. My freshman year I was sort of depressed and did not really try, I got alot of 3.0s. My sophmore and junior years I got all 3.5s and 4.0s however with a few APS thrown in. (A 5 in APUSH and a 4 in AP Biology)</p>

<p>SAT Scores (probably wont use): 2020 - 680 CR, 670 Math, 670 Writing.</p>

<p>SAT II Scores: Will take this coming fall.</p>

<p>ACT Scores (will probably take again):
Composite: 31
English: 32
Math: 31
Reading: 32
Science: 27 (this blew it)</p>

<p>Classes (Junior Year)
- Math - 3.5... barely
- AP US History - 4.0, 5 on the AP
- AP Biology - 3.5, 4 on the AP
- Music Theory - 4.0
- Symphony Orchestra - 4.0 (I'm President of the Orchestra)
- Chinese I - 3.5
- Writing Communications - 4.0 (I got a lot of great examples of my writing here. It was a HARD class with essays every 2 or 3 days... She said I was one of the best she has ever had, and she is using a lot of my work as examples for her next classes. I'm going to hit her up for a recommendation...)
- World of Shakespeare - 3.0 (I don't like excuses but I really think she didn't like me because I was Puerto Rican and automatically thought I was a slacker...)
- History of Music - 4.0
- Chamber Orchestra - Pass.</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes
- Math
- AP Earth Science
- AP European History
- AP Music Theory
- Chinese II
- Symphony Orchestra (President)
- Chamber Orchestra
- Film Study
- Literature of Childhood</p>

<p>Current Extracurriculars (in school):
- Varsity Wrestling since 9th Grade at a 1,300 student school. Shot of being captain next year
- President of the Symphony Orchestra (we win the Music In the Parks Great East festival basically every year)
- Captain of the Ultimate Frisbee Team (about 30 kids in the program, we have played other schools)
- Captain & Co-Founder of the Badminton team
- Captain & Co-Founder of the Footbag (hacky sack) team
- Principle Bassist (1st chair) of Symphony Orchestra
- Principle Bassist of Chamber Orchestra (we have to try out at our school)</p>

<p>Current Extracurriculars (out of school):</p>

<p>I am heavily involved with Numismatics (coin / currency collecting). For the past two summers I have gotten a full Young Numismatist scholarship to go to Colorado College for the American Numismatic Association's Summer Seminar. I am the number one Currency grader under the age of 18 in the USA.</p>

<p>I work for a dealer of obsolete bank notes, essentially he trusts me with tens of thousands of dollars worth of his inventory. I go to auctions, bid on things for him (again at times upwards of $10,000) and go to shows to sell notes for him. I also catalog for his website.</p>

<p>I with a friend of mine lead a coin club after the past guy who ran it passed away... I have given several lectures to kids and adults at various coin shows and coin club meetings on topics ranging from The Origins of Paper Currency, National Bank Notes, as well as how to grade and preserve paper currency.</p>

<p>Outside of Numismatics I play bass the New York Area-All State symphony Orchestra.</p>

<p>I am also volunteering with the SCA (Student Conservation Association) at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forrest. Basically I'll be preserving the landscape and restoring it so that tourists and other groups can come in and view the historical site. I'm leaving in a few days to Virginia for about a month for that.</p>

<p>Most of my outside extracurricular activities however have to do with Numismatics. I will probably write one of my essays about my involvement the Coin/Currency business and the hobby in general. I personally think that makes me sort of unique.</p>

<p>Other stuff:</p>

<p>I used to be overweight, but my Freshman year I brought myself out of it by working out constantly and joining wrestling (i made varsity). I lost over 30 pounds and got in shape all on my own. Maybe a good essay topic?</p>

<p>At my last seminar one of my instructors took a liking to me and he happened to be one of the Curator's at the historical Williamsburg Foundation. He told me he works closely with W&M and would love to write me a recommendation and do whatever he could to help me get in.</p>

<p>So I guess having a Curator at Colonial Williamsburg on my side definitely can't hurt?</p>

<p>I also have recommendations from a few UVA Alumni</p>

<p>What do you guys think are my chances?</p>

<p>Go for it man! To learn more about UVa and what its like to be a student check out the student blog, Hoo Stories through the Admissions website. Plus, getting UVa alumni to write letters doesn’t do anything special. It’s only if they can meaningful things about your character and personality.</p>

<p>I’ll agree that Alum rec’s won’t help you unless they are truly meaningful and reflect your character, accomplishments, etc.</p>

<p>I think they will appreciate the upward trend, especially if you can continue that into your senior year. As an OOS student, it will be harder, but I think it’s worth applying.</p>

<p>Plus, (and this may just be me) but the coin collecting/studying/cataloging sounds really interesting!</p>