<p>Thanks in advance for reading this thread. If it isn’t too much to ask, I would like a few people to rate me and give me a few suggestions as to other schools that I may like or may suit me. Overall, although I may know of the top schools, I would also like to hear some suggestions for smaller schools that are great as well.</p>
<p>[General Information]</p>
<p>Race: Korean
Gender: Male
Current Location: Los Angeles, CA
Location of Birth: Seoul, South Korea
High School: Public (Charter)
Graduating Year: 2008
U.S. Citizen: No
First Generation Student: Yes
Family Income: Low~Medium (I’m not exactly sure)</p>
<p>[High School Profile]</p>
<p>When reflecting back on my early high school years, I believe that my academic performance was horrible. However, as the years progressed, I seem to be slowly improving and obtaining an interest in learning. Nonetheless, my sophomore year seems to be what will be the end of me.</p>
<p>{Sophomore Year}</p>
<p>English Language 10: B/A
French Language 1: B/C
H Algebra 2: B/B
Physical Education: B/A
H Biology: A/B
AP World History: C/C</p>
<p>{Junior Year}</p>
<li>H English Language 11: A/B</li>
<li>French Language 2: B/A</li>
<li>H Math Analysis: B/A</li>
<li>AP Statistics: B/A</li>
<li>AP Chemistry: B/B</li>
<li>AP U.S. History: B/B</li>
</ol>
<p>{Senior Year}</p>
<li>AP Microeconomics</li>
<li>AP U.S. Government & Politics</li>
<li>H French Language 3</li>
<li>AP Calculus BC</li>
<li>AP English Literature & Composition</li>
<li>AP Physics C</li>
<li>Music Theory</li>
<li>Academic Decathlon Period</li>
</ol>
<p>{GPAs & Rankings}</p>
<p>I’m actually not sure how GPAs work for private colleges. The GPAs listed below are for only my sophomore and junior years since the UCs only look at those years prior to admissions. Is this the same for private colleges as well?</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.14
UC GPA: 3.68</p>
<p>Class Ranking: 194 out of 657 students</p>
<p>[Test Scores]</p>
<p>{SAT I (SAT Reasoning Test)}</p>
<p>Critical Reading: 660
Math: 690
Writing: 630
Total: 1980</p>
<p>**My SAT I test score so far is a bit low. I have retaken it two weeks ago and am waiting for the results. The results are to be released on the 25th of October so for now, I have posted these scores. However, as a side note, I am sure that I’ve obtained a perfect score for the math section this time.</p>
<p>{SAT II (SAT Subject Test)}</p>
<p>Chemistry: 750
Mathematics Level 2: 800</p>
<p>**I am planning to take the SAT II US History exam this December in order to have a third SAT II score. Although it may not be accurate to say this but I believe I’ll obtain around a 750-800.</p>
<p>{AP Exams}</p>
<p>AP Chemistry: 4
AP World History: 3
AP Statistics: 4
AP U.S. History: 4</p>
<p>[Extracurricular Activities]</p>
<p>-I am member of the Academic Decathlon team at my school. If it makes any difference, our school makes it to state almost all the time.
-During my nutrition and lunch periods, I tutor my peers in our school’s study center for community service hours. I’m not sure if it makes a difference but I chose to work for hours rather than payment.
-I am a part of an environmentalist group/community service group called the Pacific American Volunteer Association (PAVA). It’s mainly run by students and I’ve held a few leadership roles in the organization. I’ve been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
-I’ve been playing the traditional Korean drums for almost three years now. I’ve performed twice at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood as well as at other minor events with students from the UCLA Korean drumming club.
-Practiced Kendo during my sophomore and junior years. However, I had to stop since other things have been getting in the way.
-I read to the blind a few times a month. I mainly read to a blind chemist but I’ve had the opportunity to read to Laura Huxley (The wife of Aldous Huxley) too. The books and magazines I read are related to science.
-I study botany under an ex-Stanford lecturer. (Mind you, not a professor. :3)</p>
<p>[College List]</p>
<p>Intended Major: Biochemistry or any biology related major. Interested in a pre-medicine program.</p>
<p>The list of colleges below is not my final list. Yes, I am well aware that not all the colleges below are realistic choices for me. I am hoping to get a reasonable and sensible final list of colleges which I will apply to by consulting you guys! Thanks again.</p>
<p>Colleges with an *asterisk infront of them denotes that I plan on applying to those schools no matter what. The two schools that I am dying to attend are Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins. Do I have any chance for those two schools?</p>
<p>Amherst College
Boston College
*Boston University
Brown University
Bucknell University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
College of William and Mary
Columbia University: Columbia College
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Emory University
Franklin and Marshall College
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Harvey Mudd College
*Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
*Pepperdine University
Princeton University
Purdue University
*Stanford University
Syracuse University
Tufts University
*University of California: Berkeley
*University of California: Los Angeles
*University of California: San Diego
*University of California: Irvine
*University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
*University of Southern California
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
Yale University</p>
<p>Again, if you guys have any other suggestions, please tell me!</p>