Nervous beyond belief

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
1

<p>ok… so the whole college process is really making me insane.
im a junior and i know which schools are best for me… but the question is whether i have what it takes to get into the schools i want to go to.</p>

<p>brandeis is most definitely one of my top three schools… and it will probably end up being my first choice.</p>

<p>i just took the sat for the first time and scored a:
(CR) 600 (M) 600 (W) 640… I improved a good deal on the sat from my psat and I plan on retaking it (as well as taking the act), but I just feel like I have no chance into getting into brandeis or any other school at a similar level to brandeis.</p>

<p>this year, I am taking:
AP American History, Precal, Honors Spanish III, AP English, and French I.
I have a 3.67 GPA (unweighted).
for my senior year, I plan on taking:
AP English, Calculus AB, Spanish IV, Honors French III, Honors French IV, Design & Architecture, and Biblical Literature.</p>

<p>Positions / Awards:
National Spanish Exam- State and National placement
Pinned Ambassador
Secretary of the Literary Magazine
and next year I might earn:
Editor of the Literary Magazine
Vice President of French Club
President of the Film Club
National Spanish and French Exam placements</p>

<p>I played Field Hockey my freshman year and I am on the Crew team this year. I have been doing Martial Arts and playing the Piano for 11 years.
I am on the Literary Magazine and I am in the Film Club, Spanish Club, French Club, and Ambassador’s Club. I attended Jewish Day Schools up until high school when I decided to jump out of the “bubble” and go to an Episcopalian School. I speak Hebrew fairly well in addition to my almost fluency in Spanish. I plan on spending my summer on an abroad program in France working on my fluency in that language as well. I feel that Brandeis would be the best place for me because of its phenomenal foreign language programs that would cater to my overwhelming interest in that field as well as the field of linguistics.</p>

<p>I guess I am just interested in finding out what I should work on as a potential applicant and what is most important as an applicant. What kind of a goal should I set for my SAT / ACT? What kind of SAT IIs should I take? What else do I need to do-- academically and/or extracurricularly-- to stand out in a pool of applicants?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your time, thoughts, and input!</p>

2

<p>Hi! Your stats seem very close to mine were when I applied (except I went to Spanish 7.. but that's not common in most high school and I only took 2 years of French, and my scores were a smidge better). I'd recommend retaking the SATs and DEFINITELY applying early decision. I think I was pretty below average for Brandeis applicants in terms of test scores, but between applying early, taking 9 years of foreign language, and lots of leadership roles in high school, I think that smoothed over some less than great test scores.</p>

<p>Don't particularly shoot for a certain SAT or ACT score, just do your best. And I would definitely recommend taking the foreign language SAT2 scores. They're ridiculously easy. If you've had at least 4 years, you should be fine. </p>

<p>Early decision will boost your chances immensely.</p>

3

<p>thank you so incredibly much for your advice!!</p>

<p>much appreciated :)</p>

4

<p>You're a junior, chill out. Yikes.</p>