Northwestern, Berkeley, Columbia

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>hey im an Illinois student, going to be a senior this fall, and i plan on applying to UoI (fallback), Northwestern, Berkeley, and Columbia. English is my passion, even though I've been in a four year program at my high school which centers on math/science/engineering. However, as far as grades/classes are concerned, I tend to do best in math. But that's not gonna discourage me from pursuing an English-related career. Science is my least favorite and weakest subject.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.618 (weighted) I'm not a straight A student, I usually get 1-2 Bs per semester, but last semester I got striaght As. I've taken/will take the hardest classes possible, with all honors classes Junior and Senior year. Don't know my class rank. Before I got straight As, it was 10. My GPA then was 4.455. So I assume I'm like at least 7th place now. There are over 700 students in my class, so im definitely in the top 2 percent, if not top 1 percent.</p>

<p>SATs: Math: 730, English: 720, Writing: 700. On the old SAT, I got a 750 in math.</p>

<p>SAT IIs: Math IIc: 790, US History: 710, Literature: 690</p>

<p>ACTs: got a 33 on my last test date. dont think I need to post subscores, right?</p>

<p>APs: Psychology (did not take teh class, I just studied a prep book): 4, Euro History: 3, Statistics: 3, US History: 4, English Language: 4</p>

<p>ECs: My best clubs are 4 years of Scholastic Bowl, I was team captain for two years. (when I say 4 years I mean I plan on doing it next year too). 3 years of Student Council for the Academy of Math, Science, and Engineering (elected position, the Academy is the program at my high school I was talking about earlier). 4 years of Spanish Club. 3 years of WYSE, which is an Academic competition. I competed in Engish and Computer Science last year and got a 3rd place medal at the Sectionals competition for English. I'm sure there's other stuff I can list, like Mathletes and crap, but whatever. No, I did not get accepted into National Honors Society. This is because the teacher who runs it does not like me--I replaced my study hall with her newspaper class, for no credit, and would ditch it every day because I just could not stand the general incompetence of the teacher, the students, etc. Hey, it was for no credit, what did I care.</p>

<p>I also took a Creative Writing class at Northwestern University last summer. I got high school credit for it, As for both semesters. My transcript for that class and a teacher's evaluation was sent to the admissions office at Northwestern. I got a copy of this evaluation, and it was a very positive one. I got along with my teacher very well. I tend to get along with English teachers very well, and I'm very confident that my Junior AP English and AP US History teachers will write me positive recommendations.</p>

<p>I've been suspended twice. Once was freshman year, for eating a teachers donut because I wanted to pay him back for being mean to the class. Actually, I did not know it was HIS donut, but he did tell me specifically not to eat the donut, and I did it anyway to spite him. The second suspension was more serious. It was sophomore year, and I heard that a stack of my English class' finals were sitting in my teacher's cubicle in the english office. I was up for an adventure, so I decided to go up tehre and steal it. I was successful, and made copies for a bunch of my friends. It sucks, because I had a 92% in the class, the second highest grade, and would have easily aced the final, but I had to make that very stupid decision and steal it. Well, this one girl who I did not like asked for it, and I refused to give it to her. She squealed on us, and we all got zeros on the final, and I got suspended for stealing it. Out of everyone who got a zero, I was the only one to still manage a B in the class. I definitely did learn a lot from the experience, and I hope I can effectively convey that in the explanation portion of the application.</p>

<p>um, so I think thats it. Am I missing anything? </p>

<p>yeah, unlike you guys I haven't written a novel yet. I havent directed a broadway musical, I havent found a cure for cancer. But, I'm someone who is passionate about life, someone on a quest for truth and knowledge. My life's goal is to gain an understanding of what it really means to be human, to learn about the human heart, and document it. </p>

<p>So I guess all I have are vague ambitions. I guess I haven't accomplished anything concrete yet. Either way, Northwestern, Berkeley, Columbia--what do you think?</p>

2

<p>I don't think UCs ask about suspensions. Still, $40K is a lot given 4 year grad rates and huge classes, and they give almlost no fin aid OOS.</p>

3

<p>you have a great shot a berkeley even though your not a california resident! you have a good shot at any school. i am an entering freshman at ucla! i did get into cal, usc, cornell, georgetown, and all the other uc's. if i were you i would apply to CAL, UCLA, and U of Michigan. some of the best schools in the country, they all have great english programs, and they are cheap. the uc's modo is "more bang for your bucks" oh chicago is also very good. do not accept a uc thinking you will be able to transfer later!!! i hope you apply! your personal statement is key!!! i can not stress that enough. ill stay posted</p>

4

<p>solid chance at northwestern, decent chance at the other two</p>

5

<p>hmmm....two suspensions.</p>

<p>just try and explain it as best as you can. well, not explain it. but try and tell them that you've learned ( i hope you did)
did you talk to your counselor or somebody about what to do about the suspension?</p>

6

<p>anyone else have anything to say?</p>

<p>no i did not talk to my counselor about it. counselors at my school dont know crap, they would not be able to help me.</p>

7

<p>do not bring up th esuspensions!!! they are in the past and they can tell by your academic record that you are a serious student. if you want to you can hint at them. remember you must sell yourself to the admissions committee! you try selling a new car with a scratch on the side.</p>

8

<p>Wow that was an entertaining read(I like the donut story) :)</p>

<p>You have a good chance at Northwestern because you've done extensive programs with them, but I wouldn't count on Berkeley or Columbia...</p>

9

<p>if they do ask for your suspension, you must tell them, though. it is for your own good. if they find out from someone else, you're in trouble</p>

10

<p>the only reason i really want to apply to berkeley is becasue i hear they have a really great english progrma and they accept 3s on AP tests. Are those good enough reasons to apply there as an out-of-stater, or is the college just not worth it. Some other colleges I was considering were Stanford and University of Chicago. UoC seems too intense for me though, I want a place with some excitement...parties, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. I'm looking forward to all of that just as much as im looking forward to uh, taking insightful classes, but University of Chicago doesnt seem like the right place for outgoing, social people.</p>

11

<p>" I want a place with some excitement...parties, alcohol, , , etc."</p>

<p>haha-thats definitely a deciding factor in college choices and is why i'm not considering chicago.</p>

12

<p>if you want good academics and great parties than ucla is the school for you!</p>

13

<p>yeah im out of state tho...the tuition and chance of getting in are icky. im reconsidering berkeley too, im thinking stanford instead...wonder how my chances are for that</p>