Northwestern, UMich, UNC, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, URochester Chances

<p>I'm wigging out because I really want to go into film, but the QUALITY programs only seem to be available [to me] at these schools. I am worried about acceptance because there is nothing else I really want to do except go into film studies/production because film is my life. </p>

<p>My Stats:</p>

<p>ACT: 31 english/writing comp; 30 reading; 25 math; 20 science; 27 comp. (retaking October, hoping for at least 29--as best I can guarantee)
GPA: 4.006 (4.25 scale) 3.9 (4.0 scale)
Rank: 4/151--Top 3%
CLASSES
Special Humanities: 9 (Honors)
Integrated Math 1: 9
Art: 9
Basic Health and Swim: 9 (Required)
Biology: 9 (Required)
Spanish: 9, 11, 12
Econ/Civics: 9 (Required)
Chemistry: 10
Special World Lit: 10 (Honors)
Earth and Physical Science: 10 (Required)
Computers: 10 (Required)
Integrated Math 2: 10
Psychology: 10 (Advanced Standing--Prerequisite is Junior/Senior Standing)
American History: 10 (Required)
Integrated Math 3: 11
English Lit: 11 (Advanced Standing--Required for Seniors)
Creative Writing: 11
Peer Mentoring: 11
American Lit: 11 (Required)
World Studies: 11 (Required)<br>
Directed Study: Biology/Physics: 12 (Physics was canceled, no advanced Bio)
Pre-Calculus: 12
Environmental Geology: 12 (Can not continue, students are demons!!!)
Directed Study: World History: 12 (actual class was canceled)
AP English Lit: 12
AP US History: 12</p>

<p>Available Sports (girls): Cheer, Dance, Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Soccer, Softball
Available Clubs/Organizations (current): NHS, Spanish, Environmental Activist, Student Council, Class Representatives</p>

<p>MY SCHOOL-RELATED ACTIVITIES:
NHS: 10,11,12 (ran for VP, was told I'm not aggressive enough--I'm not as talkative as they're accustomed to, and I'm very calm and laid-back)
JV SOFTBALL: 9,10 (tried out for Varisty in 11, given a myriad of reasons why he couldn't keep me on the team--he kept a girl who was terrible and quit two days later, as well as a senior who had never played for the school team ever, but was friends with all the returning players)
READING CLUB: 9,10 (canceled when the sponsor was fired--nobody took it over for the two of us who were in it--no positions like Pres or VP were assigned)
CULTURAL AWARENESS DAY: 11 (prep for three weeks a few hours a week, then about five the night before, to show a presentation of a chosen culture by way of food, audio/visual aids, signs, currency, special artificats out of the country, etc--our Costa Rican presentation won 1st Place)
VARSITY SOCCER: 12 (Trying out in the spring because I want something to do)</p>

<p>WHAT MY SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE: Newspaper; Lit Magazine; several sports; obviously no clubs; AP-Class availability; Honors Classes; quality classes for that matter (where the teacher is focused and doesn't have to spend half the hour contending with arses that hoot, holler, and otherwise make fools of themselves); debate; several other things that I can't think of because I've never been exposed to them.</p>

<p>Extra Stuff:</p>

<p>I submit my own short stories to magazines.
I've had the same job at a movie theater since March of 2004.
I will have excellent essays and recs.
Only child and single-parent household.
Small city in Michigan with around 32000 people, split into two districts (can you believe that?!).
Can't coach softball (which I love) because you have to be 18.
There are no sports for teens in high school in my city--only for those under 16, or over 18.
Even though it is a small city, I haven't been able to take advantage of many opportunities it may have, such as the fencing club in the city, because I've never had a lot of money available to do so, and I have no ride to places that would allow me to explore my interests.
I am bused from my home school to another at the end of the day in order to take my two AP classes; you can only take AP classes in your Junior or Senior years, and only two. My schedule didn't allow it last year and so I'm left with just two out of a possible four. They were going to try morning classes this year, and I signed up for a total of five, but they canceled all but one, and therefore I couldn't take the morning ones.</p>

<p>Help, please, will I have a shot at these colleges?</p>

<p>PS- I'm going to try to get out of Environmental Geology because it is driving me nuts, so I was thinking, as a possibility, of Calculus and Pre-Calculus in the same year. Calculus would be advanced because I just started Pre. Or, would a third Directed Study be too much and seem like padding a schedule? What should I do? I can't stay in Env. Geo. I'll go insane.</p>

<p>you have all these parenthetical notes but you wont be writing them down in your applications, will you? theres no point in adding useless information</p>

<p>cornell - reach
john hopkins - reach</p>

<p>I'm just pointing out all of the info now in the parentheses for everyone to understand the situation; I hate needing info, but everyone first asking me questions because I didn't fill them in with everything. I think it's better to just state it all.</p>

<p>"I submit my own short stories to magazines."
most colleges are very enthusiastic of some sort of publication. make sure you play this up.</p>

<p>Anybody else think I have a chance at these schools?</p>

<p>I don't know Cornell/JHU have good film programs. What about NYU and USC?</p>

<p>NYU has terrible financial aid and USC is far away in California and has the same selectivity as Cornell and JHU, which are closer and better in my opinion. Cornell has their own film festival at the end of the year for film majors. Plus, I have checked out their courses for film: they cover everything I need/want. It's just a matter of gaining acceptance at an Ivy with my stats. I can't so much help the fact that my school district is terrible. I have taken everything my school offers this year that is challenging; everything else is considered a blow-off class, except for the Env. Geo. class, which would be nice if it weren't for the fact that the class is made of hoodlums with nowhere else to go.</p>