So I’ve been interested in ivy league schools and top liberal arts universities for a very long time. I’m looking at majoring in Political Science or International Affairs. I’m interested in Princeton, UPenn, University of Chicago, Georgetown, Swarthmore, Haverford, Vassar, George Washington University, Bard, Boston College, American University, Villanova University. I think that some of these might be above my level, but I know the application process is pretty wishy washy.
I’m going into my Senior year and will be applying for admissions to the Class of 2020.
Freshman and Sophomore Year: I had lower grades. All A’s and B’s. Some of these classes were ridiculously difficult though…that doesn’t necessarily shine through to admissions officers though.
Junior Year: My grades considerably improved. All A’s except for one B. My schedule was: AP Biology (A), AP Physics 1 (B), AP Calculus AB (A), AP English Language (A), AP Comparative Government (A), and H Spanish 4 (A)
Senior Year: I’m anticipating a good year. My schedule is: AP Statistics, AP US Government, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, and AP Spanish Language.
My overall weighted GPA is 4.522 as of end of Junior year.
This is on a system where an AP class goes up to a 5.3, an honors class 5.0, and a standard class 4.0. (Its a weird system). (I’m sure that they will recalculate this GPA, I don’t know how though.)
I think from my previous calculations on Unweighted GPA came to around 3.7 (a little low)
My school doesn’t rank.
I’ve taken the SAT’s twice and was not happy with my scores. I took the ACT during the June 2015 testing.
I received a 31. (English 32, Math 33, Reading 32, Science 26). I will be retaking the ACT’s again in September 2015. I’m hoping to raise my score to possibly 33-34. I’m pretty sure I can do that since my Science score was poor this time and I believe I can definitely improve the other categories because I only did a few practice tests and believe after reading a really good prep book I will improve.
I’ve taken multiple SAT Subject Tests. I have US History 780, Biology E 740, World History 680. (I’m only submitting the World History one to schools that require three Subject tests like Georgetown.)
I have also taken AP Exams: AP US History (5), AP Comparative Government (5), AP Calculus AB (5), and AP English Language (5). (I would have taken more but they cost a lot of money.)
More Information:
Work Experience:
Tutoring during my Freshman Year
Part time work during the Summer of my Junior Year
Extracurricular Activities:
Environmental Club
May 2015-Present (Junior Year to Present)
Co-founder and President
National Honors Society
February 2015-Present (Junior Year to Present) (Earliest Possible)
School Newspaper
September 2015-Present (Junior Year to Present)
Leo Club (Service Club)
September 2013-Present (Sophomore Year to Present)
Academic Competition Team
September 2013-Present (Sophomore Year to Present)
DECA (Business Competition Group)
September 2012-Present (Freshman Year to Present)
State Competitor
School Tennis Team
March 2013-May 2014 (Freshman and Sophomore Years)
Homeroom Representative
September 2013-Present (Sophomore Year to Present)
(My school does not have a Model UN or Debate Team. If we did, I would have joined.)
Volunteering:
State Park Trail Maintenance, Potential County Park Ecology Projects, Read Across America in Elementary Schools for National Honor Society, Various elementary school function volunteering, and volunteering during my Church services (I will have more opportunities added by my applications are due).
Other:
I will be participating in a Summer Diplomatic Solutions Careers in International Relations Program in a few weeks.
Awards:
I have received Student of the Month, two honorable mentions on the National Spanish Exam, and the Highest Test score at the 2014 DECA State competition in the Marketing Cluster.
I believe that my recommendations will be superb from my teachers and guidance counselor. One will be from my AP English teacher who is very good at writing these and knows me pretty well. The other is from my AP Biology teacher who knows me very well.
I also think I have a few good ideas for my Common Application and Supplement essays. I will be trying to have a lot of my personality shine through here.
I’ve been worried for a while that my stats still aren’t the best. I’m very passionate for politics, international relations, and environmental policy. None of the activities I have done were necessarily only for college. I have done the activities for myself. I am very passionate and likable; however, I was always shy, especially, in my freshman and sophomore year. In hindsight, I would go back and attempt to make my earlier years reflect my passions, but alas I cannot.
I’m really hoping to get into one of these schools.
If I could rate myself, I would say that my GPA is weaker than most and my standardized test scores aren’t spectacular. I could always do more in volunteering too.
I appreciate all of the appropriate replies. Thank you in advance.