PA Gov Schools of Excellence

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Hi everybody! I applied for PGSIS, the school of International Studies. I'm posting what I put on my application, and I am hoping that others will do the same. Maybe younger students who will be applying in future years will find such information useful....or at least interesting. </p>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>APPLICATION TO THE SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES</p>

<p>white female from rural/small town high school in Western PA</p>

<p>3 years of Spanish study
3 years of French study
1 year independent Modern Greek study</p>

<p>Transcript:
all A's in all honors (as many as are available)
PSAT: 70V 63M 72W (10th grade) and 69CR 68M 76W (11th grade)
SAT: 660V 670M (10th grade)
SAT IIs: 720Lit 630MB 640USH (10th grade)</p>

<p>A. Narrative Statement:</p>

<p>twas tough...it has to be sooooo short!</p>

<p>I started it out talking about how I brought National Geographic into school for show and tell in kindergarten...I went on to how I live with my family on the grounds of an Orthodox monastery (my father works there as the caretaker/head of maitenance) and how this environment stimulated me to become fascinated with other countries. Then I wrote a bit about my trip to Guatemala City to work in an orphanage this past summer...and I tied it up by showing how these children impacted me...and how I am concerned about the world-wide abuse of children</p>

<p>B. Resume:</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:</p>

<p>School Clubs:</p>

<p>International Club: president
Junior States of America: founder and president
Student Council: executive board; chair of service committee
French Club, Spanish Club, Key Club, and National Honor Society</p>

<p>School-related Activities:</p>

<p>Elementary Schools Foreign Language Program:
taught French to area elementary gifted students (40-50 hours teaching and writing lesson plans). Late fall 2003-spring 2004.</p>

<p>International Showcase: created and orchestrated International Club’s annual culture fair open to all classes. January 23, 2004.</p>

<p>Slippery Rock University Foreign Language Competition: received 1st place awards in French Oral Test and French Vocabulary Test. February 17, 2004. </p>

<p>Presidential Debate: organized an all-school mock presidential debate prior to the national election through Junior States of America Club. October 27,
2004.</p>

<p>World Affairs Institute: received Rotary Scholarship to attend the 34th Annual World Affairs Institute, Global Trends: Implications for the United States, at Two Mellon Center Pittsburgh. November 10, 2004. </p>

<p>International Education Day: invited area foreign exchange students (current and former) to share their experiences with American students and each other; students were given a tour of our school guided by International Club members. November 22, 2004. </p>

<p>Lawrence County Forensics League: participate in monthly competitions; have received numerous awards. Participant since 7th grade.</p>

<p>SPECIAL STUDY PROJECTS:</p>

<p>French: independent study of fourth level French</p>

<p>Spanish: compact the class: attend every other day for full credit</p>

<p>Modern Greek: independent study (with tutor and self-study books)</p>

<p>Psychology: took General Psychology 211 through LEAP (Leaders’ Early Admission Program), Clarion University. Fall 2004. Final grade: A </p>

<p>COMMUNITY/SERVICE PROJECTS:</p>

<p>Big Brothers Big Sisters: currently in second year as big sister in site-based after school program; mentor for one and one half hours once a week</p>

<p>Assistant Church School Teacher: meet with class on a weekly basis </p>

<p>Mission Work: traveled with a former orphan back to her orphanage, the Hogar Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City, Guatemala, for two weeks of mission work. June 22-July 6, 2004. </p>

<p>Ellwood City Carpenter’s Project: volunteered for 35 hours fixing the houses of economically disadvantaged area residents: July 19-22, 2004</p>

<p>C. Local Global Concern:</p>

<p>I wrote about childhood obesity, pulling on stats from the WHO and CDC, as well as local stats from my school district. I talked about the negative effects on health, environment, and the economy. My solution had to do with educating people to live differently (exercise more, eat good food, etc.) and to shift away from the modern culture that promotes obesity. </p>

<p>Teacher Recs:</p>

<p>they were good...both teachers have known me for several years. plus...I got to read both of them!</p>

<p>Counselor Rec:
good...my counselor did actually write a letter (it's optional)...which I didn't get to read :-(</p>

<p>sorry for such a long post....i hope this is helpful to somebody</p>

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<p>"I applied for PGSIS, the school of International Studies. I'm posting what I put on my application, and I am hoping that others will do the same."</p>

<p>Hey, me too. Here's hoping we both get in.
I'll post my stats/app too.</p>

<p>Transcript/Stats:
-White male from a competitive private school in the Philadelphia suburbs
-3.95 UW GPA with toughest available schedule
-PSAT: 69CR, 80M, 80W
-SAT II's: 800- Math 2C, 730- World History
-AP's: 5- World History</p>

<p>Narrative Statement- talked primarily about my interest in international relations, talked about how it came about from being really interested in history and then observing how historically the world's been tied closer together, and that it's something that's become critically important. Also about me realizing how American's are seen as ignorant of the rest of the world and trying to avoid that. (I got to use my fav. stat in the world here- 30% of Americans aged 18-24 can't label the Pacific Ocean on a world map). Said I knew I was addressing mostly only one part of the prompt, but that it was something I was passionate about.</p>

<p>EC's- I've gotta say, you have me smoked here. I have only 6-7 things total, none of which are very impressive. An exchange program with a school in Spain, a trip to Peru which was service/Spanish classes/just being there, NYLC summer program, member of IR club and Debate Team, a service project... that's about it.</p>

<p>Issue essay- I wrote about terrorism. Said it affected my local community because the curtailing of civil liberties that came about as a result had resulted in controversy/protests here. Solution was pretty broad-ranged. One was engaging in the struggle of ideas and changing the black/white message we've sent. Another was better cooperation in global intelligence-sharing, while at the same time striking at known terrorist cells. Drew some stats from the 9/11 Commission Report</p>

<p>This was a tough question, b/c the town I live seems to pride itself on being isolated from the rest of the world, and most of the standard global issues don't really apply here.</p>

<p>Recs: who knows, I didn't get to read them. I expect they will be excellent- these are teachers that love me.</p>

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<p>Thanks for posting, mesotired9! You have awesome stats. I hope we both get a nice letter in April.</p>

<p>Please post everybody :) If you're applying to <em>any</em> of the PA Gov Schools.</p>

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<p>There has to be someone else who applied!</p>

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<p>bumpety bump</p>

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<p>Isn't there anyone else on this board apply to Pa Gov Schools?!?</p>

<p>I remember there being more people in past years....</p>

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<p>I applied to PGSIS and after reading your stats... I'm feeling a little down</p>

<p>Suburban Public high school right outside Philly</p>

<p>3 Yrs of Spanish and Mandarin is my first language </p>

<p>TRANSCRIPT:
Rank 1 out of 519 GPA: 4.0
Taking hardest courses available
PSAT: 64V 760M 70CR
SAT: didn't take any yet... thats probably gonna hurt a little</p>

<p>A. NARRATIVE STATEMENT
Wow, lol, mine is such a joke compared to yours. I wrote about my discovery of those humongous Buffets where they serve international delicacies and how I was fed up with imitations of culture and experiencing them only after they were altered to suit the public. I wanted authenticity because culture is something so rich and deep that I feel robbed to know only an interpretation of it. Then i went on to write a bit about the importance of international studies and how I want to insure its continuity... something like that</p>

<p>RESUME (Not very social studies oriented but...meh)
Work study at a High-powered Laser Optical lab
Hospitality aide at senior resident home
Taught and tutored Mandarin to 4-6 yr olds
Camp counselor for young children and those with disabilities
Assisstant coach of a Girls volleyball team
Participated in Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week
Received scholarship for Moor Young College Workshop
Class president for 3 yrs
Various school clubs
dedicated to Karate and Kendo</p>

<p>C. ISSUE PAPER
My topic was about the strained relation between Taiwan, China, and US and the contradictions that exist between each nation's objectives. I suggested that China lessen its pressure on Taiwan and in return, Taiwan should stop making open acts of defiance. America should remain involved by making sure the two nations have complete and thorough negotiations where every issue is discussed. </p>

<p>I didnt get to read any of my recs but I have a feeling they're good.</p>

<p>My counselor originally forgot to send in my application so he drove 4 hours to Harrisburg and handed it in at 4:30 on January 12th. </p>

<p>Good luck to all of you!!!! Do you know the usual acceptance rates of PGSE's?</p>

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<p>Good luck TKnows! Your stats looks good...and I really like the topic of your narrative! It's like the whole Taco Bell thing....sure....that's authentic. ;)</p>

<p>I can't believe your counselor forgot to send it! And I thought my couselor was bad....</p>

<p>I'm not sure about acceptance rates...I've been wondering the same thing.</p>

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<p>haha </p>

<p>I just realized I never put my GPA and rank.</p>

<p>rank: 1/170 or so</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 uw</p>

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<p>savoirfaire, I would be surprised if you didn't get in. The way the PA Gov schools work, they accept 1-2 kids from every Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania to each of the schools. Being from a rural area, you have a VERY nice advantage over people from the Philly suburbs and areas like it. When I was a junior last year, it seemed 5-10 people applied to each of the schools. Thus, there was a ton of competition for only 2 slots from our Intermediate Unit. Good luck!</p>

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<p>TKnows- What Intermediate Unit are you in? I'm in #25 (Delaware County).</p>

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<p>Not the same one as you, yay! ;-) I'm in Bucks which I believe is #26, not too sure cuz I didn't feel that little slot out on my application but oh well, too late now. Are any of you applying to another PGSE? I think I'm gonna try for PGSGE too</p>

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<p>Awesome! In that case, here's hoping we both get in :D.</p>

<p>I'm not applying to any other ones- none of the others sounded that great, and I didn't want to write any more essays- but if I had to pick one, it would have been Global Entreprenuership. A couple of my friends are applying there, though. Fortunately for me, I'm the only one from my school applying to PGSIS.</p>

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<p>Yeah...my IU is not very competitive....i'm in MIU4 which is otherwise known as the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the info and encouragement, MrHappyFace!</p>

<p>Like mesotired9, I did not apply to any other schools...that would be too many essays that I don't have time to write!!</p>

<p>I hope we all get in :).</p>

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<p>Hey MrHappyFace, which IU are u in and which program did u do?</p>

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<p>Yes! Tell us please, MrHappyFace! :)</p>

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<p>Please? :)</p>

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<p>has anyone else on the board attended one of the schools? would anyone like to share some personal experience?</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>stop bumping this stupid thread. You leave it alone after you showed off ur stats.</p>