Please help me! My dad is nuts

Colleges and Universities A-Z Pomona College
1

<p>Hi everyone, I am a rising Junior in high school and my dad is putting a ton of pressure on me to figure college stuff out, "Now! Right now!" ...So here I am. I love Pomona! I'll chance back.</p>

<p>9th Grade (school doesnt weight 9th grade classes)
+ Honors SS (A)
+ Honors Eng (A)
+ Geometry (Accelerated Math) (A)
+ Gym (A)
+ Chorus (A)
+ Communications (A)
+ Orchestra (A)
+ Honors Science (A)
+ Honors Spanish (A) </p>

<p>10th Grade
+ APUSH (A) (5) (APUSH is the only AP they allow sophomores to take)
+ Honors English (A)
+ Honors Biology (A-)
+ Honors Chem (A-)
+ Middle Childhood (Human Development Course) (A)
+ Digital Imaging (A)
+ Gym/ Health REQUIRED (A)
+ Honors Spanish (A)
Cumulative GPA= 4.0867</p>

<p>I slipped in 10th grade with the A-'s and plan on acing my Junior Year schedule, which is as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li>AP Euro</li>
<li>AP Calc AB</li>
<li>AP Enviornmental</li>
<li>AP Lang</li>
<li>Honors Spanish 4 </li>
<li>Early Childhood Development</li>
<li>Psychology</li>
<li>Gym REQUIRED</li>
</ul>

<p>12th Grade
+ AP Macro
+ AP Stat
+ AP Bio
+ AP Physics (I'm unsure which one)
+ AP Spanish
+ AP Lit
+ Gym REQUIRED
+ Debate
+ Sociology</p>

<p>EC's</p>

<p>9th:
- Select Choir
- Select Orchestra Ensemble
- National Junior Honor Society
- MANY community service projects/ fundraisers with school
- MUCH church involvement/ community service projects/ volunteer work (Vacation Bible School, etc.)
- Varsity Cheerleading</p>

<p>10th:
- Student Council (Orchestrating various fundraisers, community service events, etc)
- Key Club (more fundraisers, community service)
- Varsity Cheerleading
- Church involvement (above)</p>

<p>11th:
- OEG (soldier support club, sends packages/ fundraises for US soldiers in Iraq)
- Key Club
- Student Council
- ^ A lot of involvement and community service comes from these clubs
- Church involvement</p>

<p>12th:
- ^ same as 11th, may run for student council officer position</p>

<p>** I know my EC's suck, but I'm trying to get them up Junior/Senior year</p>

<p>** School doesn't rank, but I have one of the higher GPA's, top 10%, maybe top 5% (school isn't very competitive, nice school district but not many kids go to Ivies)</p>

<p>** I have not taken any SAT's yet but I did get a 191 on the PSATs, which I know is very low but I did not study for the test at all, and also had never taken any sort of test like it. Since, I have been studying rigorously for the SAT's which I will take next year. MY score will definitely improve from the PSAT- SAT predicted score of 1910.</p>

<p>** I'm not sure what I'd like to major in, both History and Nursing interest me. I'm between like high school history teacher and nurse, random I know haha.</p>

<p>** I am Hispanic, not sure if this helps my chances?</p>

<p>** Female, from Pennsylvania </p>

<p>So, assuming all goes well (Straight A's, 5's on all AP Exams, successful EC involvement, raised SAT Score) what are my chances at Pomona?</p>

<p>Also, are scholarships a possibility? My dad makes good money but spends it all, I don't have money for college. I wouldn't get financial aid but I also don't have money for college... </p>

<p>Thank you!!</p>

2

<p>But then I got a SAT score of 2300 after getting a PSAT score of 172/198 (sophomore/junior).
Just some random information for you.</p>

3

<p>Pomona doesn’t offer scholarships; it’s all need-based aid. Depending on your financial circumstances, that may or may not be a good thing–however, Pomona does try to meet 100% of your need, without loans. </p>

<p>You seem like a very good student. Don’t be so stressed out about academics! An A- or two is certainly not going to hurt you, truly. Your ECs don’t “suck”; they may not be very unusual, but you seem passionate about church/community service related activities. Make sure that you highlight those things in your application, as schools like to see that kind of energy and focus in an applicant. </p>

<p>Ultimately, no one can really chance you, since no one can predict what the admissions committee will think. Work hard, write good essays (Pomona really cares about this), but above all, relax–Pomona likes to accept good students who also know how to have fun (this was their essay prompt last year).</p>

4

<p>Also - you are a minority, so that will help in admissions.</p>

5

<p>Agree with verdricity. Just want to point out that Pomona does not offer a Nursing major. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should rule out Pomona, but if you are serious about keeping nursing open as an option, you might want to do some research beyond small liberal arts schools. Also, if you do end up deciding to apply to Pomona, I would suggest not bringing up your interest in nursing in your application/interview unless you can outline a reasonable plan for how a liberal arts education might help you in your plans to become a nurse. Otherwise if you just mention it and not explain it, you might come off as not having done enough research about Pomona. Just my two cents.</p>

<p>Otherwise, it looks like you’re in good shape academically. Don’t worry about the A minuses - they’re completely respectable grades in the eyes of college admissions committees and no one expects you to be perfect!</p>

6

<p>I’m a dad. As a dad, I’m advising that you need to push back on your dad on ‘figuring this stuff’ out ‘right now’. You need to research, explore, think, talk-- for Lord’s sake, you’re about 16 years old. Most teens your age have got the next generation of video games as the first thing on their minds. It is very unlikely that in senior year you will be as infatuated with the schools with which you are infatuated now. He seems anxious- but he’s an adult and needs to handle his anxiousness and not pressure you into premature choices to settle his anxiousness. Approach this tactfully but assertively in that you want his help and support and involvement in thinking things through-- and not pressuring you into coming to premature decisions to resolve his anxieties. You’re the child, he’s the parent. He needs to get straight which is which.</p>