<p>-White (horrible family medical history, but not really "disadvantaged" or anything)
-Public high school in Chicago suburbs, around 315 kids in my class, friendly-but-competitive within each year, one of 50 best schools in Illinois I think (have sent kids to Yale, Northwestern, Cornell, UChicago, Vanderbilt, etc.)
-GPA: 3.97 now and 3.95 at end of semester likely/4.62 at end of semester weighted
-Currently #2 in class, was #1 all three years but a homeschooled kid joined our class this year and took the spot; I'll be in top 1% for sure, probably 2nd and <em>maybe</em> 3rd by December</p>
<p>-Commended for National Merit Scholarship
-AP Scholar with Distinction
-34 on ACT, 9 on writing (took it twice, first time was 35 on English, 34 on Math, 34 on Science, 34 on Reading, with 8 on Writing, whereas second time got a 36 on English, 35 on Math, 34 on Reading, but 32 on Science, with 9 on writing, and composite both times was 34 --superscored I'd have a 35)
-SAT II: US History 780, Physics 690, Math 2 680, Lit 670 (I'd only submit USH and Physics though) (side-note: should I retake these, even though I won't have any time to study? I doubt I can get above a 700, since I seem to totally lose it when I take these tests)</p>
<p>-AP:
Euro: 5
Calc AB: 5
USH: 5
Eng Lang: 5
Phys B: 4
Next year, taking:
AP Lit
AP Phys C
AP Psych
AP Gov/Comp Gov (considering dropping Comp and self-studying)
AP Econ</p>
<p>Major: Government/public policy (hence Princeton is #1, Columbia/Yale are basically tied for second, and Cornell/Northwestern/a few others like Brown are closely behind)</p>
<p>ECs: [my school only allows you to be an officer in one club at a time, and keep in mind I never had any inclination towards any one subject or area until this year]</p>
<p>Common app essay is a sort-of poem slash list, it's pretty funny (but the smart kind of funny, according to some random people I've shown it to). The other talks about a quote that helped change my life's goal from being a writer to majoring in government, so it's a more earnest and serious counterbalance to the humorous common app one.</p>
<p>Recs: Very good I think. No "I worked with them for years to make a particle accelerator" type thing, one is English and one is USH teacher and student council sponsor, I did well in both classes and did a lot in student council and they both like me a lot b/c I was very involved in class.</p>
<p>Freshman:
-Literary magazine (member and getting many works published)
-Academic team (have done it since 7th grade; won MVP at local competition)
-Wrote and self-published a comedic science-fiction novel trilogy (80,000 words) online
-Finished taking guitar lessons after 3 years and then self-recorded 3 instrumental albums
-Started online comic strip which continued into junior year</p>
<p>Sophomore:
-Literary magazine
-Academic Team
-Key Club
-FBLA
-Joined film club towards end of year
-Had rock band with several kids a grade below me, but broke up after one year</p>
<p>Junior:
-Literary magazine
-Academic Team (Varsity)
-Key Club (Historian)
-Student Council (led construction of 20-30 foot cardboard light-up buildings for Homecoming dance, spent between 20 and 30 hours by the end of it on that sub-council)
-Science Olympiad (won bronze for It's About Time in sectionals on JV team, but was unable to attend the next competition)
-FBLA (won 10th and 7th in Impromptu Speaking and Talent Show at State)
-Started a progressive folk rock band with 2 friends, for which I am writing, recording, and mixing an album and also hopefully getting us to play live shows during senior year
-Participated in and won "Mr. [high school]", an annual satirical beauty pageant at the school, against all the popular athlete seniors at the school, in front of over 500 people
(-Wrote and ran D&D campaign at my lunch table during school year, though I'm not sure I'd include that, lol)
-Came in second at VFW essay contest at my school</p>
<p>Senior:
-NHS (President)
-President's Council (meets with principal to discuss issues/events)
-Student Council
-Literary magazine
-FBLA
-Science Olympiad
-Academic Team (co-captain)
-Working on a huge novel and on our band's album, but won't have anything to show for it for a while
-Homecoming Court (helps show... character?)
-Taught class to 44 sophomores about "how to be awesome" (but really about confidence/originality/respect) as part of experimental student-teacher activity</p>
<p>I also have an arts supplement for these schools that's an excerpt from my novel, condensed into a short story. I think it's really good, and not trying to be show-offy with language but I definitely put heart into it. I also have a lot of poems I've written and the start of my other novel, all of which I'm really proud of and think would help me stand out.</p>
<p>Thanks!
-Rocky</p>