Just curious about who was or wasn’t chosen as a Questbridge finalist and what your stats were.
Decision: Finalist
Schools Ranked: Brown, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford
Rank of Questbridge Essays (1-10):
Essay 1: 7ish- I wrote in a narrative format, as though I was looking back on various points of time in my life and making comments like “maybe that’s why…”
Essay 2: 10- Honestly, this was my favorite “essay” among all I’ve ever written. I chose the “Big Risk” essay, and used a journal-style. I told the story about how I came out to my best friend. I began with my 12 year old self writing about how “stupid and unfair” it is that I have to be gay. (Yes, I used that phrase, and a couple of others filled with sarcasm and spite) I transitioned through several months and eventually years, wrapping it all up in one last entry, dated September of 2016, talking about how the big risk has changed me into an open minded person in a small conservative town, and how that best friend became my girlfriend of nearly three years.
Rank of teacher recommendations (1-10):
Teacher 1: 8- This teacher was my AP Lit teacher, and I always did very well in her class. She and I never really talked outside of a professional setting, but I feel that she was able to come to conclusions about me and my personality through my friends and through the subtle hints that maybe I wasn’t as perfect as everyone thinks. (Ex. Watery eyes when I’m dragging my butt to my desk after an allnighter.) She always told me how much she admires my dedication-even when I don’t feel like doing something.
Teacher 2: 9- This teacher was my 11th grade Chemistry teacher, and she was insane. (Yes, I mean CRAZY.) I love her so much. Our personalities are pretty similar, and we got along really well both in and out of the classroom. (We talked a lot of trash about a lot of people at some fancy Science Fair banquet, which is when I think we really bonded.) She is now my AP Chem teacher, and she’s seen me in the best and worst of times. I’m sure that her recommendation was incredible.
Rank of counselor recommendation (1-10): 6-
I don’t know my counselor very well, and I think I probably annoy her with my constant stream of “important questions.” Honestly, she probably doesn’t really know what to do with high-achieving students, since in our school it’s an accomplishment to graduate- let alone go to college.
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.2?
ACT (composite, essay, english, math, science): 33C, 18W, 35E, 31M, 35R, 31S
Rank (numerical or percentile): 1/179
All AP test scores:
AP Lit and Comp- 3
APUSH- 4
Senior Year Course Load:
French 2
AP Computer Science
Teacher Cadet
AP Chemistry
AP World History
Band
Comp
Major Awards: Governor’s School Attendee, All region band (2 years)
Extracurriculars:
Band- This one is the most important to me, and because of the long hours, (7:00 am rehearsal, practice until 5, football games, etc.) I haven’t really put much time into other ExC’s. I did my best to let this shine through when I talked about it.
Track- I have thrown discus for 5 years and have been very successful.
Volunteer/Community Service: 6 week program at the local hospital
State: Arkansas
School Type (public, private, online, etc.): Public
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: ~46,000 (Family of 6)
Assets: none
Extenuating Circumstances: none
Stand Out Info (e.g. first gen college student): none
Why do you think you were or were not selected as a finalist?
I think that I was just unique and passionate enough to catch admission’s attention. I’m a gay female from a small conservative town in the middle of the Bible Belt, and I talked a lot about my passion for Neuroscience, which is what I’m going to study in college. I know that my extracurriculars were weak, but I think that the way I displayed my passion for and dedication to what I do helped the admissions team to make its decision.