<p>I have a couple of questions. I'm going to be applying to some pretty selective schools (UPenn, Stanford, Northwestern, some UC's, etc.) and I just don't want to botch my chances of being admitted.</p>
<p>First issue:
My mom has been urging me to send in an art supplement to any and all schools that will look at one, and I already have a letter of rec for that (supplementary to the required two teachers and one counselor). At this point in time, I'm questioning whether or not it would hurt me if I sent in a video of myself performing because I don't believe myself to be exceptionally talented. My mom's argument is that what I do is incredibly unique and that I should show it off anyway. What would I show them? Piano + Shaoxing opera. I'm a bit lackluster in the first area (having completed CM for level 10 three years ago in the 9th grade) as well as the second.. But I doubt that many other applicants will be talking about a Shaoxing opera. Should I just write my Common App essay about my involvement in this art or should I really pursue the supplement? I hear that the supplement will only help and not hurt, but I'm concerned that the supplement will help LESS than if I simply wrote an essay on it simply because the art department will scrutinize what I do and perhaps deem me less experienced/proficient/talented.</p>
<p>Second issue:
I was a straight-A student in the top 100 out of 2000 students at my school up until the second semester of my sophomore year, when I received a C in precalculus. My junior year grades were horrendous (2 A's, 2 C's, 3 B's), but now they are now improving. There is now a discrepancy between my GPA and my standardized test scores (SAT - 2280; ACT - 34; PSAT - 231). Should I address this in the additional information section of the Common App or should I write an essay? Should I do something else? (This was a result of a massive falling out in the family; my parents are divorced now.)</p>
<p>Third issue:
Should I write an essay about my family history? If I did, I would talk about the hardships that my father encountered during the Communist revolution in China and possibly namedrop my older relatives who were commanding officers in the military.</p>