Rd chances please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
1

<p>Chances please-RD</p>

<p>White jewish male from competative high school in CT
GPA: 4.1/4.5 weighted, Top 10% of class
Rigerous course load with 3 AP’s and mostly honors
SATS-1270, 640-Verb 630-Math
SAT II’s chem-670 others im not going to mention, waiting on lit
Rec-Great
Essay-very good</p>

<p>EC’s
In School Activities:</p>

<li>Symphonic Band Grades 9-12</li>
<li>Jazz Band Grades 9-12</li>
<li>Marching Band Grade 12</li>
<li>Percussion Ensemble 11-12</li>
<li>Pit Orchestra 11-12</li>
<li>Katrina Relief Concert-11</li>
<li>Darfur Benefit Concert-12</li>
<li>Tri-m Music Honor Society 10-12</li>
<li>CMEA Western Regional Orchestra 11, 12 </li>
<li>CMEA Allstate Band - Second Chair mallet percussionist 11</li>
<li>National Honor Society</li>
</ol>

<p>Out of School Activities:</p>

<li>City Adult Symphony Orchestra- 2004-present</li>
<li>Music Centre Summer Enrichment Program- 2001- present</li>
<li>Community Orchestra- 2006-present</li>
<li>Portuguese Center Band 2006-present</li>
<li>PAL & Babe Ruth Baseball- 1997-2005</li>
<li>HatCity and DAYO Basketball 1998-2004</li>
<li>WestConn Sunmer Band Camp- 2006</li>
<li>Music Lessons-2000-present</li>
<li>Giving Music Lessons 2006-present</li>
</ol>

<p>Special Awards:</p>

<li>CMEA Allstate 2006- Mallet Percussion Player-rated number 2 in the state of Connecticut</li>
<li>CMEA Western Regional 2006, 2007- Mallet Percussion player in orchestra</li>
<li>CT Scholar</li>
</ol>

<p>Leadership Roles:</p>

<li>Music Centre Summer Band- Perucssion Section Leader</li>
<li>Babe Ruth Baseball - Team Captain Fall 2005</li>
<li>Sole Percussionist in Pit Orchestra 2006</li>
<li>Principal Percussionst Symphonic Band 2006-2007</li>
<li>Composed and conducted song</li>
</ol>

2

<p>Your chances will be decreased if you do not check your spelling in the application. It would also help to raise your SATI scores.</p>

3

<p>I appreciate your input, but i do not need you telling me to check my spelling. This was not directly off of my application. Even so, what else is spelled wrong besides summer? Thanks. Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>Why I feel entitled to comment: Hi, I'm a primary grade teacher whose been watching spelling patterns in the high school set, lately. Also, note that my brother, sister-in-law attended Deis; their S just get in ED-II. </p>

<p>I know I tend to be a cheering squad for students (my positive nature) and I don't want to give anyone "false hope" as Paul Simon says.</p>

<p>Still, unlike another poster above, I had a very favorable intutive response to your chances. I'll give you the bad news first, then the good, which is how my own kids prefer to hear things :)</p>

<p>Where to improve:</p>

<p>Let's start with stats. Yours are all between 620-680 although you didn't want to mention anything but the chem SAT-II. Waiting on lit..well, that IS one of the hardest, but it could be fine, I hope so. </p>

<p>STILL, because you are so accomplished musically as evidenced by your EC's (see the good news, below) you present something excellent, a hook, that the adcoms can seize upon to admit you if they like everything about you except the SAT's. Besides, Brandeis like all places has a RANGE of SAT scores. You might be on the low end of their median range, or even below it. But, hey, don't you ever wonder HOW someone gets admitted who has scores below the range? YOU"RE HOW. (again, see the "good news" re: music EC below). </p>

<p>I didn't catch whether you're a jr. or a senior. IF you're a sr, the die is cast (get the pun?). But if a jr., you definitely (note my spelling; half the posters on CC write the incorrect: definately...) have a GREAT chance to spend a day of spring break finding yourself some SAT prep books AND stop at a bookstore or Amazon.com to find yourself some of those books about spelling. We used to use "l000 words most commonly misSpelled" but there's probably better stuff on the market. </p>

<p>Since you asked, I saw these 2 misspells:
It's not rigerous but RIGOROUS (think of similar words: humor, rigor)
It's not "competative" but COMPETITIVE (think of competition, rather than how it sounds..)</p>

<p>And since I'm an early elementary educator, I can't resist analyzing this professionally (I won't charge you for this): You seem to have good spelling
strategy of looking for resources (my guess is you swept the names of all your EC's because they are perfect, OR you've seen them spelled correctly in published materials often enough that you've internalized the correct spelling. Either way is okay. We teach kids to look for correctly spelled words on book covers, posters, and anything published around them in the classroom, if they're unsure how to spell something.). But your spelling breaks down when it is a multi-syllable word with a root that changes due to grammar (for example, moving from "compete" to "Competititve" broke down your accuracy, similarly from "rigor" (which I bet you'd get correct if only the 5 letters) to "rigorous" nailed you. And you didn't notice those inaccuracies even when you reread your post (at another poster's blunt prompting...). SO, now you know one "Achillles' heel" (wikkipedia now if you must). Be especially alert whenever you write a word of 3 syllables or more that changes form (compete to competitive), espec. if it causes YOU any hesitation as you begin to write the tricky word. If you hesitated, you probably sense there's an inaccuracy looming (so you have good intuition). So, you need to watch out and check all of those because they're tricky (to you and others! you're not alone).
When you use the spell-check on computer, take a moment to linger and analyze the correction, don't just push "Change." Learn from your errors, don't just rush forward.
Finally, you are obviously an "AUDIAL LEARNER" (look at all that music!). Learners are either (or sometimes 2 of the following): visual, audial, kinesthetic/sensory. Visual learners can read a book and see the word spelled correctly, then internalize it. Audial learners do great hearing the spoken word (directions, lectures...) but don't always retain the spelling, even when they see it in them in a book or on spell-check, the next time they need it. Kinesthetic/sensory learners (the kind who memorize their town by driving it, always could fix the pencil sharpeners in the classrooms, love tools and dance well...) retain corrected spelling best if they WRITE it down (keep a journal by your computer for 6 months, see if it helps). They internalize lessons once their body has participated in it (other than the eyes--visual--and ears--audial--learners' best body parts).</p>

<p>OK, so it never helps to wither people over their spelling. OF COURSE, you'll get your app proofread, but I'm offering these to improve your spelling at the root cause. STILL, get your app proofread. EVERYBODY should and will.</p>

<p>NOW, on to the GOOD NEWS:
You have done what everyone wants to see in EC's. You have followed your passion and developed it to the high level,including leadership and originality. It expresses itself personally ("wrote song", won award so you must be good) and communally (band, symphony). You enjoy classical as well as jazz, so you're open to many ideas. You've pursued and devloped it over YEARS. This is not just your lame "club membership."
I know someone just admitted to 'Deis ED-II who made his jazz and marching band work the centerpiece of his application. It was also the source of some of his essays and short answers, different aspects about what it means to him. For example, he started a jazz band at his school which showed some leadership; he wrote about how he FELT leading the marching band to show he could be "in the moment." He wrote about some other things, too, but mostly his (demonstrated!) passion for music was the springboard throughout his app to reveal his soul, er.."personality" to the committee. Again, he did also write about some other things, but often used the music to take off.<br>
His stats were only slightly higher than yours, in one or two places, and identical in others. You are not trying to impress them as a future scientist, I'm guessing, although anything is possible for those who can excel in music. But at the moment, you have a "hook" which is the one thing that can help offset SAT's that are "nothing to write home about." Yours are weak-ISH for Brandeis, but they're not in the sewers either! None are in the 500's, at least not what you put onto CC. And if you're a jr., there's still time to improve them. Another 30 or 40 points would really make a remarkable presentation because you still have the "hook." If you could get something, just one above a 700 somewhere, that might be nice. But don't kill yourself (or quit band) trying, either. Just try. Take SAT course, use the home and online SAT prep materials, etc. If you end up with the same scores, then those represent you truly..and honestly they are good enough to do college level work. you'v demonstrated your work ethic already (through band and a steady GPA) so I'd presume you'd work and study hard at college whenever you need to.</p>

<p>You have good recs, probably a good personality, great EC's. Brandeis needs to know you can achieve academically, and I'd venture to say that SAT's in the 600's demonstrate that. You have a fabulous "hook" that they can make use of on campus. </p>

<p>(I am sorry if this is long; kept getting interrupted as all Moms do..will send now.) BEST WISHES. </p>

<p>PS, you mention Jewish male from Connecticut. Not that it's required, but do you also have an expression of Jewish activity, identity or direction? That would be interesting to note on your app, IF it's authentic to you. I don't mean you had a bar mitzvah. Do you have a CURRENT relationship with Jewish materials, attend services on your own initiative to explore what's there for you (not your parents) now? Would it be something you'd like to do while at Brandeis, where you can explore Jewish practice in 37 different flavors if you so choose,,, even if you're just curious to explore it during your college years, Brandeis offers more choices within Judaism than any other college or uni. If you have even a glimmer of curiosity to develop your Jewish understanding, through courses, participation in events or services, etc. then mention it. As long as Brandeis is admitting a Jewish male from CT from a competitive h.s., wouldn't it be nice if he also brought something to the table int terms of participation or curiosity in one of their strongest, most unique offerings for undergrads? So, if you identify, represent! If not, don't fake it. If you might be curious, however, perhaps it can fit into a "Why Brandeis" essay if they ask that kind of thing.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for your post paying3tuitions. I am a senior. I ended up with a 620 on literature. I appreciate your advice, but unfortunately it's a little late for SAT prep. The music is a big part and I sent in a CD per request from the director of the Brandeis department of music. I am not involved in Jewish activities. Actually, I'm not religious and I don't even think I put that I was Jewish on my application. Thanks.</p>

6

<p>Well, best wishes. What do others think of your chances?
Sorry I should have recognized that you were a sr. by the fact that you referred to your essays! My error. Ah well, perhaps it'll benefit some jr. readers.<br>
Also, I was thrown off b/c since your post mentioned jewish, I assumed your ap also did.
You are right to represent yourself authentically, and if it doesn't relate to your life it doesn't belong on an ap essay, anyway. Again, it's here for educational value to other readers, perhaps.
YOU have such a nice application profile, with the music. I'd hope you get in. Please post the result if you care to again, after April. Best wishes.</p>

7

<p>bump, anyone else?</p>

8

<p>Let's boil it down:</p>

<p>(for Brandeis)</p>

<p>Class rank: ok
SAT: poor
ECs: ok</p>

<p>I would classify your chances as "fair".
Did you have an interview? Did you demonstrate in either your interview or application knowledge of and enthusiasm for Brandeis? This is very important and for a candidate such as yourself it can make all the difference.</p>

9

<p>Actually, yes. I did have an interview and I did show interest. And why are my Ec's only ok? You want to call my SATS poor, fine. I've seen other posts by you. Who do you think you are? People ask for their chances. They don't want you calling them trainwrecks and telling them their ranks are poor. You're not even an old member. You joined last month! I might agree with you sometimes, even in my case, but you need to watch what you say.</p>

10

<p>And by the way, who are you? Parent, high school student, college student?</p>

11

<p>Ok, let me rephrase:</p>

<p>You are an exceptional candidate whom I'm sure will be accepted with a full scholarship and a personal visit from the entire Board of Trustees imploring you to attend.</p>

<p>Feel better?</p>

<p>Do you want an honest opinion of your chances or do you want it sugar-coated ?</p>

<p>(clearly you want the latter).</p>

<p>Any pray tell, why does it matter that I'm not an "old member"?</p>

<p>PS: Read my post, I never said your class rank was poor, I said you class rank is ok (which is it, about average for a Brandeis student). I said your SATs are "poor" and in this context they are since they are below-average for a student admitted to Brandeis. If you don't want an honest assessment, why are you asking?</p>

12

<p>I didn't say that I didn't want an honest assessment. I said you need to watch how you phrase what you say. There's nothing wrong with your assesment. It's how you get it across. For example, you don't tell someone his SATS are poor or that his or her situation is a trainwreck. And yes, it matters who you are. Most people who post comments like yours are either other college-obsessed high school students or pathetic parents of high school and college students who come on here because they have nothing better to do.</p>

<p>P.S. If you knew anything about Brandeis, you would know that essays, ec's, and interviews are more important than SAT scores.</p>

13

<p>If someone has "poor" SATs, I'm going to say so.</p>

<p>For Brandeis, your SATs are "poor" there is no getting around it. I'm sorry you don't like what I'm saying but that just the fact. If you <em>do</em> get into Brandeis and end up going there you will find the vast majority of students had scores considerably higher than yours.</p>

<p>You keep bring up the "trainwreck" comment like it's some sort of sibolleth.
If you read my posts, I apologized (to the person to whom it was directed) for the insensitivity of the choice of words. </p>

<p>As to who I am. I'm not a "college-obsessed high-school student" or a "pathetic parent."</p>

<p>Who I am is someone who graduated from Brandeis many years ago and for years has been interviewing candidates on behalf of the Brandeis Alumni Admissions Council. So I think I know a bit about what it takes to get into Brandeis and what is "important."</p>

<p>Essays, ECs and interviews are important, but you can't talk or write your way into ANY school (Brandeis included) that you are not qualified to attend.</p>

<p>And let's talk about ECs. You seem to be quite proud of yours, but they are all pretty one-dimensional (music). Do you have a single non-music EC that required you to academically qualify (as opposed to just "signing up")?</p>

<p>I've interviewed HS students who have worked as research assistants in labs at Yale, as reporters in newsrooms in New York, as councilors in battered-women's shelters, etc. </p>

<p>If you really want to go to Brandeis, I hope you get in. If you don't, I'm sure you will be accepted somewhere worthwhile and receive a quality education.</p>

<p>I know you might find this hard to believe, but I really do wish you the best for the future.</p>

14

<p>Regarding EC's, if you know about music (I'm an Oberlin College grad), you know what it represents to come in 2nd in Connecticut for Allstates on your instrument; the dedication it takes to belong to an adult orchestra SINCE 20004 and a city orchestra outside your school. I surmise you have tremendous work ethic if you can do that, juggle their rehearsal schedule around school courses and musical ensembles, and be in the National Honor Society. The consensus among AdComs on this website seems to be that they look for continuity and dedication in one or two EC's, a demonstrated passion, rather than a laundry list.
If they need your instrument at a college this particular year. you have a hook as good as an athlete.
I looked up Brandeis' average SAT scores on Princeton Review and they're not published, but the related schools they say students apply to when they also apply to Deis are: BU, NYU, Cornell, Tufts and one other that's high (skips my memory right now).
Although Deis, Cornell and Tufts choose not to publish average SAT's in the Princeton Review, BU and NYU did and theirs are 1276 and 1306 respectively. Keep in mind that the average would be the center of a range, and that admitted students include some who are far above and far below that range. Your music, which is impressive, could be something that might be judged by the committee to be offsetting to your SAT scores, which are not a strong point in your application.
You also appear to have some insight into human communication. Perhaps, since Brandeis is also listed as one of around two dozen "Colleges With A Conscience" you just might have shown that in your interview and recommendations.
IF it were all a numbers game, there'd be no need for essays, interviews, and rec letters, right?
This is a baaaaad time of year for seniors. I have one at home right now, and he's a real emotional roller-coaster. I think you'll only really know in April, when your mailbox will feel like it has a radioactive field around it.
My eldest never got into his first choice, not at ED or RD time (not saying you will or won't), but got into 4 of the 8 total he applied to, and made his new priorities after April 1 when he saw who wanted him. Then, in October of his freshman year at his "second choice" he wrote to say how happy he was, and if he'd known how much he'd like it, it would have beenhis first choice all along.</p>

15

<p>Soze, I thank you for saying you hope I get in. Again, I agree with you that my SATS are poor for Brandeis. However, I did not like the way you phrased it. That was my problem. I did not like the way in which you responded, not the content of your response. I do respect your opinion. In fact, for the most part, I agree with you. I thank also thank you for the attention you've given this post. I just did not like the initial way you responded. Also, I was selected for the National Honor Society. At my school, commitments are big, especially music. Between honors classes and musical commitments in and out of school, there really is no time to pursue extra academic avenues. I discussed that with my interviewer. He understood. Also, I apoligize for accusing you of being a pathetic parent or a college-obsessed high school student. However, you will see that many people on CC do fit those profiles. Thank you for your opinion.</p>

16

<p>And Soze, that other post regarding the year in Israel, I 100% agree with you.</p>

17

<p>FYI The average GPA for accepted students to Tufts, was 1430. For the enrolled class of 2010 it was 1405.</p>

18

<p>In response to Soze: </p>

<p>A 1270 combined on the SAT is below average for a top level school, but it is not terribly below average. I got a 1310 on the SAT and I got into an Ivy League school. To say that a score of 1270 is "poor," is, in my opinion, an exaggerated. "Below average" says it best. If 1270 is "poor," what adjectives would you use to describe a score of 1200, 1150, or 1100 (and plenty of students receive those scores every year)?</p>

<p>As to your cruel and sarcastic remark:</p>

<p>"You are an exceptional candidate whom I'm sure will be accepted with a full scholarship and a personal visit from the entire Board of Trustees imploring you to attend."</p>

<p>What a shameful statement from a person who is in a position of authority! If you would only have the courage to reveal your name I would write a letter to the head of the Brandeis Alumni Admissions Council and simply send him/her a copy of your posts.</p>

<p>And since the subject of spelling has already come up once in this thread I shall now take this opportunity to correct yours. You use the word "Council" correctly when you speak of the Alumni Admissions Council ("a group of people called together for consultation, discussion, and advice, etc.") But in your post of 02-18-2007 you write "as councilors in battered-women's shelters, etc." You meant to write "counselors" which Websters New College Dictionary defines as "a person who counsels; advisor; specif., one who advises students or clients regarding educational and occupational alternatives, personal problems etc." You see, I went to Columbia where we were required to take English composition during our freshman year. Didn't you have anything like that at Brandeis?</p>

<p>As to the matter of "one-dimensionality" my dear Sosa, I see no particular virtue in a student's being a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. What I do see is your predilection for a potential student to have had some "real world" experience. There's nothing wrong with that. But I also see absolutely nothing wrong with a young person having a single-minded passion to pursue a particular discipline. </p>

<p>High school students might get summer internships working in an number of fields where they might get only a very tangential exposure to a professional working environment. Because they are yet untrained, their actual tasks may be limited to clerical work, cleaning up a lot of mouse poop, or getting the editor's coffee. Of course, the intern could be very lucky and find a caring mentor who guides them properly in whatever tasks they are assigned. An experienced interviewer will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. </p>

<p>The extracurricular percussionist will have spent those same hours honing his craft. When he arrives on campus he will be ready to play a vital role in the life of the campus community and beyond. Respectfully, I think your preoccupation with being a "generalist' is misplaced.</p>

<p>To perpaul: </p>

<p>I see that you are a percussionist and Brandeis is a school that you would like to attend. I'm not sure how much experience you have in playing the middle-eastern drums, but with your background I'm sure you would learn easily. There is a belly dancing ensemble at Brandeis but, to my knowledge, they are accompanied by a recording. If I were you, I would propose to form a live accompaniment ensemble for the belly dancing group with doumbek, tambourine, dholki, finger cymbals, bamboo flute etc. </p>

<p>And even though you're not observant, you're still Jewish. You could play up that angle and write in and say you have this idea of teaching both Israeli and Palestinian kids to play the drums. And you'd lead this retreat in (I don't know, Safed, say). And when the kids are drumming they will be creating bonds of friendship with each other. And the power of music will lead to an easing of tensions in the Middle-East and this is your dream. Just try to make them believe you mean it.</p>

<p>I wish I had seen you post earlier. Maybe you could write in ex-post facto and say you just had this great idea.</p>

<p>Also, the University of California at Los Angeles apparently has a good performance department in ethno-musicology where you learn that stuff if you decided to go that route.</p>

<p>Well, good luck.</p>

<p>Adam F. Rosenbloom
BA/MFA/M.S. Ed
Columbia College, Class of 1983
Permanently Certified New York State Music Educator</p>

19

<p>Well Thanks lol and I did get into Brandeis, but I also got into NYU's music performance program and I'm going there.</p>

20

<p>aren't you appalled by the tuition cost? i got into nyu also but tuition is just too expensive.. ~100k after 4 years..give me a break..</p>