Really Interested in Academics and Outing Club...chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bowdoin College
1

<p>Hi. I would like another person’s opinion on my chances at Bowdoin. I attend a college prep school with a rigorous curriculum, but I’m really psyched about the BOC and its whitewater component, not just the academics. I don’t include my class rank here because my school doesn’t rank students. (There are 67 people in my class.)</p>

<p>SAT Reading: 740
SAT Math: 660 (I’m not presenting myself as a math or science major)
SAT Writing: 700
Composite: 2100
SAT II Literature: 780
SAT II Math I: 700
unweighted GPA: 3.93
weighted: 4.09
AP English Lit, 4
AP US History, 4
AP French (next year)
AP Euro (next year)
National Merit Commended Student (at least, waiting on the semifinalist, but my guidance counselor seems to think I have a good chance.)</p>

<p>FRESHMAN CLASSES : 3.67 GPA
Ancient History
Alg II
French 2
English
Biology</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE CLASSES: 3.71 GPA
World History
Geometry HONORS
French 3
English
Chemistry</p>

<p>JUNIOR CLASSES: 4.09 GPA
AP US History
PreCalc
French 4
AP English Lit
Zoology/Botany</p>

<p>Extras:
Outdoor Education: whitewater canoeing, kayaking, rafting, hiking, camping. after school and weekends. I devote anywhere from 10-72 hours a week, considering the weekend trips.
CodaRed: a cappella group by invitation only (11, 12)
Chamber Singers: elite choral group by audition only (10,11,12)
Chorale: the all-school chorus (9,10,11,12), officer
Musicals: participated in 9,10
Coffeehouse: an annual variety show, performed piano and vocal (9,10,11,12)
Piano: I have studied the piano for 12 years and perform at a variety of events in my school community.</p>

<p>Jobs: I have a summer job as a rafting guide at a local outfitter. I work about 20 hours per week.</p>

<p>Hook: I suppose my hook is the whitewater thing. It’s what I love to do, I hope to be able to pursue it in college and beyond; I would say it’s been my defining experience throughout high school.</p>

<p>Senior year, i’m planning to take:
Construction of Music/Theory
AP European History
20th Century China Honors
Themes In World Literature
Intro to Film
AP French Language
Calculus</p>

<p>Awards: I received a leadership award last year:
“The alumni association award is presented to a junior who has sacrificed time and energy to promote an enriching school environment that makes our students and alumni continue to feel pride in our school. The intelligence, creativity and resourcefulness demonstrated over the year represents the epitome of true leadership.”</p>

<p>I’d really appreciate any feedback.</p>

2

<p>I’m not sure that the whitewater thing is much of a hook - that’s more of a hobby than a talent. What about the music angle or do you not want to pursue that further?</p>

3

<p>Question: How is your unweighted GPA for junior year higher than 4.0?</p>

4

<p>Your SAT scores and GPA are in their range, so you’ve crossed one hurdle. Colleges respect the commitment and responsibility entailed in holding down employment so your whitewater rafting experience would be looked at favorably, and they like to see passion for an activity. Plus you have quite a few interesting extracurriculars. Congratulations on your leadership award! Your senior course schedule looks challenging and interesting and they will definitely notice. But remember that Bowdoin has an 18% acceptance rate so they reject many qualified applicants.</p>