SCEA Chances anyone interesting in chancing me/ giving me some advice?

<p>I'm a white male from a small public school in Southwest Virginia (A rural area on the edge of Appalachia)
GPA: W 4.31 UW 4.0
Rank 1/114
SAT (1 attempt) CR 720, M 700, W 710 (2130)
US History 770 I'm taking Math IIC in Nov
Senior Schedule:
AP Calc AB (BC is not offered)
AP US Govt
AP English
AP Stats (online)
AP Economics (online)
Honors Physics (AP not offered)
And an independent study project on mental illnesses and their social and economic effects in my city (though i've been so busy I haven't really done a whole lot on it. I plan to get more involved after this month)</p>

<p>APs: US History 5, Computer Science A 4, Art History 4</p>

<p>ECs: Football 2years, Cross Country 2 years, Indoor Track 4 years, Outdoor Track 1 year,
Scholastic Bowl (Academic Team) Co-Captain (We've finished 1st and 2nd in VA the two years I've been on the team),
MACC (a regional academic team conference) Captain of the Social Studies and All-Around (we've been the most successful teams in the league),
Co-Founder and President of our Gay-Straight Alliance. We started it last year and it become the largest club in the school with 80 members. I've been very active in that,
President of the Youth-n-Government Club,
Director of the "Vote NO!" Campaign for my city. I organized city-wide canvassing events, made signs, registered people for phone banking, distributed literature, and assigned volunteers to work the polls on election day (a very big effort, one that I'm particularly proud of, even though we lost),
Marching Band for 3 years Section Leader,
NHS,
and Founder and President of the Public Service Club.</p>

<p>As President of the Public Service Club:
I planned and organized a community tennis tournament that drew over 60 players from the city and surrounding areas and raised about $1000 for the PSC,
Headed a program that raised over $1200 for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund,
Created the white paper recycling program at my school,
Collected approx 1 ton of used school supplies for a hurricane stricken school in Belize,
I'm currently working with the school administration and two other members of the club to start a Freshmen Transition/Peer Mentoring program that aligns freshmen with upperclass mentors,
Created an afterschool tutoring program at one of the city's elementary schools where volunteers from the high school tutor 4th-6th graders 2 days a week,
Currently working with the club's VP in organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation (things are going pretty well so far, we've lined up the Virginia Tech BBall coach to come as a guest speaker) to take place in mid-November
Worked with members of the Black Awareness Club and started a petition drive and school protest regarding the Jena 6,
Created a school store to raise money for the club and charities (though its not entirely up and running, but hopefully it will be soon),
Currently trying to plan a school dance to raise money for a local charity. </p>

<p>Some other things:
Ran a voter registration drive at school before the 2006 election,
Member of a two person team that mapped a newly discovered cave for the local geology society,
One of 3 student members of the school Diversity Committe for promoting tolerance and stopping bullying,
Member of the Senior Leadership Team,
Co-Directed the school Diversity Fair
Led student participation in National Day of Silence
This weeking i'm leading Ally Week where we distribute pro LGBT info and encourage students to sign a pledge promising to be an ally of the LGBT community. </p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, William and Mary Leadership Award (and invited to attend a leadership conference at W&M), Most outstanding male junior, Questbridge College Prep Scholarship Winner (conference), Jefferson Scholar Nominee, Murray Scholar Nominee (like the Jefferson but for W&M).</p>

<p>Summer:
SW VA Regional Governor's School 2006
VA Boys' State 2007
Volunteer at a soup kitchen ~100 hours (a little less)
Volunteer at New River Community Action 30 hours
Mission trip repairing houses in KY 1 week</p>

<p>So yea thats it. I don't know if any of those are really anything special or if its just a bunch of little things that the admission people won't really care about. Also, i really want to make sure I dont come across as "full of it" or insincere. </p>

<p>Thanks to anyone who took the time to read that. I appreciate your comments :)</p>

<p>Love the passion in your ec's-especially public awareness club
sat 1's a little low but your location helps mitigate that</p>

<p>Have great essays and I think you have as good as shot as any...</p>

<p>looks good to me, especially your amazing community service credentials. good luck!</p>

<p>thanks! </p>

<p>10char</p>

<p>I got my Oct SATs today and my total went up 100 points. The only problem is that 80 of those were in writing.
CR 740 M 700 W 790 (2230) And I won the Wendy's High School Heisman for my school (but am not a state finalist) and I was nominated for a community service award by my principal.
Will this all help, or will it just not really matter?</p>

<p>I'm also wondering about my essays. One is about working with the Public Service Club and doing tutoring and etc. and the other is GSA and about trying to help the people in my school. I'm really afraid that the two are too similar. Should I try to make my essay and my personal statement very different or stick with what I have? I'm afraid theyre too EC oriented.</p>

<p>On your essays - if they take a different approach and say something different, it might be ok. If they basically tell them the same things about you, another topic for your second essay would be better. </p>

<p>Also, using Bauld and his excellent book on college essays as a reference, make sure your essays don't fall into the How I Saved the World category - he says that's a fatal trap that most essays on this type of subject fall into.</p>

<p>also, does being a first generation college student help much?</p>