*Sigh* I told myself I'd never come here again. Am I being a realist?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>This is by no means an affirmation topic, I have seen and heard about some amazing kids with the whole college package, and then the people on this website. I have by no means ever "resume stacked", I hate such people, and have enjoyed everything I have done through my highschool career, though I can't say I have no regrets. I won't give you any cop out excuses for this or that, and I won't argue whatever chance you give me...since I AM posting, asking for your opinion here. Tell me if you think I have a shot/am on target, or if I'm thinking way over my head. Thank you again in advance, and if you have further inquiries please ask. </p>

<p>Colleges
Case Western Reserve University
Tulane University
Carleton College
Colgate University
Hamilton College
Colby College
Kenyon College
Centre College
Sewanee University of the South
St. Olaf College
Rhodes College
Grinnel College
New College of Florida
Baylor University
*I am not 100% sure if I will apply to these above, but they are free to apply to and pretty good schools, so I'm trying to be open minded.</p>

<p>In addition, the following colleges are current interests of mine, not necessarily static. I am mostly interested in business, but also pre-med (or alternate pathways to med school), and pre-law. I LOVE colleges where you can take courses at other colleges. I really like California, but not too into San Fran-area where the beach scene sucks and the weather isn't nearly as good as other parts. If you want to make some suggestions, feel free.</p>

<p>Northwestern University
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania Wharton- early decision? 3 family members went here in their lifetime.
University of Washington Seattle honors college
University of Chicago
UC Irvine- family member was an assistant professor here, but he died in 02.
Pomona College- early decision?
Haverford- early decision?
UCLA
Washington State University in St. Louis- Early decision?
Stanford</p>

<p>State: Washington
Ethnicity: Mexican American/Hispanic
Sex: male
First generation college student
School: Decent public school, we're the biggest feeder to UW Seattle, and generally 20-30 kids each year get into top 50 schools.</p>

<p>Applying for financial aid: YES</p>

<p>ACADEMICS</p>

<p>Semester 1 freshmen
Japanese 100
PE
science
English
Math
Social Studies
GPA: 3.05</p>

<p>Semester 2: same classes. 3.10
Freshmen awards: Honor roll, Japanese award.</p>

<p>Semester 1 Sophmore
Beginning Marketing
Math Core 200
Pre IB English
Japanese 200
Pre IB biology/chemistry (Semester of each)
Pre IB World History
GPA: 3.23</p>

<p>Semester 2: Same classes, 4.00
Sophmore awards: National Honor Society, Key-club award, Key-club certificate, Japanese National Honor Society</p>

<p>Semester 1 junior
IB Biology 1
Math Core 300
Japanese 300
IB English
Advanced Marketing
IB World History
IB Philosophy
GPA: 4.00</p>

<p>Semester 2: Same classes, planning on a 4.0
Junior awards: National Honor Society, Key-club Award, key-club certificate, Japanese National Honor Society</p>

<p>Senior Schedule.
IB English
Theory of Knowledge
IB World History
Retail Marketing
IB Biology 2
Japanese 400
IB Math Studies</p>

<p>Semester 2 : Same
School awards: N/A
Others: Key-club certificate, National Honor Society, Japanese National Honor society <em>note, I ASSUME I will get these based on previous performance</em></p>

<p>Final GPA: I've calculated it all out, with the classes I have taken over the summer, and assuming I get a 4.00 as a senior, my unweighted GPA will be a 3.85. Weighted GPA is given after first semester of our senior year (or final weighted GPA). I can't say what it is now.</p>

<p>STANDARDIZED TESTING/EXAMS
PSAT: 238
SAT score: 2320</p>

<p>SAT subject tests, I plan to take one more.
English (790)
US History (750)</p>

<p>ACT: composite score 35, Writing score: 12</p>

<p>IB EXAMS
Philosophy (6)</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Sophmore year
Key-club (Web designer) *I don't know if this matters, but as a sophmore I was tired of the way we signed up for volunteering, so I came upon it to make a website for the club, where we could sign up.
VP of Japanese honor society
FBLA (Community service chair)
Medical club (president) *I started this club myself.</p>

<p>Junior year
Key-club (web designer)
Junior Statesmen of America (President)
FBLA (vice president)
Medical club (president)
Deca (VP of Community Service)
president of japanese honor society</p>

<p>Senior year
medical club (President) (We voted this year)
JSA: President
Other potential president-roles I plan on running for are: Japanese Honor society, FBLA, Deca, and key-club</p>

<p>OTHER: Boy Scouts of America (Senior Patrol Leader), Eagle Scout</p>

<p>SPORTS: Track and Field (4 years expected) <a href="we%20have%20a%20small%20pole%20vault%20team...">varsity for all 4 pole vault</a>, competitive Kendo (4 years) [expected].</p>

<p>COMPETITIONS</p>

<p>Sophmore
5th in event at FBLA regionals
3rd at state
1st at nationals
6th in event at DECA area
Honorable mention for reflections</p>

<p>Junior
2nd in event at DECA area
3rd in event at DECA state
1st in event at FBLA regionals
Reflections state in literature
*DECA/FBLA state and nationals haven;t happened yet) I have qualified for Deca nationals though.</p>

<p>Senior
Nothing guarenteed yet</p>

<p>VOLUNTEERING
Key-club (80 hours, and counting) 2 years (will be 3 by senior year)
Local hospital (500 hours, and counting) 2 years (3 by senior year, planning on hitting 1000 hours by next february)</p>

<p>JOB EXPERIENCE
Student store manager (no pay, but it is a job through a class), I already "got the job" in the interview. 09/07/09-06/05/10 (or whenever it is we graduate). </p>

<p>SUMMER STUFF
"Business week" (winning team) (sophmore)
I am attending "advanced business week" this year.
Healthcare week I am also attending.
Sophmore summer classes at a community college (Pre calc I, cellular biology, general chemistry, Japanese 300, Beginning Photography)
Junior summer classes (Japanese 400, Pre calc II, human biology, intermediate photography, general chemistry II)
I also plan on volunteering, and maybe getting a job or internship.
As a senior I plan on doing more classes.</p>

<p>Essay: Check
Recommendations: Check</p>

<p>OTHER important information</p>

<p>I think I'll get in the top 10% of my class
IB Diploma candidate
Reischauer Scholar
National Merit Scholar?
My family's income is 70-90,000</p>

2

<p>Stop. You deserve to get accepted at no school for completely bastardizing the college admissions process with your fruitless over-analysis. Your extracurriculars demonstrate zero focus — it is almost as if you engineered your life as a high school student to model the proverbial top college expectations. </p>

<p>Narrow your list of choices to at least a dozen schools. Stop telling yourself “I plan on…” and “If I…” Keep excelling in school and on standardized tests. There is no cheating the vicissitudes of life.</p>

3

<p>wow, the SAT/Subject test/ ACT scores are seriously amazing… you must be a great test taker! the rest of your stats are pretty impressive as well- especially the IB-heavy course load and EC’s. The only thing that i could see that would hurt your chances at the top school would be GPA- but i assume weighted it would go up alot, and Ive heard most schools mainly consider your junior grades, which are awesome. </p>

<p>I’m not going to lie… i know nothing about your top list of schools, but as for the bottom list…</p>

<p>Northwestern University-low reach/match
Princeton University- reach
University of Pennsylvania Wharton- low reach/match
University of Washington Seattle honors college- match
University of Chicago- match
UCLA- match
Washington State University in St. Louis- low reach/match
Stanford- reach</p>

<p>p.s- what school do you go to? I do PNW JSA as well! :)</p>

4

<p>If I was in charge of admissions where ever you apply, I’d take one look at your resume, say “too long; didn’t read” (tl;dr), and toss it in the trash.</p>

<p>I personally feel that anyone apply to more than 8 schools is a jerk, 5 should be the MAX for anyone.</p>

<p>Good luck getting LOR’s for all those colleges.</p>

5

<p>@IDK. Ok, I said I’d not argue or dispute whatever people said, but I’d like some elaboration on what you mean. What do you mean my ECs demonstrate 0 focus? And what do you mean as if I engineered my life? Again, not arguing, just don’t know what you mean.</p>

<p>@kno. thanks. I go to IHS</p>

<p>@Borb. Well I’m a junior right now, my parents and I will be visiting some places this summer, and I am slowly narrowing down my list (though, if you think this is alot, you should see my whole list!). What is an LOR? Do you mean Letter of Rejection…?</p>

6

<p>based on everything id say youll get into all the schools on your top list. With your legacy probably Penn, and then also UC Irvine, UCLA, Washington in seattle, northwestern, and haverford. chicago would be a slight reach as would washington university in st louis (maybe more of a high match) and pomona would also be a reach along with princeton and stanford. for the most part your academics will carry you through all the schools I put at first, write strong essays and have strong teacher recs and you have a chance at all of them. A lot of the colleges on your top list you should not be considering. dont let people here discourage you. my sister had a 2280 SAT decent ECs and the people on here said she was a reach at Cornell. She got into Princeton, Williams, Stanford, Harvard and Duke. Personally if I was in your situation I would go hard for UPenn. Your best shot and a great school</p>

7

<p>By LOR I meant Letter of Recommendation
I’m only asking for 1 serious LOR per teacher, and 2 generic ones.</p>

8

<p>Just chill out. Enjoy life. You’re fine.</p>

9

<p>Colgate is free to apply to? What? Seriously? I was thinking about applying there but didn’t want to front the $$$, since I am limiting my reaches.</p>

10

<p>You can’t claim both legacy and first generation.</p>

11

<p>excellent candidate…consider yale, go ivy, you won’t regret it!</p>