So, I want to go to college.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Where I want to go: Dartmouth, Claremont McKenna, Brown, Scripps, Whitman, Pomona.</p>

<p>Filipino American Female from a not-so-competitive high school in the East Bay Area, CA.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.06 weighted (most rigorous courseload)
Rank: top 5% (something like 19/393)
SAT I: 680 Math, 740 Critical Reading, 700 Writing (10 Essay) (( thinking about retaking ))
SAT IIs: 650 Chem, 710 U.S. History (plan to take Literature, Math IIC)
APs: 4 U.S. History, 3 Biology
12th Grade APs: AP Gov, AP English, AP Calc, AP Microeconomics (online)</p>

<p>I also took Germany II - IV (honors) independant study because my school only offers Spanish and French. I took Spanish I + II concurrently with German II + III.</p>

<p>Activities:
- Student Leadership (10th, 11th, 12th grade)</p>

<br>


<br>

<ul>
<li>Mock Trial (11th, 12th grade)
>> 11th Grade - Expert Witness
>> 12th Grade - Head Attorney</li>
</ul>

<p>Sports:</p>

<ul>
<li>JV Volleyball, 9th grade - starting setter</li>
<li>JV Softball, 9th grade - started (2nd, LF, CF or SS)</li>
<li>JV Basketball, 9th & 10th - starting forward (9th) starting point (10th), 10th grade average 10 pts./game (August 2004, partially tore ACL in left knee, ended basketball career)</li>
<li>Varsity Softball, 10th-12th, Went to playoffs every year, started 2nd base (12th)</li>
</ul>

<p>Work / Volunteering:</p>

<ul>
<li>Works 15 hrs./wk at Dad's office as receptionist for last 4 years</li>
<li>Summer 05, works 30 hrs/wk at Dad's office</li>
<li>Summer 05, works 8 - 16 hrs/wk at Transfair USA (notforprofit Fair Trade Certifier)'s Administration Dept.</li>
</ul>

<p>*ie, most of those who do go to college from my school go to UC/CalState/Community College, with about 50% going to community college.</p>

<p>My school does not offer many APs, which is why I have taken so few of them. However, I have taken all of the Honors/AP classes that I am able to (except for AP Stats, AP Physics, and AP Chem) but those that I haven't are classes that I know I wouldn't do well in.</p>

<p>I want to do this major at Claremont McKenna called PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) with a focus in Economics. It's modelled after the program at Oxford. I would try to create this major if I went somewhere else.</p>

<p>I also have shown extreme interest in Pomona, Dartmouth and Claremont McKenna. It is on record that I have attended an info session, tour, and have had successful interviews at these schools.</p>

<p>Please help: I want to apply to Brown or Dartmouth ED, but I don't want to waste my time.</p>

2

<p>When I say my school's not-so-competitive, I don't meant that the top 10% doesn't work their ass off. ;) They really do. But much of the rest is going nowhere besides Chico (Hustler's #1 Party School) and Las Positas (local community college).</p>

3

<p>bumpbumpppp</p>

4

<p>UNGH BUMP plz.</p>

5

<p>Yay. You are Filipino, thus you are cool. Thus I must say hi. I would say your chances at Brown are happy since people said I have a chance (...and you're obviously smarter than me.)</p>

6

<p>Pomona: Slight reach
CMC: This school is rapidly changing its admissions qualifications. Either match or slight reach
Scripps: Match</p>

7

<p>namaste, if my interviewer specifically said ("Glad to talk to someone who seemed like such a good fit for CMC"), do you think that might mean I have a good match at that school? That was the impression that I took away from it.</p>

8

<p>I agree, Dartmouth and Brown are reaches for you. There isn't anything from the infomation you gave us that makes you stand out. You have great chances at Pomona and the rest though.</p>

9

<p>Well, obviously that's a good sign and it would appear like the interviewer will write something positive about you.</p>

10

<p>What would make me stand out more? I thought that combining my outstanding academics (they may be normal back east, but they're outstanding where I attend) and leadership in several areas made me stand out. I'm not the kind of person who just joins something because it would look good on an app, nor have I been doing everything in high school just to get into a prestigious college. </p>

<p>I was thinking of highlighting my artistic side to round me out better (mostly because I don't know what else would make me stand out). I stencil -- that sounds really lame if you have no idea what I'm talking about, but its actually really awesome. I create my own designs and generally stencil on clothing, but I'm getting started with canvases. I was thinking of including a small art portfolio, showing maybe 10 works.</p>

11

<p>idk, 1 out of 11 get selected into ivy leagues. The question is "why you?"
The main idea is to make yourself stand out from the rest of the applicants, since there is strong competition. Maybe your essays, rec letters, and interview (which seems you are good at) can be key factors.</p>

12

<p>Kerasoldout, your chances would be much better with SAT scores at or above the school's averages.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for your help, primitivefuture.</p>

14

<p>When I went to Brown's info session, I got the impression that they didnt value SAT scores as much as other schools, and that they focused on your transcript? Idk, I could be wrong. I don't know if anyone else heard that about Brown.</p>

15

<p>They just say that. But if you check, their SAT averages increases every year.</p>

16

<p>Hm. It really sucks that I only know one person in my grade at my school with better SAT scores than me, but they pale in comparison to people from schools in richer areas / on the east coast.</p>

17

<p>Are we missing something? The bar for leadership is not "ran for class president." Working in daddys' office is not bound to bowl an ivy league adcom over either. Sorry, but SATs really do count and you need to get real, your's are far below Dartmouth's mean.</p>

18

<p>I've been involved in Leadership in high school since Freshman Year when I was in Leadership at my Youth Group. I've actually been an important leader within Leadership since sophomore year - basically, in class governments at our school, the secretary, Pres/VP and treasurer don't have different duties. Everyone is in charge of raising money for the class and keeping everyone active. As far as committees in leadership go, there's only about 10 people in each so everyone has an active role in each of them. I'm Commissioner of Community Service this year, which basically means I'm going to be doing community service or making other people do community service in all of my free time.</p>

<p>Sorry if I sound defensive ;0 I am, a bit. </p>

<p>What's the bar for leadership for most people? Being president of 82 clubs? I spend all of my free time in the activities I'm involved in. </p>

<p>I know working at my dad's office for the last four years isn't bowling anyone over, but at least its showing commitment, and its better than McDonalds. I work at his office because the company only has about 8 employees, and they literally need my help every week.</p>

19

<p>OK, well don't be defensive. It's really competitive.</p>

20

<p>I'm aware ;0</p>