<p>I have a very erratic application. Wonderful scores/ECs, pretty good service, semi-hook, poor GPA. This is gonna make for some interesting college app decisions..</p>
<p>I don't want to waste anyone's time with a 7 page long list of achievements or something. But here are the most important parts of my App. I left out a lot of less important stuff where I didn't have leadership positions and whatnot.</p>
<p>My application is based a lot around my interest/activities in the environment, my scores, and my achievements outside of school in various activities. </p>
<p>Everything I XX is stuff I will particularly try to highlight somewhere in my app.</p>
<p>XX SAT: 800M, 800CR, 750W
3 SAT IIs in 700's, but retaking.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.41 Unweighted/4.1 Weighted (Top 8% in class) In magnet school. But yes my GPA is bad for top schools.</p>
<p>Leadership:
XX Tennis team captain/3 year MVP (Top rank of 17th individual in my State)</p>
<p>XX Environmental Action Team President/founder</p>
<p>Founder of Ultimate Frisbee Club at School</p>
<p>XXX Leader of several service projects at school including one called Food Wars, which won a National award for creativity and success. Other projects included sending hundreds of letters overseas for troops, collecting books for soldiers, and planning/doing special olympics.</p>
<p>XX Youth Activities Organizer in my Apartment Complex (plan festivals, fairs, etc.)</p>
<p>Head Tutor at where I tutor (1st-8th grade students)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars</p>
<p>XX Tennis Team (Captain)</p>
<p>Ultimate Team (Co-captain)</p>
<p>Math Team (State Champion team)</p>
<p>XX Environmental Action Team (President)</p>
<p>Envirothon team (7th place at State competition)</p>
<p>XX Top 10 ranked high school chess player in my state, top 100 player among all players in my state.</p>
<p>Academic Achievement</p>
<p>XXX Winner of State Spelling Bee in 2008, Attended Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.c., PLaced 60th out of 273.</p>
<p>XX Accepted to Keystone National Youth Policy Summit, debated/drafted Environmental policy there. Chosen as one of 6 students to propose final policies to local officials.</p>
<p>AP Scholar with Distinction (Becoming National AP scholar this year) Average of 4.2 on exams.</p>
<p>National Merit Commended Student</p>
<p>1st Place at Regional Science Fair and other county awards</p>
<p>Winner of Presentation contest for Research Symposium</p>
<p>School-wide Essay contest winner "Why 9/11 should be remembered"</p>
<p>Mu Alpha Theta/National Honor Society (Not really important)</p>
<p>Community Service</p>
<p>XX Community Tennis Coach for underprivileged (60 hours)
Community Tutor (40 hrs.)
XX Youth Activities Organizer (40 hrs.)
XX Goodwill Emporium volunteer (25 hrs.)
Elementary School Fundraiser volunteer (20 hrs.)
adopt-a highway participant (20 hrs.)</p>
<p>And a bunch of other smaller stuff. About 250 hrs. total.</p>
<p>I tried to keep it kinda short haha. But yeah. The top schools I'm heavily considering applying to are:
Stanford, Duke, UPenn, Rice, Emory, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Dartmouth
I know these (especially the top 3) are reaches because of my GPA, and I have safeties and stuff.</p>
<p>But do you think I can get in to maybe 1-2 of these? maybe more?
I can write very very well. And my recommendation will be good, if not great.
Also I have low family income, and was given 8 fee waivers for applications.</p>
<p>Any specific strategies I should have? Chances?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>