Time to do another chance???

<p>Hey everybody - while I know this isn't the chances forum, seeing the other threads like this, I decided I'd make one too :) What do my chances look like???</p>

<p>legacy: My grandma was in the class of '42 and my brother was in the class of '09</p>

<p>GPA - 3.6 UW (I'll elaborate later)
SAT: 710 CR, 770 W, 660 M
2140 total.
SAT 2: 750 Literature 800 World History</p>

<p>Classes: My freshman year, I did not care about school at all. I got a big fat F in algebra 2 first semester. The class average was a D in a class of juniors, seniors, and me. So frustrating to me now that I was such a slacker last year. This year, however, I have a 4.0.</p>

<p>We don't have honors courses, just 'accelerated'.</p>

<p>Freshman year - 3 accelerated
Sophomore year - 2 accelerated, 1 AP (world history)
Junior year - 2 accelerated, 1 AP, and audited 1 college course at Gettysburg College
Senior year - don't even know my schedule yet since it will all be in Poland (and Polish)</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
-Rotary International exchange to Poland for my senior year. It would be Russia except their exchange program is pretty lackluster so Poland is close enough
-Principal cellist of school orchestra - 4 years
-Principal cellist of school string ensemble - smaller group that does mostly chamber music. We play shows around the community mostly for community service; last year we on a playing tour of Southern Germany and Austria for a week - 2 years
-School string quartet - co-founder, 1 year, this is the first year we've had it
-Chess club/team - one year
-Amnesty International (which is combined with Gay Straight Alliance) - 1 year
-Volunteer on local judicial race - 2 years. I worked on both the primary and the general election
-Boy Scouts of America - 3 years. I reached the rank of Star Scout and was a patrol leader
-Volunteer summers at an arts festival in my town</p>

<p>Over the summer last year and this year I worked on an apple orchard thinning out the apples that weren't up to standard. Also, between my fresh and soph years and soph and junior years I went to the International Music Institute and Festival (a music camp at Mt. St. Mary's University).</p>

<p>I would be in Chess club, Amnesty, and string quartet for more than one year, but I'll be out of the country all next year so obviously that can't happen.</p>

<p>Recs - I think they will be very good. Two of them are from teachers whose classes I did well in and have strong relationships with and the third is from a religion teacher at Gettysburg College whose class I audited last semester and got an A in. I made it clear that I wanted to be graded as another college student even though I couldn't afford the credit, and he wrote to me after the class that he thought I was one of the strongest students he's ever had and that he will gladly write me a letter of recommendation when I need it. This professor taught at Swarthmore and at the Princeton seminary.</p>

<p>Essay - I wrote about seeing inequality while working in apple orchards for my uncle over the summer. It doesn't reveal TOO much about me, but I think it's well written and unique.</p>

<p>Awards: I don't know if this counts for anything, but sophomore year I won a Scholastic Gold KEY for a short story that I submitted.</p>

<p>I'll great appreciate any responses!</p>

<p>Your stats are better than mine, I got in. Can’t see why you wouldn’t.</p>

<p>Great - that’s nice to hear! Even with the low GPA?</p>

<p>To answer the question about the GPA, colleges usually like students who show an improvement over their high school career. They’d definitely prefer someone who got an F first semester freshman year and improved dramatically the next few years versus someone who did well their freshman year and slacked off junior/senior year. So long story short, it won’t automatically disqualify you or anything. Plus your other stats and ECs will help too.</p>

<p>Oh, forgot to mention, I’ll be applying ED.</p>

<p>Will it also help if I say I want to be a Russian major?? Combined with my year abroad in Poland because I want to learn Slavic languages, I mean.</p>