Top student... but not for grades

<p>Hello, I am a Senior in high school and I'm about to begin applying early for colleges. I was just curious as to how much admissions checks EC's, what I'm passionate about, and how much they just stare at grades and scores. I've improved a lot since my freshman year but that is what shows up at the top of my transcript.</p>

<p>I'm probably the most driven individual in my school but I am terrible at testing, it makes me nervous and I cram and yeah... it's ugly.</p>

<p>Freshman and sophomore year I had a tough time in school, made fun of and just not motivated at all, I took the hardest classes and got C's in them which were weighted as B's obviously. With all of my band classes at an A+ my gpa was a 3.0... Then it all clicked. </p>

<p>Junior year I tried my hardest. I wore a shirt and tie every day (public school) got rid of the beiber hair and obnoxious shoes, started my own business (Aeon</a> Connections | Home), attended regularly at my local Business Chamber Luncheons, got a job as a teller at a credit union, and maintained a 3.6.</p>

<p>My senior year, I have a 4.0 (only a few weeks into school so far), I am the Fundraising Director for the Junior Statesmen Foundation (non profit) for 5 states (every single high school reports to me who has a JSA club in that area, and I doubled the previous record of 12,000 dollars raised from a single person, and tripled the state fundraising). I am President of the Debate Team, I am starting a published Psychology Research Journal at my school, I got a promotion at the Credit Union to Accounting and Auditing (yes -- that's legal) and I actively participate in Teenage Republicans. On top of all of this, I am starting a second business to manage, both with profits in the first year over 70% and in the upper 5 figure range after just 6 months (my passion). I am taking 1 advanced, 1 AP, 1 regular, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing for my senior year. I was in the highest band and jazz band for 3 years (also in drumline/marching band) until I got the job at the bank. I only got a 25 on the ACT but I am taking it again in a few weeks, I've been studying hard. My cumulative is only around a 3.3 :/. I attended Boys State over the summer (highly selective) and was an Alternate for Boys Nation (one of 2 in the state, 2 are chosen to attend and out of the selected members to attend Boys state there are 1200 applicants) and my application was sent to the state for me to attend the US Senate Youth program which only I believe less than 20 applications for 2-4 spots are sent. I have worked on the campaigns and managed all of the advertising/marketing for 3 local politicians. 1 Mayor, 1 Trustee and 1 County Commissioner.</p>

<p>All I want to do is get into the University of Miami's School of Business for Entrepreneurship (interdisciplinary management). I spent a week over the summer at their Accounting Camp which I had to apply for and I recently applied for their Bridges program. I am trying my best but I don't know if it is enough. I'm the most genuine individual and everyone knows me at a school of over 2000. I am only in the top 40% of my class due to my grades but school has never come easy to me. It's not innovative. </p>

<p>Can anyone tell me what my chances are?</p>

<p>I apologize for the novel.</p>

<p>Sincerely,
Gannon</p>

<p>According to their CDS, a tiny fraction, only 8%, of admitted students to the Univ. of Miami overall came from the second quartile of their class or lower. One can imagine that all of those were athletes or had similar hooks. You are well below the first quartile, so that does not bode well. </p>

<p>Your 25 on the ACT is also well below the bulk of the admitted class. If you could improve to a 28 you would put you at about the 25th percentile. Admission to the School of Business may be even more competitive than those figures indicate. </p>

<p>The rest of your application sounds like it’ll turn out quite well, but without better stats I’m sorry to say the odds are quite long.</p>

<p>You look like a really interesting and accomplished person! Don’t get hung up on one school. There are so many out there that would suit your goals, and since you have drive and ambition, you will succeed no matter where you go. If your first choice doesn’t work out, here is another idea for you: <a href=“http://www.entrepreneurship.arizona.edu/academic/mcguire_program.asp[/url]”>http://www.entrepreneurship.arizona.edu/academic/mcguire_program.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;