So, I’ve been committed to one of my dream schools for a while and seeing a resurgence of chance me threads from current juniors stressing over two B’s or lack of ECs, I’ve decided to post my results and journey.
I applied to Brown University, UC Berkeley, Northwestern University, Boston University, University of Michigan, New York University, Occidental College, Emerson College, University of Southern California, UCLA, American University, George Washington University, and University of Missouri. University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and DePaul were my safeties.
I got into all of these schools except for UCLA and USC, and I was waitlisted at both. I am currently committed to Brown, as an English/Political Science double major aspiring to be a journalist.
Stats:
Demographics: Female, half South Asian (white passing), Jewish, 90k-100k income bracket, upper middle class neighborhood, first generation kid of immigrants as well as first in my immediate family to go to college. large public school.
GPA: 3.88 UW / 4.7 W. All honors/AP level classes except regular level geometry, alg 2, and pre calc (9,10,11). I was in a unique selective humanities program all four years, classes were AP level since freshman year, but school didn’t allow us to take the tests until soph year. School doesn’t rank, but I’m like top 5-10%
SAT I (new): 800 R + W, 750 M (1570)
ACT: 35 (36 R, 12 W, 36 E, 34 S, 35 M)
SAT II:
Literature - 800
World History - 790
Math L1 - 760
US History - 750
French - 750
AP’s before application:
World History - 5
Lang + Comp - 5
US History - 5
European History - 4
Current Senior Schedule:
Humanities Program English + History + French which allows me to take AP Literature, AP Gov, and AP French
AP Calc AB
AP Physics C
Newspaper Staff
Broadcasting
ECs:
- Writer at online magazine, somewhat well known, I have an editorial position on there (4 Years)
- School Newspaper - Editor in Chief this year - 3 Years
- School Broadcasting Team/Production - Co station manager this year, I have a radio show. (4 Years)
- Literary Magazines (school has an underclassmen one and upperclassmen one) - Editor in Chief of both at some point - 4 Years
- Speech Team - Chair of Prose Reading, made it to nationals all 3 years - 3 years
- Feminism Club - Board Member - 4 Years
- Key Club - VP - 4 Years
- GSA - Board Member - 4 Years
- World Languages Honors Society - 3 Years
- Thespian Troupe - been a few productions - 2 years
- National Honor Society
Job: Retail job for two years, tutor a bit over the summers
Volunteering: Volunteer at the library, through key club etc. About 300+ hours over four years.
Summers: Volunteer at the library, tutor, work, I did the Northwestern Screenwriting Program before junior year and Northwestern Journalism Cherubs before senior year.
Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar w/ Honor and Distinction, Illinois State Scholar
Essays and Recs were the best part of my entire application, hands down.
For advice? Don’t underestimate recs and essays. Yes, GPA and scores are first and foremost, but essays and recs are an important part that often gets disregarded in popular opinion in favor ECs, which have almost the same weight. EC quality matters far more than quantity, I didn’t have too many ECs, but they showed my commitment to writing and interest in communications.
Create a balanced list! Too many of you apply to all reach schools. Don’t only apply to Ivies/top 20s. Boston, American, and GWU, Emerson, and Occidental were my match schools, and U of I + DePaul were my safeties.
Most of all, colleges are not looking for flawless people who manage perfect grades with the perfect ECs and volunteer a ton if they don’t have anything to offer beyond the surface level.