<p>As I promised in the thread, "Decisions, Decisions," I told the members who have contributed greatly to that thread (thank you for your help!) that I would post virtually everything about me that could potentially identify who I am and what I could make of myself in any college. My counselor said it best: "You should be a big fish in a small pond." That phrase immediately caused me to eliminate any college with over 10,000 undergrads. The only exceptions are, however, Honors programs at larger universities, e.g. Fordham, Maryland, and Providence. </p>
<p>My focus is on the Liberal Arts and Sciences, particularly Humanities (English, Philosophy, some Social Sciences, and Language) and the Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics (?), and Mathematics). When it comes to academics, I am a perfectionist. I try to get straight As, but always fail to do so, but I normally have a strong record. My transcript is as follows:</p>
<p>Freshman Year. Mandatory seven courses. </p>
<p>Honors Classes - 4: Algebra I, Theology, English, World History (treated as an AP but never knew about it). </p>
<p>Grades:
Algebra I: B+
Theology I: B+
English I: A
World History: B</p>
<p>College Prep / Standard Classes - 3: Spanish I, Physical Science, Physical Education I & Health Education. </p>
<p>Grades:
Spanish I: A+
Physical Science: A
Phys. Ed. I: A</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA, weighted: 4.04
Cumulative GPA, unweighted: 3.57</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: School Newspaper, School Literary Magazine, Cultures of the World, Improv Club.</p>
<hr>
<p>Summer of Freshman Year - Sophomore Year.</p>
<p>Honors Geometry. Took six weeks off of my summer, six hours per day, four days per week. Grade: B. It was a hard course, and when we hit memorization of postulates and theorems, I completely flopped. Memory is not my greatest strength. In fact, it's not a strength at all. I'm just horrible. </p>
<hr>
<p>Sophomore Year. Mandatory seven courses.</p>
<p>Pre-AP Classes: 1. English II. </p>
<p>Grade: A+</p>
<p>Honors Classes: 5. Spanish II, Theology II, Algebra II, Biology, U.S. History I. </p>
<p>Grades:
Spanish II: A+
Theology II: B+
Algebra II: B
Biology: A
U.S. History I: B+</p>
<p>College Prep Classes: 1. Physical Education II / Driver's Education. </p>
<p>Grade: A.</p>
<p>Cumulative Weighted GPA: 4.32
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.57</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: School Newspaper, School Literary Magazine, Cultures of the World, Operation Smile, Forensics, Quiz Bowl, Student Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Operation Smile.</p>
<hr>
<p>Summer of Sophomore Year - Junior Year.</p>
<p>Honors Precalculus (took six weeks off of my summer, six hours per day, four days per week)
Grade: B+. </p>
<p>I met the teacher who noticed that I had a driving work ethic, a serious passion for academics, great writing ability (we had to write essays on mathematical concepts in practice today each week based on thirty-minute videos we watched once per week), as well as leadership ability (he noticed that I'd help others with concepts I actually understood, e.g. Limits and Derivatives, as well as Trig.) He is my current math teacher, and, having known me for two-and-a-half years, will be one of the teachers I will go to for a recommendation.</p>
<hr>
<p>Junior Year. Mandatory four courses, three electives. Classes chosen: NINE. (Work ethic!)</p>
<p>AP Classes: 2. English Language and Composition and Calculus AB. </p>
<p>Grades:
English III: B+
Calculus AB: B+</p>
<p>Honors Classes: 7. Classics I: The Great Age of Epics, Spanish IV (I skipped III due to my being Hispanic, knowledge of the Subjunctive, and advanced writing ability, plus enthusiasm. Always a plus.), Theology III, U.S. History II, Chemistry, Historical Theology Seminar, Journalism Independent Study.</p>
<p>Grades:
Classics I: B
Spanish IV: A+
Theology III: A+
U.S. History II: B+
Chemistry: B+
Seminar: A+
Journalism: B+</p>
<p>Cumulative Weighted GPA: 4.33
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.33</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: School Newspaper (Editor-in-Chief), School Literary Magazine (Editor-in-Chief), Cultures of the World, Operation Smile, Forensics (Varsity), Quiz Bowl, Student Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Operation Smile (Rising Leader), Creative Expression Club, Religious Organization, School's Eucharistic Ministry.</p>
<p>Volunteer Opportunities: Tutoring in and out of school, both to students of my school and non, Operation Smile (fundraising, etc.), Habitat for Humanity, After School Program Mentor/Counselor/Leader.</p>
<p>Now that we have finished my transcript up until senior year, we have encountered our first problem!</p>
<p>------------------->>> Problem #1: GPA, Especially Unweighted GPA</p>
<p>Up until this point (Junior year), my GPA was the same. The fact that I chewed a little more than I could swallow caused my GPA to plummet a bit. But I still managed to keep some great, above-average grades. At this time also, I began taking leadership roles in some of my clubs, such as the School Newspaper, Forensics (I made Varsity that year. I may not be captain (Captains are only eligible if they participated all four years; I didn't, unfortunately), School Literary Magazine, and Operation Smile. </p>
<p>Because of my heavy in-school and out-of-school involvement and my already rigorous course load, my grades inevitably dropped. I still maintained a solid GPA and my class rank didn't fall tremendously. In fact, I went up a rank that year. I now am in the top 12% of my class. However, the GPA is still a problem, especially unweighted. I am not a straight-A student. If I were, then I wouldn't be as involved in the school as I am. I need to be involved; I need an outlet to be myself, to be creative and outgoing. Staying locked in my room studying for these tests were not benefiting me, so I took it upon myself to do things and to be more involved in the school. And because of that, I won the award for "Selfless Commitment Towards the School and [My] Community." This award is ONLY given to Juniors and is the ONLY one given to Juniors, so I considered that the highest honor I could receive.</p>
<p>Along with that honor, however, the College Board also noticed that I was a very apt Hispanic student; therefore, I am considered a National Recognized Hispanic Scholar.</p>
<hr>
<p>Summer of Junior Year - Senior Year. </p>
<p>No course taken. But I did go on a Leadership Conference. Details will be kept private because revealing them may reveal my identity. Let's just say I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish to be heavily involved next year at my school. I feel like a true leader.</p>
<hr>
<p>Senior Year. Courses Requested / Schedule.</p>
<p>AP Classes - 4: Chemistry, English Lit and Comp, Calculus BC, Spanish Lang. Potential self-studies: Environmental and Psych.
Honors: 2, one considered collegiate. Humanities Seminar (collegiate), Theology IV.
College Prep: 1, Creative Writing.</p>
<p>If I get straight As, my cumulative unweighted GPA will increase from a 3.44 to a 3.58, just to where I was in the very beginning. </p>
<hr>
<p>Standardized Testing. Problem #2.</p>
<p>I'm a horrible test-taker. I did better on the ACTs, though, so I'm sending those scores. I am retaking the ACTs in October and will not take SAT II Subject Tests unless need be, which, for all of my colleges, aren't, so there you have it.</p>
<p>PSAT Test: October.
Verbal: 62
Math: 63
Writing: 61
Total: 186</p>
<p>SAT Test: March.</p>
<p>Verbal: 500
Math: 590
Writing: 670
Essay: 11
Total: 1760</p>
<p>SAT Retake: June.</p>
<p>Verbal: 560
Math: 620
Writing: 640
Essay: 10
Total: 1820</p>
<p>ACT: June.</p>
<p>English: 30
Math: 32
Reading: 28
Science: 23
Writing/English Combined: 31
Essay: 11
Composite: 28</p>
<p>Retaking in October. Plan is to get into the 30s.</p>
<hr>
<p>Personality! Here we go. This is something I neglected to mention in the previous Chance thread, as well as the, "Decisions, Decisions" thread. I am a very bubbly person. I am gregarious, very outgoing, and highly extraverted. I normally lead chants at sporting events, go all-out with face paint, and am enthusiastic about everything I do. "Live life with enthusiasm or don't live it at all" is my life philosophy. I am very active in what I do, and never quit. Quitting is only applicable to smoking and other harmful products. I am also very studious, philosophical, and a great companion. Not one person dislikes me; I am generally very likable, friendly, and personable. Potential students who were on my tours eventually end up becoming students because I made them feel right at home. I normally "recruit" 85% of the eligible students who tour with me. </p>
<p>I can't reveal much about my school. Even one significant detail I mention will be a problem for my safety. I can say, however, that it's fairly large for a Catholic high school, home to about one thousand students. Everyone in my class knows me and I know them. They come to me for advice, to hang out, and generally to be with me. I am a person who is kind enough to lend a hand. I am a giver, a philanthropist at times, and definitely a volunteer at heart. I live to serve, and serve to live. I donate time, money, anything to help others. I tutor, I'm part of Operation Smile, Habitat for Humanity, and other service organizations that my school is affiliated with. I'm an environmentalist and an activist, and I will be trying to create new programs to help save the environment. In fact, I am starting a "Go Green" club at my school, which just encourages students to learn the basics of the environment, even though they may or may not be taking Environmental Science at my school. </p>
<p>Now for the more scattered stuff. I hate talking about myself; it makes me sound pretentious. I have a passion for learning and have a serious drive. Whenever I am passionate about something, I do it, nothing stopping me. I am very open-minded. I'm a go-getter. I don't judge, I perceive. I'm a right-brained thinker. I'm spirited 24-7. I'm a natural-born public speaker. I like speaking my mind. I defend the "little guy." I represent the Student Body even though I'm not on Student Council, which doesn't matter anyway; we have no power anyway––we're just a figurehead of the administration.</p>
<p>That's it, I guess. Need more info? I don't know why you would, but this pretty much sums me up.</p>