<p>Well, I've realized I detest Chico State and am actively working toward transferring to a school in Chicago in order to be with my significant other in the fall of '11. She's enrolled at UChicago; UChicago and Northwestern are my two reaches, and UIC is my safety. I suppose I am slightly nervous, as I only applied to our local state university (CSU Chico). The idea of making the leap from this quagmire of mediocrity to either of those two schools is...daunting.</p>
<p>First semester: **4.0 w/ 15 semester units<a href="5%20rigorous%20classes--this%20is%20the%20limit%20for%20freshmen">/B</a>
Second semester: **Enrolled for 19 units<a href="6%20rigorous%20classes,%20including%20BIOL%20with%20a%20lab%20component">/B</a> and will certainly get at least a 3.8</p>
<p>My high school only offered a few AP courses: I took AP English Composition and AP Literature, getting a five on both; I took AP US History and received an A both semesters, but only received a two on the test (we don't talk about it); and also, I took AP Government and got a five. I think Collegeboard mailed me an AP Scholar Award although I have no idea where I put it.</p>
<p>In general, I was an "eh" high school student, although there is definitely an upward trend. There was a series of tragic events that unfolded during junior/senior year, so I'll probably try to milk that in the additional information. My GPA was around 3.5 junior year and 3.7 senior year, but I'm hoping that my college GPA will eclipse this; I felt incredibly dehumanized in high school.</p>
<p>SAT: 2130 with no studying (was resigned for local school). </p>
<p>I've been studying for the ACT though, since the structure seems more befitting my aptitude. Shooting for 33+ composite with writing, and I think this is certainly within my grasp.</p>
<p>ECs: While I don't have a very diverse palette, most of my ECs focus around English. </p>
<p>-I was personally mentored by local author and poet, Susan G. Woolridge (Foolsgold, Poemcrazy) junior year
-Editor and contributor to school's literary magazine (junior year--present [alumni status])
-Performed own poetic work at an "Underwater Cafe" poetry slam two years in a row (will have more performances before I send in app)
-Certified national winner and published in National Poetry Quarterly Magazine
-Interned at local magazine "The Synthesis" in which I wrote articles that were published on a weekly basis
-I tutored younger students in English junior year, and personally helped over a dozen students that would've flunked out graduate
-I volunteered at the school library junior year</p>
<p>-I've been trying to familiarize myself with the college application process and I'm not sure where this information falls....I'm an avid cyclist; I read "The Iliad," "The Odyssey," and "The Republic" over summer for fun along with countless other supplemental Greek works (I love language/literature); I created an event called "October Sonnetfest" in which I wrote a new sonnet, Shakespearean or Petrarchan, each day in October lest I descend into the abyss of insanity (yes, I do indeed dislike Chico); I've attended many guest lectures on-campus for fun, ranging from scientific topics to historical. I love knowledge.</p>
<p>I have **one strong recommendation letter from my English professor<a href="I%20tested%20into%20a%20junior-level%20English;%20it's%20kind%20of%20sad%20that%20I%20will%20have%20exhausted%20my%20school's%20literary%20resources%20by%20the%20time%20I'm%20a%20sophomore">/B</a>. He was a former professor at UPenn, and invited me to his house to discuss literature with him outside of school next semester. Amazingly, he's giving me 3 units for this. </p>
<p>My stats are kinda "meh"--especially if they place additional emphasis on my high school transcript. My biggest selling point, from what I've been able to judge, is going to be my essays, of which I am roughly one-third finished. I have confidence in my ability to write humorously and engagingly about my academic plight; I'm four paragraphs in, and already grin widely to myself upon rereading it.</p>
<p>Also! I visited my girlfriend at UChicago in November, exploring the campus and soaking up the intellectual milieu. I talked to many of the students there, and was amazed at how close I felt to them, despite knowing them only briefly. The way my conversation clicked with these students...the only word for it is uncanny. I know I would fit in extremely well there. Also, I attended the CSO's performance of Mendelssohn's 4th Symphony (where would something like this go?) and I have an almost obsessive avidity for classical music.</p>
<p>I think that's everything. Keep in mind that I have never applied to a school of any noteworthy prestige or academic distinction. I have a clear goal, however, and I'm willing to work as hard as it takes to achieve it. Thanks! I appreciate all constructive critique that could help me improve my application!</p>