What Are My Chances of Getting These Schools?

<p>Hi guys! I'm a rising senior. I go to a very small public high school that never sends kids to top schools (90 percent of graduates attend community college). </p>

<p>My first choice is Scripps. I'll be applying there ED 1. If I don't get in, I'll apply to Occidental, Macalester, Colby, Mount Holyoke, Pitzer, Bryn Mawr and Trinity College (CT). My safeties are: University of Missouri - Columbia, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Missouri Southern State University, University of Arkansas and Missouri State University. </p>

<p>I am a white female and I will be applying for financial aid. </p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.8
W GPA: 4.2
ACT: 27-28 (I know my prediction is low. I took it on Saturday. The math was terrible, so it'll bring my score down.)
AP Tests: AP US History: 4, AP Psychology: 4, AP English: 4 AP Bio: 4</p>

<p>Course load – most difficult schedule possible.
Junior schedule: Concert/Marching Band, Varsity debate, Honors Communications Arts III, Trigonometry, Honors Chemistry, AP US history, Desktop Publishing/Graphic Design.
Senior schedule: AP Bio, Concert/Marching Band, Varsity debate, AP English, Pre-calculus, AP Psychology, Dual Credit Spanish 101/102</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Speech and Debate since 7th grade (Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Mock Trial, Original Oratory, Extemporaneous Speaking) Mentor to novice for Extemporaneous Speaking and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Judge at novice/sophomore/junior high tournaments. </p>

<p>Band since 6th grade (Contest and Marching Band) We have been featured playing on ESPN (they were there for our football team) and we have received straight ones every year that I have been a member. I have been the co-section leader during marching band season beginning with my junior year. We received the opportunity to perform at Sea World in San Antonio, TX. </p>

<p>4-H since 7th grade (foods and photography) – 4-H club representative at the bi-monthly 4-H council meetings. I’m the club reporter and Vice President. I'm also youth chairman of the health and safety committee. I co-organized a fundraiser for my club. Two other girls and I took pictures of nature in our county. We made them into greeting cards. </p>

<p>Spanish Club (10th- 12th)
Knowledge Bowl (10th-12th)
Key Club (11-12th)
Heritage Club (9-10th) Became extinct after my sophomore year. The sponsor couldn’t do it anymore and no one else would do it, so the club merged with Key Club.
National Honors Society (11-12th)</p>

<p>Awards:
Won 3th place in Domestic/International Extemporaneous Speaking at the Big 8 debate tournament sophomore year
Received an honor for sending entries onto the Missouri state fair with two foods items and one item in photography
Grand champion at local fair two years in a row for muffins and cookies
Grand champion at local fair for project in Photography
Numerous blue ribbons in arts and crafts, foods and photography
Recognized by the Board of Education for student achievement in music
Was featured in Crowder College’s Quill, a magazine dedicated to the arts. Received the Bronze Award in color photography.
Lettered all four years in: academics. Lettered in both band and debate. </p>

<p>Volunteer work:
Assistant kindergarten Sunday school teacher for 5 years. I definitely know how real teachers feel. I got attached to the kids. They were all very sweet.
Assembled and delivered Christmas food baskets to families in need in my community. Each “team” delivered about ten baskets.
Decorated and delivered Valentine’s Day cards to local nursing home. It seemed like we made their day.
Volunteered at local county fair by working in the cook shack and by picking up trash and cleaning up exhibit buildings.
Worked to get trees planted in various parts of Joplin I did this through 4-H. I spoke to the Missouri Department of Conservation. We set a date and we planted trees in the local park. It was destroyed by a tornado on May 22nd, 2011.
Spent time with kids affected by the aforementioned tornado*. I was acquainted with the kids from either 4-H or the kindergarten Sunday school class. I really got to know them after that. </p>

<p>Leadership experience:
Attended Girls State (I will attend it the last week of June)
Campaigned for local Representatives for the 2012 election
Member of Congressional Youth Advisory Council (One of my state representatives runs it.)</p>

<p>I also forgot to mention that I intend to double major in International Relations and Economics and minor in Middle Eastern studies.</p>

<p>Anyone? Bump…</p>

<p>No one??? Bump…</p>

<p>I think you’re a pretty qualified applicant for Scripps, save for your test scores. Although your scores may be low, I feel that your extracurricular activities could help you a lot. Personally though, I would try raising your ACT score or taking the SAT in case you do better on that. Everything else, I think, looks good, and you’d have a reasonable chance of getting in.</p>

<p>AnythingToSay: Thanks so much! I’m so happy you responded!</p>

<p>I know my score isn’t the best, but the math honestly kills me. I’ve taken so many practice tests, but the real thing is so much more difficult.</p>

<p>I took the PSAT and I really didn’t like losing a fourth of a point for every wrong answer. I’m afraid I would do even worse on the SAT just because I wouldn’t be able to guess.</p>

<p>AnythingToSay: Also, would you consider any of the schools on my list to be reaches?</p>