What can I do to improve my application?

<p>I warn you all, I am not Evan O'Dorney or anyone of that caliber, so my application isn't the best. I have had several financial situations along with family issues get in my way of achieving anything remotely significant. So shall we start with where I currently stand?
The Past/More Present</p>

<p>Freshmen Courseload:
Honors Biology
Honors English
Honors World Cultures
Algebra 1
Spanish 2
Repertory Company</p>

<p>Sophomore Courseload:
AP US History Part 1
Honors English
Honors Chemistry
Honors Algebra 2
Spanish 3
Plane Geometry</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 (W) / 3.317 (UW)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Mock Trial (2 years): Tried to fit it into my schedule, but only while I was in between jobs. I almost secured lawyer spots as a freshman & sophomore, however I had to quit sophomore year due to a job at an IHOP in another state....
Anime Club (2 years): My Wednesdays were mostly free, but I had to work directly after/during the club
Math Team (2 years): I don't know if this even counts. I have scored straight 0's (except for ONE score of 1) for the last 2 years...During the last few competitions, I started to understand the mathematics and my answers started to make more sense.
IHOP Job (freshman year): I eventually had to end it because I found another, legal job... This was under table since I was too young to work at the time
Current Job: I pretty much work 6 hours during the weekdays and more during the weekends; I work pretty much whenever my boss wants me to. However, he has notified me of potential job cuts and I now need to find a second job since...I need to pay for more bills and for standardized testing</p>

<p>Other stuff:
I currently self study Hebrew, Russian, French, Spanish (I learn it in school), Arabic (mostly working on writing and reading my parents' books), and Latin.
I self-study a lot of physics and pretty much use MIT OCW and an old book a physics teacher gave me</p>

<p>Plans/What I Have Done to "Fix" Things
I have finished all of my summer reading/assignments
Junior Courseload:
AP US History Part 2
AP Statistics
AP Language & Composition
AP Physics 1
Honors Spanish 4
Honors Pre-Calculus
Poetry of Song
Word Derivation & Etymology</p>

<p>For junior year, I am currently reading & taking notes on the remaining half of my APUSH textbook, I am going ahead in Statistics, I have studied enough physics but I will review the AP Physics 1 new curriculum, I have read almost every book we will read in AP Lang, I am reviewing concepts for pre calc by taking notes and doing practice problems with the textbooks, and for Spanish I have been self-learning more concepts and reading the entire year's literature. I really want perfect grades....as you can tell...</p>

<p>I figured I would study everything so that the year is a bit easier & so that I can continue to study languages in an encouraging environment. </p>

<p>For ECs, I have to drop them all due to working more...so there goes that...but something tells me I will be happy with my languages....</p>

<p>So how can I improve my application if I am applying to:
Rutgers University
Local Community College
SUNY Binghamton
Penn State</p>

<p>That's pretty much it. My GC suggested QB, but I am extremely undecided and I don't know if I should even consider it given my stats. I want to try and get into the schools I have listed since I think that at this point, I have a fair shot at each school. Thanks for reading this and good luck with everything! :)</p>

<p>My PSAT score was a 171 and my PLAN was also a 23 (composite) if that helps</p>

<p>Work on that score, and do really kickass in junior year grade wise. Your EC’s are good for those schools but you’ll need at least an 1800 on the SAT, preferably above 1900. Do this and you will have really good shots at all of these schools Basically if you keep up your EC’s and you focus more on your academics, like trying to get a 3.7 or something unweighted for junior year and work on that SAT, you’ll be good. </p>

<p>Your PSAT and PLAN scores are fine, especially for a rising junior looking at those schools. I got your PSAT and PLAN scores my Junior year, but once I finally took the real thing (along with studying) I got a 1900 SAT and 29 ACT. </p>

<p>So having to dump EVERY school club won’t be an issue for these schools?</p>

<p>Yes, if the schools understand why you did it. If they see that you had to work and you put in time their, I don’t see a problem. </p>