What will colleges think of this?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My grades have experienced major fluctuation. I've taken the most challenging courses available, and my school is well resourced and incredibly competitive. Our valedictorian has a 4.7 weighted GPA, and one kid got 15 5's and 3 4's on his AP exams last year.</p>

<p>Freshman year I had 4.0. Sophomore year I went through some type of philosophical crisis during which I questioned the reason for school as I felt busy work was being thrown in my face but I was not gaining anything from it. My grades that year averaged at a 3.0. Junior year I realized that some things simply must be done, so I put in a half assed effort and got a 3.5. Over this summer, however, I began to write my first novel. The experience changed my perception on inexorable systems such as education and corporate america. I plan to publish it after college apps. This term, my grades are steady at a 4.0 so far and I took some classes at the university, all of which I got A's in.</p>

<p>My GPA should average out to somewhere around a 3.6 unweighted, 4.1 weighted which is on the lower end for the places to which I am applying. My SAT score is a 2200, respectively. I have 2 800's on the SAT 2's. </p>

<p>Will colleges think I'm a slacker, a faux puritan of rebellion, or just plain stupid? I don't want to end up at a place where I feel I'm wasting my money on education below my capabilities. Worst case scenario, I'd like to transfer.</p>

<p>I'm applying early to Cornell. Help.</p>

2

<p>If you write about things like corporate america and a general frustration with busy work and education that’s ‘below your capabilities’ you might come off a little full of yourself. I don’t mean that in a rude way! Honestly, I’ve struggled with a less than awesome work ethic, and I’ve come to realize that there are so many resources available to me that I should accept busy work as a part of life and pursue more challenging subject matter on my own.
It’s easy to say that something is beneath you, but a superb GPA really demonstrates it, and you’ve got to find something to make up for yours (I’m in the same position.). I think that a stellar essay with a less cynical tone and some awesome recs could give you a shot. For Cornell, I would retake the SAT. Good luck. Seriously. I hope you end up somewhere that makes you happy.
(Congrats on writing your first novel!)</p>

3

<p>Dude, chill. You’re you, and that’s all that matters. You got a book thing going on–congrats. Look at it this way: your sat scores put you in the upper percentile of high school students. It’s gonna be okay since your high school is rigorous.</p>