<p>I am a junior from Arizona and I'm starting the college search. Here's my stats:</p>
<p>The Basics:
First Generation College Student
Multiracial (Hispanic/White)
Jewish
Current unweighted GPA: 3.3
Current weighted GPA: 3.8
By the time I graduate, I will have taken 7 AP courses and 6 honors courses.
My school doesn't rank. Or maybe they just don't tell us until senior year.</p>
<p>Test Scores:
I'm taking my SAT tomorrow, but on the practice I got about 1880. I took a prep course so I'm hoping for 2000.
I'm also taking my ACT in February. I got a 29 on the practice, I'm hoping for a 30.</p>
<p>Religious Extracurriculars:
Junior year-President of Temple Chai Temple Youth (TCTY, a Jewish youth group)
Sophomore Year-Programming Vice President of TCTY
Senior year-I will most likely be Regional President of the Southwest Region of the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY-SW, a large affiliation made up of Jewish youth groups like TCTY from Arizona, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Texas)
All years-Hebrew High School Student (attend two hours of class every week on topics such as Israel, the Holocaust, etc. Students who complete Hebrew High School receive a special diploma upon graduation)
Six years of Jewish summer camp, including two summers of LTP (Leadership Training Program)
Sophomore year-Youth Endowment Board (the board is given a sum of money and is in charge of determing which charities to distribute the money to)</p>
<p>Athletic Extracurriculars:
Four years of school softball (1 year Freshman, 2 years JV, 1 year Varsity)
Three years of club softball
One year of school basketball</p>
<p>Musical Extracurriculars:
Piano lessons for 10 years
Taught myself guitar (I am also a songleader in NFTY-SW)</p>
<p>Work Experience:
Temple Chai (Tutor, Administrative Assistant) September 2006-May 2007, July 2009-October 2009 (seasonal position)
Safeway (Grocery Store, Courtesy Clerk) June 2007-August 2008
Starbucks (Barista) June 2009-October 2009 (going back to work after this semester and planning to work all senior year)
Camp Charles Pearlstein (Camp Counselor) June 2010-August 2010</p>
<p>School Clubs/Societies:
National Honors Society-Junior/Senior
Society of Women's Scholars-Junior/Senior
Spanish Honorary Club-Sophomore/Junior/Senior
(may run for an officer of one or two of these clubs for senior year)
65 Roses Club (Cystic Fibrosis)-All years
Founder of Camp Swift Club (explained below)</p>
<p>Community Service:
Camp Swift (about 1500 hours)-Camp Swift is a summer camp for underprivileged inner-city children from the Phoenix area. The camp is planned and run by Jewish teenagers who volunteer their time not only during the summer, but throughout the year to plan camp and raise money. (These hours include 12 sessions of camp plus planning and fundraising throughout all four years)
I have participated in other community service projects including playing the piano for retirement home residents, assembling toiletry baskets for Hurricane Katrina victims, volunteering at food banks and homeless shelters, and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. These other activities add up to roughly 200 hours total.</p>
<p>Other Important (or maybe not important?) Factors:
-I will be paying for my own college/graduate school
-My cousin is my legal guardian. My mother died when I was seven and I don't know who my father is. I'm hoping I can use my experiences to write some compelling essays. Also, if you know of any scholarships for adopted, single-parent children, etc., that would be great!</p>
<p>Now for the colleges....I'd like to go to medical school eventually, but I don't necessarily want to major in science. I was looking into Sport/Fitness Management, Kinesiology, Creative Writing, or perhaps Physiology or even Biomedical Engineering. I'd like a school that has an exciting social scene (Greek life, parties, school spirit) in addition to academics. I'd love to be by the beach, but it's not a necessity. Nothing too snowy either, but it'd be nice to experience a good balance of all four seasons. </p>
<p>Here's the schools I'm considering applying to:
University of Arizona (in-state)
Florida Atlantic University
University of Alabama
San Diego State University
Auburn University
University of Central Florida
University of Tennessee
University of Florida
Ohio State University
University of Georgia
University of Miami
University of Southern California
Pepperdine University (except I'm Jewish, so would I absolutely hate it?)
Johns Hopkins University
Chapman University
University of Texas-Austin
Northeastern University</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I can't apply to any UC schools because I am taking Creative Writing as an English class and their school system does not count that as an English credit, and therefore I do not meet the 4 year English requirement. No other schools have a problem with this, though. </p>
<p>What are my chances at some of these schools? Am I aiming too high or too low or anything? Can you think of any other schools I should check out? </p>
<p>I know this was long. Thank you SO much for your input!</p>