Would Anyone Would Be So Kind as to Provide Me With "Chances," So to Speak...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>Let me begin by admitting that I know these types of threads are among the lamest on College Confidential. And despite my recent registration, I have already seen my fair share of mindless discussion topics here - many of which are no-doubt fueled by the near-proverbial internet trolls.</p>

<p>I am not a troll, mind you; but as a Junior in the American educational system, with Ivy league ambitions and a tendency towards an anxious temperament, I'd forgive you for labeling me as one.</p>

<p>So without further adieu, I present my statistics, described as plainly and purely as my passion for embellishment allows, for your Almighty Judgment. Go ahead and rip me to shreds. </p>

<p>SATs: Not taking them
ACTs: 33 so far.
SATIIs: 760 World History; will take Math 2 + US History this year.
GPA: 99.05 Weighted; school doesn't unweight.
Rank: School doesn't rank.
Ethnicity / Gender: White / Male</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
Junior State of America: a national debate club of sorts, where students can discuss the political, economic, and social policy of the United States, and create / vote on legislation concerning those policies - Member</p>

<p>Bridges to Community: a service club that builds homes for impoverished Nicaraguan families; I will be taking my second trip there next week - Member</p>

<p>Jazz Band: Baritone Sax - self explanatory; I preside in the upper-level of two jazz bands.</p>

<p>Junior Varsity Bowling Team: I assure you it is less lame than it sounds. </p>

<p>Work Experience:
Camp Counselor at local day camp.</p>

<p>Tutor / Assistant at local math and reading center called Kumon.</p>

<p>Once again, I greatly appreciate your time and effort.</p>

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<p>I would say that they’re not very good; sorry.</p>

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<p>with bowling: 25% chance
without bowling: 75% chance</p>

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<p>I appreciate your sensible assessment.</p>

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<p>Are you leaving anything out on your ECs? Secret passions, additional information?</p>

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<p>Do you have any other ECs…? Any awards you’ve won? Anything?</p>

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<p>Indeed; I totally forgot about awards:</p>

<p>Award for Excellence in Global History - 9th Grade
Award for Excellence in Algebra 2H - 9th Grade
Award for Excellence in Spanish 2 - 9th Grade</p>

<p>Award for Excellence in Global History 2 - 10th Grade
Award for Excellence in Math 3H - 10th Grade
Award for Excellence in Chemistry H - 10th Grade
Award for Excellence in Spanish 3 - 10th Grade</p>

<p>Induction into Spanish National Honor Society - 10th Grade</p>

<p>National Honor Society - 11th Grade</p>

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<p>Although Honors Societies are awards, pretty much everyone applying to Dartmouth is in an Honor Society for one thing or another. Whether it be National Honor Society, or another variant.</p>

<p>Are you like a president, founder, vice president, of a club or something at your school? If not, you better become one.</p>

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<p>This thread is very amusing.</p>

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<p>I realize just about everyone applying to schools like Dartmouth has some sort of honor-society thing under their belt. But in the interest of thoroughness, or perhaps self esteem, I presented it here anyway. :D</p>

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<p>You’d need more leadership positions IMO. You don’t have anything that sets you apart from the crowd.</p>

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<p>It’s “ado.” And it’s “preside over” only if you are the section leader (and perhaps a bit pretentious?). Otherwise you were looking for “reside in” (if you really must). I’m not pointing these things out to be mean: you can’t afford to have such errors in your applications.</p>

<p>Regarding your GPA…will the grades that appear on your transcript be the original grades, or weighted? If the former, will there be many Bs? What kind of courses have you taken? Will your GC check off “most rigorous”? If an admissions officer looks at your school profile and sees the GPA distribution, will you appear to be in the top 10%?</p>

<p>Your ACT is okay, although a 34 or above would be helpful for an unhooked candidate. Do you/will you have any AP scores to present? </p>

<p>Your ECs seem a little weak. As far as awards go, something beyond school boundaries would be helpful; for example, have you taken the National Spanish Exam? Qualified for the All State band?</p>

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<p>Good eye mate. The whole original post was meant to seem a little pretentious, but only for comedic effect. I assure you I do not speak like this in person, nor would I write an application like this. :D. </p>

<p>As for GPA: The way our school weights grades is that for honors or AP classes, 5 extra points are awarded on top of the grade as it appears on a report card. Without weighting, my grades are mostly in the A to A+ range, though I’ve had a couple A-'s. I can’t honestly say for sure whether my transcript will present unweighted grades. </p>

<p>The only AP course offered until junior year at my high-school is AP World History, divided as an every-other-day course over freshman and sophomore years. I got a 5 on the exam. In junior year, the highest reasonable number of AP courses a student can take is 3, unless they have no electives and take two AP sciences, for a total of 4 APs. I’m taking two APs this year - US History and English Language - and four next year - Literature, Calculus AB, Chemistry, and Macroeconomics.</p>

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<p>I figured that that was the effect you were aiming at. :)</p>

<p>Your grades sound great, your course rigor sounds excellent in the context of your school. It sounds as if you would be in the top decile of your class, given both factors. Having some 5s on AP exams is always helpful. All of that is good.</p>

<p>I would say that you would be helped by raising your ACT composite and by framing your ECs effectively. And of course everyone needs excellent recommendations and essays. Oh, and don’t forget the peer evaluation.</p>

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<p>It would help if you stopped trying to sound like Abraham Lincoln and started sounding like yourself… But what do I know?</p>