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Old 06-20-2009, 09:19 PM   #1
CMK92
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 42
Would I fit in at Grinnell? Chance?

While interning at a law firm, one of the founders (Grinnell undergrad-chemistry; Yale-law school) suggested I apply to Grinnell. Telling me that I would fit in. Question is: Would I fit in? Would I stand a chance at getting in?

Asian (female; Chinese/Vietnamese mix). Middle-class.
Rank: top 10%
Background: I reside in Michigan, and attend a magnet school (the first in the nation to have an economicology program with IB).
Sibling(s): 1, a sister who currently attends University of Michigan
Parents:
-Mother: high school diploma (from China)
-Father: high school diploma at 23, two years of college at Michigan Tech., but dropped out (escaped from Vietnam during the War)

Possible Majors: political science, public policy, international relations, psychology, history
Possible Minors: history, sociology, economics

Standardized test scores:
ACT: 29 (will retake)
SAT: 1800 (first time, will DEFINITELY retake)
SAT II: US History, World History, Math I--results pending (I'm taking more SAT II's this fall--Math II, Lit, and perhaps chemistry)
AP's Junior year: AP US History, AP Lit, AP Macro Econ, AP US Gov--results pending, but I'm guessing all 4's or 5's
AP's (will take) Senior year: AP World History, AP Micro Econ, AP Psych, AP Comp Gov, AP Calc AB, AP Physics B, AP Lang, AP French

Trilingual:
-Chinese (Cantonese...I know, it's not going to get me anywhere when the AP Chinese and SAT II Chinese tests are done in Mandarin. I can comprehend Mandarin, but it takes awhile to relay it.)
-Chinese dialect
-comprehension of Vietnamese ( a bit)
-English

Vegetarian: 5 years (I'm not sure that it'll help)

GPA:
Unweighted: 3.88 (I got a few B's this year, which knocked me out of the Valedictorian contention and Salutatorian...I'm guessing that I'll graduate with a 3.92)
Weighted: 4.92

EC's:
Legislative Debate/Parliamentary Debate: 4 years (co-captain)
-consecutively broke to finals/semi-finals at state every year
-compete on national circuit
Student Congress: 2 years
-chairwoman of committee/press corps
Model UN: 1 year (new for our school)
Lincoln-Douglas: 1 year (new league for state of Michigan, will start in fall)
Policy Debate: 1 year (wasn't my thing)
Forensics: 4 years
-co-captain senior year
-fresh.-poetry; soph/jr/sr-extemp/impromptu
-consistently did well at invites/placed
-state semi-finalists (extemp)
E-Club/Environmental Club: 2 years (only member from junior class)
Student Council: 1 year
-treasurer
-prom/spirit week committee--"green prom" (links with E-Club)
NJHS: 3 years
NHS: 3 years
-vice-president (senior year)
-hoping to reform NHS next year, seeing as officers were a bit of a "let down" this year, OR will start up Key Club (of course, as President)
Interned at a law firm for 2 trimesters (possibility of interning at another firm in the fall)
-worked mostly on med. mal cases, tested the waters with corporate and environmental
-got a better understanding of the community, and how the firm, along with other organizations/pro-bono lawyers fit into the picture.
-outside experiences: YWCA and LAC
-While interning at the firm, I was offered to other internships (1) being the second firm (2) LAC--Legal Assistance Center w/ Heartside Ministries.
Volunteered:
-over 100 hours
-not included in 100 hours, but campaigned for many political candidates over the years (not limited to Obama)

Chance me. Please?
I know my test scores aren't up to par, but I'm studying my butt off over the summer to retake both the ACT, SAT, and more SAT II's in the fall.
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