GuitarRckr

Hi, I am a Catholic student applying to Brandeis, and I am curious to see how I may do in regard to scholarships; I don't know if my religion makes me any more appealing, but I thought I'd throw it in :-P. Also, does anyone know how the process for Life Science Scholars work and if it is something you are chosen for during the freshman admission process?

Thanks!

Grade: Senior (Class of '09)

Gender: Male

GPA:
Weighted-4.02
Unweighted:3.93

Class Rank: School doesn't rank, but I assume fairly high. I don't know what information they do give to colleges, if any.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - Alexandria, VA

Gender: Male

SAT Super Scores: (May retake since I want scholarship money; necessary for CR+M score to get the 1550+?)
Math-770
Reading-760
Writing-800

SAT II's
Math II - 780
Biology M - 780
Chemistry - 790

AP Courses:
Sophomore Year:
-AP Biology: 5
Junior year:
-AP Spanish Language: 5
-AP Chemistry: 5
-AP US History: 5
Senior Year:
-AP Spanish Literature
-AP US Government
-AP Calculus BC
-AP English Language

Rigor of Curriculum
All classes at TJHSST are taught at the honors level and above. We are required to take more math/science courses to graduate and have electives such as DNA Science, Bionanotechnology, and Organic Chemistry as semester courses (these three I am taking)

Extracurriculars/Awards:

-Biology Olympiad: Teaching Coordinator Junior Year, Semifinalist Junior Year
-Biology Society: Vice President Junior Year
-Varsity Policy Debate: Freshman/Sophomore Year, debating since middle school, qualified for Nationals both years
---Varsity LD Debate: Junior Year
-NHS Member
-National Spanish Exam Gold Medalist, 97th Percentile

Volunteer/Work Experience:
-Red Cross Blood Drives/Now regular blood donor, helped with "When I'm in Charge" Safety Training Program
-Regularly volunteer at school functions designed to encourage young children to pursue science
-Over summer, will do Reading for the Blind
-Volunteer at the National Institute of Health (NIH) during second semester of Junior Year, Work at NIH over summer for pay in Summer Internship Program (SIP) doing neural stem cell research, continue work through first semester of senior year for graduation requirement.
***Due to my work at NIH, I will not have leadership positions in clubs senior year due to the fact that we have club meetings during a period planned into our schedules. In order to do the NIH internship, I need to miss these club meetings. Therefore, I'm only VP of Biology Society still, will continue participating in Debate/Biology Olympiad competitions. My counselor will mention this***

Grades:
Straight A's for sophomore and junior year. Freshman year/summer course in chemistry I received a B+/B, respectively. I think this was because I was getting used to actually "thinking" about science versus "memorizing" it, and science at TJ is difficult. My counselor will mention this development. I have gotten A's in AP Biology, AP Chemistry, physics, and all other science courses. Hopefully these classes will compensate, along with AP scores.

Interested Majors: Neuroscience, Biochemistry

BlkBltDad

Well, I'm a parent of a Brandeis student, so perhaps I can add a bit of information to it.

My daughter is starting her sophomore year at Brandeis this fall. She's both a Catholic and a Life Science Scholar.

Your CV below reads very similarly to hers (only rapidly obvious difference is that she went to a Catholic high school and her school did rank students). Similar range of courses, similar grades / tests / APs.

Based on what I have seen, the religion question was not an issue either for or against her application. The Catholic community at the school is not large, but is active. Her only big adjustment was getting used to going to Mass on Sunday evenings (the chapel is quite small, and as the nearest church is across town, many of the neighbors attend the morning service - students are asked to attend on Sunday evenings [but, pizza is served afterwards]).

Gut call - I think you've got a good chance of being admitted.

Regarding the LSS program, I'm actually kind of surprised you've heard of it. It's VERY low key. My daughter was one of the first 10 students in the program (I assume there's another 10 starting this year). My understanding (from speaking with the admissions department and the head of the program) is that there's a screening process that takes place in admissions, based on the information in your application. There was no formal process when my daughter applied (she had no idea the program existed). She simply received a letter welcoming her into it. How did you find out about it?

Finally, apply for financial aid, even if you know you are not eligible for it. Brandeis has some GREAT academic scholarships, but if you don't apply for FinAid, you're not considered for them.

Good luck!
George

GuitarRckr

Thanks BlkBltDad, you were very helpful. Anyone else have some input?