OHKID

Ok, here it goes...


Major- Business and Mechanical Engineering double
(are the business programs here very good? That is a top concern)


Location- Ohio (too bad its not N Dakota or some obscure state, but I still love Ohio)



GPA- 3.69 UW/ 3.74ish W with toughest curriculum possible. Will probably take courses at local CC next year like composition and communications, along with a science and foreign language course.

Rank- top 20/100- in any other class that has graduated from my school, this would easily put me in the top 10, if not the top 5 percent. But unfortunately, my class is the most competitive in recent history, requiring at least a 3.9 UW to crack the top ten percent.

Competition at my school in my grade level is fierce, everyone is bloodthirsty, and many cheat (and thus have really weak standardized test scores, especially considering that I have the highest PSAT, APUSH, ASVAB and SAT score in the school, along with the 2nd highest ACT score in the school)

Will the admissiom offices pay attention?



Standardized Tests

SAT- 670 CR
680 Math
750 Writing (12 essay)
1350 Composite, 2100 Cumulative)
* I hope to raise this to a 1400/2200*

ACT- 31 Composite (same superscored)
32 Math
30 reading
32 English (9 essay)
30 science
*maybe will take again, but I will put emphasis on the SAT, since I think there is more potential there. I guess I'll find out next school year*

APUSH- 4 (highest score achieved in my school's program history)

This year, I took AP US Gov't, along with AP World and AP Human Geo Self-study. Next year, I will try to take AP Enviro Sci, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Stats, and AP Psychology self-study, as well. I am the only person in my school to ever self-study AP's.


SAT subject tests (scores from CollegeBoard 2008-2009 blue book practice tests without prior studying - hoping to get all of them to 700+, but again, who knows what will really happen)

World History-710
Literature-700
Math II-610
Physics-590

*will be taking last three subject tests on list, and will take World if necessary*

PSAT-199 (this makes me really mad- missed commended by two points)



Curriculum

I will have 5 English credits, 5.5 History/Social Science credits, 4.5 Math credits, 4 science credits, 2.5 Computer/business education credits, 1 art credit, and 4 foreign language credits. I have a consistent A average everywhere but science, where my average is about a B-, and my art (band) class, where my average was a B.

I have taken the hardest curriculum available at my school, which only has two AP classes. Our idea of an advanced track is to place students in with students from the grade ahead on the lower track (for instance, I took my Geometry class as a freshman with about 14 sophomores, 2 juniors, and 1 senior. Sad, but we did make it through the whole textbook) However, I am trying to supplement this with self-study AP's and other means.



Extracurriculars

Cross-Country- 5 yr devotee (horrible at it, but I still love it and it has taught me a lot of life lessons. Probably my most significant EC)

Track- 5 yrs (see above)

Academic Quiz Team- 3 yrs, arguably best on team during all seasons, second place at conference all three years.

4-H- 5 yrs, went to state for all years of high scool career, and finished second with my projects on consumer science (finance).

NHS- 1 year, inducted at earliest time possible. Unlike most schools, it IS a big deal at my school, with many fundraising drives for leukemia paitents and other causes.

Environmental competition- finished second out of 70 teams in our region, 15th in state

JETS Engineering- 2 years (this is just kinda for fun, but our advisor thinks we will be very competitive at a national level next year)

Model UN- 2 years- drafted significant (albeit humurous) legislation

Prom Committee-1 year (and I didn't even go to prom...)

Student Council- 2 years (yes, this is just for fun, but it is pretty cool and we organize all of the school dances and other school pride stuff)

Buckeye Boys State- in about three weeks

may start a business club or ACT prep class or help young kids read in elementary school.

We might also bring back Mock Trial or the Fed Challenge, which I would try to participate in if offered, esecially since finance and law are like my two favorite things...



Work Experience

Work at a robotics shop near columbus. Have done quotes for some machining, sales, etc.

Student Aid in office, and I actually do a lot of work, deal with sensitive documents, etc. Best part of the school day.

I'm also going to try and get a classic summer job (but I am still going to try and get my dream job of selling refrigerators at hhgregg.... the unofficial best job ever)



Community service

Only have done about 150 hours, extremely unlikely I will do more, even though I enjoy it. However, the reason I haven't (or probably won't) do more is because I have to help care for my grandmother, whose health is getting worse. I have been doing this for many years now. Btw, the number of hours comes from mandatory service for NHS, 4-H, AP Gov't, and other organizations that I participate in.



Awards
(yes, this is almost over. Thanks for sticking around and reading this miserably long post)

Citizenship award- quite proud of this. Only one is offered each year, and I have been the lucky recipient two years in a row.

Won outstanding at state in 4-H two years in a row.

Scholar Athlete

Honor Roll/Principal's list for entire H.S career

Got 2nd in Envirothon

I'm really weak on these.


So anyways, that's me. Any suggestions are welcome, and I am mainly looking for advice and chances, if you care. I also apologize if the formatting is awkward, because I typed this up on my phone.

Thanks!

fighterflea

Maybe you know this already but MyChances . net**************(ignore the spaces between the . , for some reason it got rejected by the site administrator) is the website where you can plug in your numbers and have them compared with students who were un/successful at whatever school. You will get a percentage likelihood of admission.

Don't take the result as gospel. My S got admitted on April 1 to Bucknell while given less than a 50-50 chance.

There are of course non-quantitative factors including the quality of your essay and the quality of the letters of recommendation that you get. My advice on the essay is to slave over it more than you ever did for any test in your life (except maybe the SAT's) because it figures to have more impact on your admission than any single test you ever took for a class.

Good luck.

bucknell12

I think based on these stats you have a decent chance of getting in, but I wouldn't be surprised either way. Most of Bucknell's applicants have similar statistics, and your essays, recomendations, and other indications of interest and talent will be the deciding factors.
My advice to you is to spend a LOT of time on your application. Think long and hard about why you want to go to Bucknell, why you think you would be an asset to the student body, what you would do once you got here, etc. Check out the website for ideas on these- esp look at the campus life tab. As an engineer, look for info about ENGR 100 (our introductory engineering course), research opportunities, etc. Residential colleges (basically, you live on a hall with other freshmen who may all be different majors but all have a similar academic interest as you- arts, humanities, environmental, etc- and take a class in the topic. and then do a bunch of fun activities and trips. and make wonderful friends.) are pretty unique to Bucknell.

Also, just an FYI, the engineering/management dual degree program is capped at 10 students per year, so it's more competitive, but I believe if you are not selected for it then you can still be admitted as a regular engineer.

bibbist

Make sure you visit the school. It's important for you to see the school, and important for the school to know you were there.

Ulver

Visit, visit, visit! Showing interest is really important in Bucknell's decision process. Call and ask for an interview as well. It will REALLY boost your chances.

bettzke

I wasn't aware they give interviews...do they?

bibbist

They were pretty clear to us that they do not grant interviews...so we were SO pleased when in fact they arranged one for our son. It may have helped that our visit was in July, so the admission office wasn't jammed with visitors that day. Ask for an interview on the date of your visit, and you never know...they may make one happen! Good luck.

bettzke

Thanks for the tip! We're visiting next week, so we'll see what happens.

Ulver

Call and ask for a "one day visit program". Basically, its a one-on-one campus tour.

You:
Meet with an admissions counselor
Sit in on a class
Have a student give you a tour
Have lunch with a few students
Meet with a professor (the "unofficial" interview portion)

I did it last Fall and its what entirely confirmed my decision to attend Bucknell.

bettzke

Do they offer this in the summer?

Ulver

That's a good point hahaha. Probably not, since there aren't any students. Try scheduling one while you're there for September or October if you really like Bucknell. Visits are super super key.

bucknell12

Visiting Bucknell || Bucknell University has the options for visits during the summer. the one day visits will probably start in september, info on those here: Visiting Bucknell || Bucknell University