GuitarRckr

Grade:Junior

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: (Probably 4-5 on all tests)
-AP Spanish Language
-AP Chemistry
-AP US History
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***

Recommendations:
Letters from AP Chemistry and English 11 teachers. Both have called me intelligent/hard-working, should be good. Also, I know my counselor well.

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, and my AP Chemistry will talk about my performance in chemistry. 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: NBB, Biology

So, do I have a shot for regular decision/the scholars program? I don't necessarily need to get the actual "scholar" title as long as I get money for tuition (we can't afford private otherwise)

julienf

haha wow, my grandmother used to be an AP Lit teacher at that high school! :P

I'd definitely say that you're in RD. you also have a good shot at being an Emory scholar. I'd say you'd at least get past the first "round" of selections.

MyNetter

I don't usually give "chances," since... what do I know? But since I was a Scholar myself, I thought I'd at least tell you that you look pretty good for that. I think the NIH internship definitely counts as a good reason for not having leadership positions. It's good that your counselor will mention that.

TJ is very well known, so I'm sure the admissions office will know exactly what your GPA 'means.' However, I'm confused about your weighted GPA being just a hair over 4.0. Are all those A's in AP courses 5 points?

Of course, all prospective Scholars will have similar, and even more amazing, stats and experiences. Top-notch essays are extremely important.

Hope that helps a bit.

GuitarRckr

julienf - Wow, what is the name of your grandmother out of curiosity?

MyNetter - I know that students themselves really don't know how admissions goes (plus, who am I to say that my recs will be good, and know how I compare to other TJ applicants?), but it is nice to hear from/see the stats the Scholars have, like yourself, to gain some perspective.
I am starting my essays now, so hopefully I will be able to shine through there and in the interviews. I know it's extremely competitive, but it's worth a shot, right? :-)

Oh yeah, and AP courses are weighted .5 (i.e. an "A" in an AP course is a 4.5, while a normal A is 4.0). The highest grade on the grading scale is an A, and there are no minuses, just plusses (B/B+, no B-). There are no other weights for courses except for post-AP electives (i.e. some of the extra/specific science electives, like Organic Chemistry), but none of those classes are applicable since I didn't take any of them yet.

GuitarRckr

One more thing -MyNetter, if you are willing to share how the application process went for you/what your profile was like, it would be greatly appreciated :-)

Thanks again for the help everyone

dna3

I'd say you'll get the liberal arts scholarship at the VERY least. My stats were pretty comparable to yours, and I got the full scholarship this year. They're definitely looking for involvment in school/community, and making connections with others in the interviews. good luck!

julienf

GuitarRckr, her name's Mrs. Feldman but I'd be REALLY surprised if you knew the name; she retired around 8 or so years ago.

that said though, good luck with everything! I didn't apply for Emory Scholars so I didn't go through the process myself, but reading threads throughout the year of the other Emory Scholars along with their stats, I'd say you match them. if you're curious to see for yourself just look back a bit through the threads.

GuitarRckr

thanks for the advice julienf; I feel stupid for not thinking about that before
:-P

Have a great 4th of July everyone! Thanks again.

cubeton

I think you have a good chance if the admissions office workers have enough coffee to read through your entire application (I mean, it seems like you've done everything under the sun...the only thing I think you're missing is like, rehabilitating kittens and hamsters from pyrotechnic injuries or something).

I think otherwise it's good, but if money's an issue have you thought of just doing what that other guy from TJHSST did at UVA and graduated in a year? It practically sounds like you could do that. I'm sure your peers would be very impressed. I certainly would, although I don't know how I'd know if you did that or not...

good luck!
(please note I am not an Emory scholar, so at least I'm not competing with you!)

robbyg

Don't retake the SAT...lol, but seriously, with scores already that high, it won't make a difference to the Scholars committee. btw, where are you working in the NIH? I'm at the CRC, Pediatric Oncology

GuitarRckr

robbyg, I'm working in the NINDS, specifically the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Are you part of the SIP program?

Also, do you go to Emory? Judging from the info listed under your name for posts, I am assuming so (:-P), though you may be entering as a freshman next year.

robbyg

Guitar, yeah i'm part of the SIP... this program has the most amazing perks

and yeah, I'm a rising soph at Emory (love, Love It, LOVE IT)

maoskillskid

Hey don't worry. You'll literally walk in.

I'm not joking.