CMK92

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.

Dairy State K8

CMK92, I think the reason you are not getting replies is that you don't give much of a basis on which to speculate whether you'd like Grinnell. Your grade are excellent, but your test scores are on the lower end of Grinnell's students' scores. Good idea to retake them. I think you will find many different descriptions of Grinnell students by reading the various posts in this forum. Grinnell is an excellent school with many resources and is a relative bargain among the top LACs. If you are truly interested after further investigation, make time to visit or at least set up an alumni interview. Good luck!

chicagoarea

If you enjoy learning, like being challenged, and are open to alternative viewpoints, then you are three steps closer to fitting in.

stepherzzz

I would recommend trying to retake the ACT and visiting Grinnell. You have good extracurriculars, etc. A good interview would probably give your chances a boost.

Whether or not you'll fit in is hard to tell from an online forum, but I feel like most people do. I just finished my first year, and the vast majority of people I know from Grinnell are itching to go back in the fall (including myself). If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

(Also, I wouldn't necessarily recommend mentioning that you're a vegetarian in your application unless it's part of your essay. I don't feel like it's very relevant in a college application.)