Location: Middle Earth, also known as Bard College
Posts: 481
Chance me?
I'm really rather worried about my chances of getting into any good college, to be honest with you, because while my grades are high now, I was an absolute slacker during my freshman year. I have turned things around immensely since then, and I have wanted to go to PSU since I was about three, but it is a fairly good school so I'm not sure if they will be fond of my application specs or not. Meeep.
Academia
* GPA: 3.35, and my school doesn't weight. :/
* SAT: 660 CR, 550 M, 730 W -- I can do far better, but I was very ill that day, so I am retaking the test this fall.
* Great recs so far; school has not yet begun for the year, so I only have one for certain that I know of, but if those that teachers gave me for different applications last year are of any indication, I should be absolutely set there.
* 90+ on 7/9 Regents exams, including two 98s, a 99, and a 100.
* My school does not offer AP courses, but they do offer college credit courses through Syracuse University, SUNY Albany, and the local community colleges. I have scored (without a curve) 90 or better as an average in every course. Currently, I have four AP equivalent courses under my belt, am taking another three this year, and my cumulative would-be college GPA thus far is 3.75.
* Dedicated to band. And although our band program is not huge, by "dedicated," I mean that I help out with every fundraiser, practice, am a section leader, will be Band Co-President this year, and so on.
* Four honours courses: chemistry, and four years of being in an English class above my grade level (that is, they aren't labeled as "honours", but when I was in 9th grade they put me into 10th grade English, 10th they put me into 11th, 11th grade they put me into college English and this year should be a 200-level English).
* Six years of language! I have taken Spanish every year, and although it doesn't fit into my schedule for senior year, I am taking it as an independent study sort of option this year in addition to French I my sophomore year and French II this year. That has to count for something, right?
* I will have AWESOME essays. They're already written and, if I may toot my own flute, pretty spifftacular.
* Uh, my guidance counselor doesn't like me much because I'm not in Key Club, so she will -not- give me a good letter. Just to put that out there.
* My GPA went from a 78 at the end of my freshman year to an 89 by the end of this year's summer semester. I hope that makes me look decent.
Senior Schedule
Band
French II
Spanish V Independent Study
SUPA Psychology
SUPA Sociology
UHS English
Precalculus
Physics
Physics lab
Health
Gym
Music Theory
ECs
Art Club, 2006-2007
Concert Band, 2005-2009
>>Flute section leader, 2007-2009
Creative Writing Club, 2008-2009
Drama Club [stage crew], 2006-7 and 2009
Foreign Language Club [president], 2007-2009
Fulton County Music Education Association (FCMEA) All-County Symphonic Band, 2007-2009
Jazz Band, 2008-2009
Key Club, 2006
Marching Band, 2005-2009
“Masterminds’” academic team, 2007-2009
>>Junior Varsity Co-Captain, 2007-2008
>>Varsity Co-Captain, 2008-2009
Media Center Club, 2005-2006
New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Competition, 2007-2009
Pep Band, 2005-2009
Saratoga Springs Youth Wind Ensemble, 2008-2009
Science Olympiad, 2005, 2008-9
>>Team member, September-October 2005
>>Coach/advisor, 2008-9
Students of the World Pen Pal Program, 2007-2009
The Leader Herald “Teen Vox” Editorial [journalist], 2007-2009
My volunteer experience is somewhat bald; it mostly has to do with band fundraising and helping my best friend with her church festivals.
Eeep? Thanks a ton, guys. If there is anything else you need to know (as if I'm not long-winded enough), please ask.
Last edited by Skullduggery; 08-24-2008 at 08:58 PM.
Location: Middle Earth, also known as Bard College
Posts: 481
Really? Thank you. I was concerned about the GPA as well, as the incoming class evidently averages to a 3.57, but we also don't have a weighted grading system...
Location: Middle Earth, also known as Bard College
Posts: 481
Maybe my college GPA will help? My HS GPA is crap, but that's because freshman year was very difficult emotionally: with an October birthday, I am younger than a lot of the people in my grade, and I had few friends, and I was coming out of a rough middle school experience wherein my mum almost died of cancer. The fact that I have a 3.75 for university, though, must count for something, right?
Low chances, yeah, but I bet a lot of people are weighted. The tour guide I talked to had a 4.3. Maybe they will take into consideration that my school has no weighted grades, is fairly competitive, and I have a lot of ECs. I hope so, anyway.
Location: Middle Earth, also known as Bard College
Posts: 481
BU, CUNY City College, Hampshire, Oberlin, Skidmore, Syracuse, VCU, York College of Pennsylvania. Most of them are reach schools, but that doesn't make them impossible.
What college are you applying to within the PSU main campus? I think you have a great chance of getting in. My sister got on main campus with an SAT score of about a 1590/2400 3 years ago. I only have a 1790/2400 and I'm hoping to get on main. I actually just checked my application status and it says it's under review. Good Luck..but I still think you have a good chance even though you're out of state. Oh, and the essay for the PSU application only allows you to enter 1200 characters...so I ended up deleting quite a bit! I also couldn't fit all my EC's on the web application either. They'll definitely look at the college courses you've taken as well, and I think you send in a transcript from whatever college you've received credits from.
Thanks! Now waiting for the acceptance letter seems to be the hardest part! Oh, and I was asking about what college you were interested in at UPark like Smeal, IST, Engineering, etc. I figured you were aiming towards the UP campus to begin with.
Location: Middle Earth, also known as Bard College
Posts: 481
Oh, sorry! That was silly of me. I am aiming primarily towards Arts and Architecture -- which is why I'm not applying anywhere else -- in addition to Health and Human Development. Music/neuroscience double major. Which one for you?
