GPA
-3.65 GPA UW at prestigious private school in the South-West (4.33 = A+, 4.0 = A, etc). My school does not give bumps for honors/AP classes. Also, there is very little grade inflation (top 10% ranges between 3.7 and 4.1)
-School does not rank (appx. 15/105) and no weighted GPA is calculated
ACT (taken June 2009)
32 English, 35 Math, 32 Reading, 33 Science, Composite 33, Writing 11, English/Writing 32
SAT IIs (taken June 2009)
-Math IIC: 800
-Biology M: 740
-World History: 670
Because I am submitting the ACT, I don't need to submit SAT IIs, but I figure that I might as well submit Math IIC just for the heck of it.
Curriculum
-Freshman: Core English 9, Core Western Civ History 9, Core Chemistry 9, Honors Geometry, Honors Latin II, Band
-Sophomore: Core English 10, Core Western Civ History 10, Core Bio 10, Honors Alg II, Honors Latin III, Band
-Junior: Tragedy (1 trimester), Poetry (1 trimester), Nature and Uses of Language (1 trimester), Cold War History (1 trimester), AP Government (2 trimesters), Honors Physics, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors Latin IV, Band
-Senior: Senior Rhetoric (1 trimester), Sublime Darkness (1 trimester), Short Fiction (1 trimester, "I, Claudius" (1 trimester), Military Strategy (1 trimester), Beginning 3-D Animation (1 trimester), AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Latin: Vergil, Band
*** My school does not allow freshmen and sophomores to take APs. As well, juniors and seniors are restricted to taking 3 AP courses per year. All classes that say "core" are required of everyone in the class (i.e. there are no honors classes).
Work Experience
-2 Summers of life guarding (privately and at a community center)
-1 Summer of teaching swim lessons to young children
ECs/Activities (including Senior year)
-Political Action Club (4 year member)
-Science Olympiad (4 year member)-Captain 9th grade and 12th grade
-Junior Classical League (4 year member)- most likely Vice-President for senior year,
-Snack Bar (4 year member)-unofficial president for senior year, sell food to students at rock-bottom prices with proceeds going to student clubs
-Boy Scouts of America-Eagle Scout, former Senior Patrol Leader, former Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, other various leadership positions
-Swim Team (4 year member)
-Band (4 year member)- concert band (trumpet), pep band (trumpet), jazz band (guitar), jazz combo (guitar), brass ensemble (trumpet)
I have other ECs, but those are the only ones I'm putting on the Common App because those are the most important to me.
Awards/Honors
-Science Olympiad: Multiple medals won at Regional and State competitions
-Math: 3rd place in pre-calculus division at TAMS Tournament
-Latin: 1 perfect score, 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals on National Latin Exam, multiple ribbons at Area and State level at JCL conventions
-Boy Scouts: Eagle Scout
-Swimming: 3 year letter winner
-Academic: 3 year Academic Pin Winner (3.5 GPA for all three trimesters, aka 3 trimesters of what we call "high honor roll")
-Band: 2 time all region band member (trumpet), multiple 1st Division rankings at regional and state solo/ensembles, 3 time band letter winner
Misc
-National Young Leaders Conference Alumnus ('09)
I visited campus a few weeks ago and fell in love. My interview was stellar because we really connected over Latin and Classics (we discussed authors including Ovid, Cicero, and Vergil). I really feel like UofC is the place for me (rhyme!). I like the focus on a learning community that enjoys learning for the sake of learning, not just to get an A at the end of the quarter or to get an internship at the company down the street. Everyone I met was incredibly nice and welcoming, and I couldn't help but feel that I was at a university which values undergraduate education in the highest regard and truly strives for excellence. And of course, I fell in love with Chicago (the city).
I plan to major in Economics and Poly Sci (if there is time, if not Poly Sci will be a minor). If I minor in Poly Sci, then I will also try to minor in Math or Classics (but not both!). I also have good ideas for my essays, but I'm having a hard choice determining which one to write (because I like all my topics so much).
