new chances thread (not getting replies in the what are my chances forum)

[phonyreal98]

Ethnicity: Filipino/White
male from NC

ACT: 33 Composite
33E, 36M, 31R, 30S (awaiting writing score)

Subject Tests (I'm only sending SAT scores to Columbia, the others don't require them since I took the ACT): 800 Math IIC, 790 US History, 600 Physics (sigh....oh well...all the schools I'm applying to only require 2 SAT IIs)


Grades (here's where things go fishy, i have a downward and upward trend...ALL IN ONE YEAR):
Course Sem1grade/sem2grade
9th:
Latin I A/A
Seminar Honors English I A/A
Life Skills/PE A/A
Honors Biology A/A
Band I A/A
Seminar Honors World History A/A
Honors Algebra II A/A

10th:
Health/PE A/A
Honors Chemistry A/A
Seminar Honors Civics and Economics A/B
Honors Precal B/B
Latin II A/A
Band II A/A
Seminar Honors English II A/A

11th:
AP Physics B B/A
AP English Lang. B/B
AP US History B/A
AP Calculus BC B/B
Honors Latin III B/A
SAT Prep/Honors Advanced Grammar A/A
Honors Band III A/A

12th current/projected 1st semester grades:
AP Music Theory: A/A
AP English Lit: B/B
AP Statistics: B/A
AP Biology: A/A
AP Psychology: A/A
Honors Band IV: A/A
I can't take latin this year because of a scheduling issue

uw GPA: 3.762
w GPA: 4.64
Class Rank: 11/273

AP Exam Scores:
Physics B: 4
Calculus BC: 5
US HIstory: 5
English Language: 3

Extracurriculars:
Marching Band 9-12, trombone section leader
Jazz Band 11-12, only had the oppurtunity since junior year, lead trombone
Winston-Salem Youth Symphony, principal trombone, 11-12
Academic Team 11-12, cocaptain of the science team (even though it was my first year, we were the county champs out of 9 schools)
Volunteer at the hospital, have 420 hours
Musical Theater, 9-12
National Honor Society 11-12
Debate Club, 11-12, cofounder, treasurer

Awards:
All county and All district bands, 9-10
All county and all region orchestras, 9-10
I+ rating (highest rating, perfect rating an all subcategories except one) on the highest difficulty level of music at state solo festival, 11
Academic Team county champions, 11
Hospital Volunteer, 300 hour service award
National Merit Commended, 11
AP Scholar with Honor, 11

Other stuff/hooks/stuff that I've probably mentioned but am going to mention again:
deaf in right ear, musically talented (ironic, no?), became depressed the summer between sophomore and junior years

have great counselor and teacher recs...I have an interesting essay topic (my hearing loss and working through it to become accomplished in music)

chances?

[Irishcali]

I think you look good~work on your essay. I think your biggest challenge will be to convince them that you can be consistent. Your upward/downward trends might worry them, but if you explain it well, I think you have a great chance. Good Luck!!!

[PutschCasusBelli]

I'd give you a solid maybe. The essay topic looks good, but your numbers appear a bit low. A 3.76 uw gpa is below average.

[CitricAcid]

I think you have a pretty good shot at it, I got in EA with about a 3.45 UW or so, perhaps you could focus on your band extracurriculars in your essay which could stand out for the admission folk?

[phonyreal98]

Yea....forgot to mention that I'm applying EA. My teacher let me look at my rec, and he put a lot of emphasis that I kind of "woke up" in my junior year and started to work hard. The honors/seminar classes in my school system are not that hard, but the AP classes are very very tough.

How much does being a minority count for at ND? I've heard that ND is the one of the only top schools that gives asians a URM boost.

[vc08]

How much does being a minority count for at ND? I've heard that ND is the one of the only top schools that gives asians a URM boost.
^probably true, but then keep in mind that that's what every Asian in the country who wants to go to an elite school is thinking.

[phonyreal98]

lol quite true, if we weren't so focused on our damned rubik's cubes.

I'm the only asian person that I know personally that's applying to Notre Dame. I think a lot of the asian people that I know that probably could get in may be turned off by the catholic school stigma. I personally don't mind it that much, seeing as I'm Catholic.

[bus52]

Have you e-mailed your rep and asked if you should apply EA?

Also, ask if you should send SAT Subject Tests. My s scores were good, but lower than your 2 best, and he was advised to send them.

[Mombot]

DON"T mention depression!!!!

Are you a good marching band recruit?

Are you first generation college? Lots of DD's classmates are filipino/first gen.

Forget about ethnicity--focus on the ND mission as THE college for the sons and daughters of Catholic immigrants. DD's dorm has lots of daughters of immigrants from Catholic countries: Ireland, Phillippines, Viet Nam, Mexico, etc.

[TheKid4740]

Marching band doesn't recruit. That won't factor in.

[phonyreal98]

Thanks for the advice Mombot!

Not planning to mention depression.

I'm not first generation college.

My mom moved to the US at age 7-8, so I am the son of an immigrant, albeit one that spent most of her childhood in the US.

Also, when emailing my rep, how should I ask without coming off like I'm asking if I'll be admitted? Should I give the rep a quick rundown of gpa, class rank, ACT/SAT scores, and maybe the big extracurriculars, and then ask something like "From your experience, would I be a competitive applicant in the EA pool, or do you think my application could be enhanced by an extra two months of work, and would I be more competitive in the RD pool?"

[Tim_ND08]

Hey phoney

Your stats look great.

Umm... emailing the rep:

Well, Id introduce yourself first and then just ask what you need answered! You worded it fine. I told my rep my ACT/SAT scroes along with my GPA and he recommended that I try to take teh SAT one more time and apply RD. SO thats what Im doing, and you will only discover whats best for you when you ask your rep. GOOD luck

[bus52]

RE: the rep e-mail:

The e-mail my S sent was just as Tim_ND08 stated. Short-with the basic stats and a quick sentence about ECs. Don't worry about what the Rep will think. They want to help you and will offer advice on what is best in your situation.

Write the essay of your life and I think you'll have it! The musical yet partially deaf direction is intriguing to me.

Good Luck.

[AC419]

I met my rep in person, and asked her and she told me to retake the SAT and apply regular.

and i sent her a followup email saying thanks.

[phonyreal98]

I'm probably not going to have a chance to meet my rep in person until I go up to visit ND, which won't be until after I've applied...:-/