christiano241525

First post on collegeconfidential!!! Please chance me!

I'm a white male senior in Alabama. I attend a very competitive public high school ranked second in the state: Vestavia Hills High School.

Applying to:
Wake Forest
Washington & Lee
Emory
Tulane
United States Military Academy (application completed here, including CFA test)
University of Alabama Honors College (Fellows Program Experience)

Academics

GPA: 4.36 weighted (3.8 unweighted thus far)
Class Rank: 25/454 (top 5.5%)
ACT*: 30 with 9 writing (1 question away from 31!)
SAT*: 1997 (bombed reading)
*don’t worry: I’m retaking both ACT and SAT in October/November of this year
To earn Diploma with Advanced Academic Endorsement (with a total of 9 AP Classes Overall and 6 Honors Courses taken over 4 years)

Advanced Placement Program Exam results:
o AP English Language & Composition (Score: 5 – May 2012)
o AP US History (Score: 5 – May 2012)
o AP Chemistry (Score: 3 – May 2012)
o AP World History (Score: 3 – May 2010)

Senior Schedule:
o AP Calculus AB
o AP English Literature
o AP Microeconomics
o AP Government (We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution - National Debate Team)
o AP German Language
o Human Anatomy/Physiology

Awards/Honors

• Eagle Scout
• National Honor Society member
• National German Honor Society member
• Mu Alpha Theta member
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award – Silver, May 2012 (175 document hours of service in a year)
• Scholar-Athlete for The Birmingham News – September 2012, nominated for recognition by Vestavia Hills High School
• AP Scholar with Honor, September 2012 (in process – pending final confirmation)

Extracurricular Activities

o Scouting
-Eagle Scout, 200+ service hours for service project (refurbishing a dilapidated nature trail)
-Leadership Positions: Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quartermaster
o 6A (largest school) Division Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
-Team Captain for Senior Year (unofficial but according to coach)
-Total of 6 Varsity Letters earned (9 expected with senior year included); XC team placed 4th in 2009, 8th in 2010, and 4th in 2011 in the elite AHSAA 6A State meet
- Ranked top 30 in the state for 5k time of 16:59; mile time: 4:41
o Key Club
-Secretary, lots of service projects
-member for 2 years
o FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) member
o Church Involvement:
-Went on multiple missions trips to Fairfield, AL where I tutored kids in math and English, and led a Vacation Bible School program
-Was a Team Leader during trip; trip counted as 168 service hours (I went on two)
-Participated in Daniel Cason’s Ministry (feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving) and tornado relief work in 2011
o Debate- “We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution”
-Competitive debate program that studies the Constitution
-We’re expected to place in the top 10 nationally in the national competition (extremely competitive)
o Work Experience
-minimal experience due to sports/academics: Nevertheless, I was a pet-sitter for a few weeks during the summer. Got paid $$$.


Computer Skills/Languages/Other Interests

Computer Skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); Windows XP/Vista
Languages: German (functional)
Music: Enjoy playing the piano (since age 6 to present)
Travel: Have lived & studied in London, England (2002 – 2008) and been able to travel throughout much of Europe (Norway to the Canary Islands……from Portugal to Cyprus)
Major Interests: Business, Law, or maybe Business Law!

Teacher Recommendations-should be quite good (both teachers know and like me)
Essay-I’m not a shabby writer. I’ll be writing about my experience living in London (attended The American School of London) and how I’d add diversity to the campus.


Any comments, advice, and/or chances would be greatly appreciated!

christiano241525

Any thoughts?

mmaatt

I think you're probably very competitive for all of those schools. Your ACT/SAT scores are kinda low, but I think they're still high enough that other aspects of your app make up for them. Have you taken any subject tests? Right now I'd say you're most likely in at W&L and Wake and stand a good chance at Emory.

christiano241525

Thanks! I haven't taken any subject tests, and I don't plan to (should I?). I am retaking both ACT (34 E 30 M 30 R 27 S) and SAT (710 w 680 m 580 cr), so hopefully I can gain a few points there. Especially, the critical reading for the SAT. Haha--I can get a 5 on the AP lang exam, but bomb cr on the SAT. How much of a difference would 1 point or 2 points on the ACT make?

christiano241525

bumpppppp bummmpp

CE527M

Pretty hard to say for West Point--everyone`s got a slim chance there. IMHO, you should ask about it on serviceacademyforums.com...forum for those interested in SA`s.

christiano241525

Talked to regional admissions Major; he says I'm competitive and have a "solid file"--though I can't get my hopes up. CFA scores:

62 ft bball
18 pull ups (max)
9.1 shuttle run
71 sit ups
75 push ups (max)
5:27 mile (5:20 is max)

Other than West Point, how do I look? Is Emory worth applying to? Are the SAT II subject tests recommended for the above schools?

SerenityJade

If you get better SAT/ACT scores, you'd have a good shot at Wash & Lee.

And good luck with We The People. I'd wish to see you there but the chances of anybody in Va beating Maggie Walker Governor's School at states is slim to none. The kids on their team take an entire class devoted to that competition. It's psycho crazy. And you already have to be crazy smart (and live in the right county) to get into Maggie Walker.

mmaatt

yeah. a lot of schools require or "strongly recommend" them

christiano241525

bumppppppppppppp

christiano241525

New SAT: CR: 730 M: 750 W: 780 comp: 2260

New ACT superscored= 32...

Also: My cross country team is 1 in State 6a in Alabama. Adds depth to cross country sport.

So. How competitive do I look? Does this new SAT score put me in range of Northwestern, UVA, or U of Chicago?? I'd be happy to lend my opinion to anyone willing to lend me some perspective.

NYU2013

Your new SAT makes Northwestern, UChicago or UVA possible.

christiano241525

Do yall think I would earn significant merit scholarship $$$ @ Wake??

yaupon

Wake has very little merit money available. Of the schools on your list, Tulane has a reputation for being generous with merit scholarships. Your recent SAT improves your chance at W&L's Johnson scholarship, assuming you applied by the Dec. 1 deadline.

christiano241525

Resume Updates:
-We The People team earned 1st @ Districts and State
-Birmingham News Scholar-Athlete of the Week
-Ranked top 10 for 6a 2 mile (earned 2 awards for Cross Country season)
-Good grades 1st semester

Admissions Updates:
West Point
Have 3 noms and am triple qualified. Visiting this week. Just waiting now.

Bama University Fellows Experience
Made finalist status. Okay does anybody have tips for the fellows finalist weekend? I need to do REALLY well because competition is fierce. Insight, tips, advice?!?