rathrbswimmin927

I am a junior at a public school which presides in the second highest ranked district in CA.

GPA: 3.89 UW/ 3.98 W

SAT: 2120 (700 CR, 660 M, 760 W)

-have not taken SAT IIs

ACT: 32

AP: Euro 5, US ~4/5

-will be taking AP Comp. Government, AP Stat, Honors French, AP English next year

EC: 2 years JV Water Polo; 2 years Varsity Water Polo
3 years JV Swimming (our varsity team was the state champion last year); 1 year Varsity Swimming

9 years of playing trumpet; 4 years in school symphonic band, 3 years in school jazz band, intermittent participation in school pepband; Performed at community events; 4-year class represantive on student band council

Active participation in church; Urban ministry projects; Freshman year spring break Mexico trip; Summer after sophomore year - 2 weeklong volunteer work at a middleschool camp in Washington

Summers after Freshman/Sophomore year: worked extensively (5hrs/day) at rec swim club coaching young swimmers; Head coach of 3-5 year old program (My school counselor is good friends with the mother of one of the swimmers = golden snapshot of my coaching work in letter of rec); Cleaned pool (4 hrs/week, 3 years)

** Taking a summer course in Modern Standard Arabic this summer (3 hrs/day, 3 months); Equates to a year-long college course. I traveled to Egypt in 5th grade and I have a unique interest in the Middle East which surpasses the job opportunities provided by the Justice Dept. This would be the topic of an application essay.

Schools:

Tufts
UT-Austin
Middlebury
Macalaster
Princeton - (don't bother chancing, they arguably have the best Near East studies in the nation)
UChicago
Stanford
Duke

excelblue

Tufts - likely
UT-Austin - likely
Middlebury - likely
Macalaster - likely
Princeton - high reach
UChicago - match
Stanford - high reach
Duke - match

Seems like you have a solid list. You seem to be fairly strong and well-rounded. Overall impressive, but nothing that truly stands out.

rathrbswimmin927

thanks. anybody else?

simpson98

Well, I don't think that Tufts and Middlebury are 'likely's', don't get me wrong, you have a decent shot at them, and are probably above the average applicant, but they're still extremely competitive schools, I'd say that they're reasonable reaches, perhaps UChicago as well.

simpson98

Oh, and add Duke to that list above, again you have some great stats, but those schools aren't too far below ivy's, so I don't think that they're match-worthy

rathrbswimmin927

does anybody think I could play the arabic card at some of these selective schools? is that a unique enough interest to help me in admissions?