Xiata

I really can’t believe I’m doing this….

Race/Religion: Jewish
Location: Washington State
Gender: F

Test scores:
GPA: 3.7 (upward trend: 9—3.5/3.6; 10—3.4/3.85; 11: 3.89/3.9)
School does not weight.
Rank: I’ll know October of senior year. I’m sure I’m in the top third at least, though.
PSAT: 186
SAT: 2050 (710CW, 640M, 700W, 12 Essay) (2nd time)
ACT: 29 (32 Reading, 30 Writing, 9 Essay, 26 Math, 29 Science) (2nd time)
SATII: Lit—630 (retaking in fall, hoping for 700), US History—690, taking Math II (hoping for 650) and Chinese (700?) in the fall.
AP: APUSH (I don’t predict, I’m scared of jinxes :P), taking 6-7 next year

Classes and stuff:
By graduation I’ll have: (AP/Honors in parentheses)
4 years Chinese (1 AP)
5 years math (Calculus and AP Stat)
6 years English (three honors, two APs and Honors Creative Writing)
4 years Social Studies (Honors WH, APUSH, “Honors Social Studies”)
4 years science (AP Envi Sci)

Awards: A few art and writing awards through my synagogue and other local art/writing competitions. Nothing really notable.

Extra curriculars: (I’ll go into detail if anyone wants) Varsity swim team (9, 10, 11, 12), SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) (9, 10, 11, 12), Hebrew High (9, 10, 11, 12), Varsity water polo (9, 10, 11, 12), club water polo (past 6 years), club swim team (past 8 years), skiing (past 9 years)

Work experience: Lifeguard (4 years), assistant water polo coach (2 years), swim instructor (4 years), junior assistant swim coach (2 years), babysitting, tutoring [AKA I have a part time job during the school year and work 40 hours a week during the summer]

Volunteering: Right now I am a Chinese teacher at an immersion Chinese camp for 5 year olds (100 hours), SAVE, RESPECT (see leadership), DARE (see leadership)

Leadership: Co-captain of water polo team next year, RESPECT (Anti-violence group, specifically wife beating etc) leader, DARE representative

Essays: Let’s just say I don’t have to worry about a good topic or writing them. I’ve got 'em covered.

Note: I’ll send a portfolio app with creative writing and art samples, too.

The College List: Lewis and Clark College, University of British Columbia, University of Hawaii (I’d play water polo), University of Washington (legacy), Whitman, University of Chicago (legacy), Cornell, Brandeis University, UCLA (water polo maybe sort of kind of has a slim possibility that I may play on the team but don’t count on it. Also, two generation legacy)

Feel free to suggest any other colleges, please. I’ve exhausted almost every college in Washington and Oregon, though.

I'm a newbie, but I'll chance back if you leave a link.
Thank you!

sarah!

Cornell will probably be your one school that will be hard to get into, because your GPA isn't stellar. The other tough schools you are a legacy at, and those help! You have a crazy lot of extracurriculars, so I think you will be good at the rest!

Chances?

Xiata

thanks.

fhollis218

Your GPA and SATs aren't anything stand-outish, but they're not bad by a long shot. ECs are solid...it's pretty easy to see what you're passionate about.

Cornell might give you some trouble, but with all your ECs (and legacy status) the others are at most low reaches, starting with UChicago.

nooob

what city do you live in?
how badly do you want to play waterpolo in college? Is intramurals or DIII good enough?
do you need any financial aid?
I think you'll get into most of your schools. Definitely pick UW or UH though, don't sacrifice education to pursue sports.
Your toughest schools are obviously UChicago, Cornell, UCLA , maybe brandeis.
UCLA doesn't look at freshmen grades but they also don't look at legacy. Keep talking to the coach there and tell them you're interested. What's your UC GPA? There's no EA or ED so just apply regular. I'd also suggest taking a look at UCSD. Great academics, wonderful weather, campus, students, and they could probably use you on the waterpolo team.
For Uchicago, they have Early Action, and although I'd say it's a low-reach, definitely apply EA and write CREATIVE UNIQUE essays. Their prompts are known to be really new and creative, and they definitely expect the same in the essays they read.
For Cornell, if you really want to go there, apply Early Decision. It'll be tough, depending on which school you apply to, but ED helps a lot, especially if you try and talk to their waterpolo coach too. I'm pretty sure you can apply Cornell ED and Chicago EA without any problems.

stevedamann

very strong EC, but try raising your SAT scores. aim for 700 on each category. colleges seem to love that..
and try to raise your ACT scores if you have time.
you should be fine for most of the colleges. cornell would be a mid reach?
legacy would help for uni of chicago (great school)

chance me back? :P
help with chances?? I'll return the favor

swanceva

Cornell is a reach for you, but I think UChicago is possible, especially considering legacy. Brandeis--probable. If you can, try to brush up SAT I score, and you'll do great! Plus, upward trend in GPA is a good thing, even if it is not as high as that of other people who might be going to those schools.

swim2daend

As everyone said, Cornell is a reach, but UChicago is not at all impossible. Def try to brush your SAT score or maybe try to retake the ACT. Your math was a bit low there and i think that you could def increase it!!

substratedesign

Your ECs and leadership are remarkable, I think the only thing holding you back would be your standardized test scores for Cornell and UChicago. I'm pretty sure you'll get into the rest. Good luck!

Xiata

Thanks.
I live in the Seattle metro area.
I'm open to water polo either way, it's a bonus if there is a team, if there's not I'm not going to let it cross off all hopes.
I need financial aid but won't get it, but I'll take out loans. (Price isn't an issue too much then, I guess...)
Unfortunately, those SAT scores are final. I don't have any time to retake them, but I am going to retake the ACT. My math scores suck, but I'm going to get the most recent test (the above is superscored, I got a 710CR, 700W and 630M this time) because my score was lower than March even though I didn't finish the test back then, but did in June.
My counselor told me to include a note about improvement (in addition to the essay)--would that help?
I'll go chance everyone else now.

Harvard1009

Your in everywhere but cornell could be a low reach/high match but I think with a good essay they can be persuaded, GL

Chance Me? (I WILL CHANCE BACK)

Xiata

Thanks.
I'm going to go google it, but what is a UC GPA?