Decision: Rejected
Objective
SAT I (breakdown): 1940 (670R/660M/610W), didn’t send to any schools that didn’t require it (used ACT+W)
ACT (breakdown): 33C (30M/35R/35S/34E/8W)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 650 Physics (ouch)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95 U/W, 4.23W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/237
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geography (4), Biology (4), Psychology (5), Calc AB (3), English Lang (3), APUSH (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus BC, AP Music Theory, AP Statistics, AP Physics C: Mech, AP English Lit, AP Euro
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): QuestBridge Finalist, QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, NCFL Qualified (top 6 in state)
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Speech/Debate, National Beta Club (4 years, Senior Representative and Vice President), National Honor Society, Science Club, Guitar, Piano
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: Over 200 hrs from various projects
Summer Activities: Freelance programming, volunteering
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App- My essay is based around my love of technology/computers (what I’m most passionate about), but it’s not the best thing I’ve ever written (7)
College Essays- I spent a lot of time on these (9)
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: Physics Teacher (9) - Knows me very well and how much I am dedicated to my education
Teacher Rec #2: Psychology Teacher (8) - I was one of the best students in his psych class
Counselor Rec: I have not spent a lot of time with my counselor, but she is known to write excellent recommendations. She knows of the hardships I have faced and how I have overcame them. (9/10)
Additional Rec: None
Interview: N/A
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Computer Sci
State (if domestic applicant): KY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Med/Large Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Below 30,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First gen, economic/family hardship
Reflection
Strengths: I have taken the toughest course load possible at my HS, and I am also the valedictorian. My ECs show that I am well rounded.
Weaknesses: I have not done anything extraordinary in any of my ECs, and my test scores are not the strongest although I did not have to send my inadequate SAT score to any college that didn’t require it.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Test scores aren’t strong for a school of this caliber, no science specific achievements/awards
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: nowhere but state schools
Waitlisted: Duke, Northwestern, UChicago, Vanderbilt
Rejected: Caltech, MIT, Swarthmore
General Comments: Pretty bummed that I haven’t gotten in anywhere. Not quite sure how any of those waitlists are going to turn out. Just waiting on the Ivies now.
Congratulations to everyone that got in!