Chance Me for Fall 2016

Looking to apply to University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, New York University, Barnard College, and one of the City Universities of New York.

GPA: 4.09
ACT: 28 (Low, I know, but Math is what has been bringing me down and I am getting tutoring and studying over the summer)
Class Rank: 2/80(ish?)
High School Type: Public, very small, in very small town
Income Bracket: <80,000 (Parents are divorced but have joint custody; I’m going to need very generous financial aid)
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Prospective Major: Political Science (Potentially, a minor or double major with English)

AP/Honors/College Classes
Junior Year: AP English Comp., AP Biology, Honors Computer Repair
Summer 2015: College Algebra (taking at local community college)
Senior Year: AP English Lit., Honors Anatomy, American Government (taking at local community college for fall semester), American History(taking at local community college)

My high school is very small, only about three hundred students total, so I am really taking the most rigorous courses that I can.They do not offer a lot of AP/Honors classes, and you can only begin taking them your junior year, so thats why I am taking classes at the local community college.

Extra Curricular
Marching/Concert Band (9,10)
Color/Winter Guard (10)
Quiz Bowl (9,10,11,12; Team Captain for 11,12)
Show Choir (11,12; Choreographer for 11,12)
Digital Media (11,12)
Business Professionals of America(11)
National Honor Society (10,11,12)
Varsity Cheerleader (12)
Student Council (Vice President of Assembly)
Take dance classes outside of school (9,10,11,12)

After attending Girls State this summer, I am very interested in starting a political club at my school, as we have nothing like it and it is something I am super passionate about.

Honors/Awards
Member of National Honor Society (10,11,12)
Kiwanis Club “Sophomore of the Year”
First Place Scorer in the county for Academic Team (2014-2015)
Participated in Curriculum Contests (9,10)
1st Place in American Lit. at Regional Curriculum Contest (2015)
2nd place in American Lit. at State Curriculum Contest (2015)
Oklahoma Girls State Delegate (2015)
Superintendent’s Honor Roll (9,10,11)

Volunteerism
Pianist every Sunday at my church
Various projects with BPA
Over 40 hours of volunteering with Tech Crew for Digital Media

I know that a lot of these schools are reach schools, so if you could give me any advice on how to beef up my resume that would be great! I want to go to law school after I graduate college and pursue a career in law and politics. So, I want to attend a university that has a strong political science department and strong opportunities for internships and networking. I would also like for the campus to very politically active as that is something I am passionate about, and am unfortunately not able to really participate in at my high school. Barnard has been my absolute dream school since freshman year so if anyone could give me any tips about applying and getting in that would be great as well. Also, please recommend me any other schools that you think might be a good match. Looking and researching tons of colleges has made me feel a little overwhelmed! Thanks!

Advice to you: Retake the ACT. Even going from a 28 to a 30 or so could make a big difference. As of right now, U of Chicago and Notre Dame seem like a bit of a reach, but the other schools are probably matches. If you want to stand out, do an internship or something over the summer in law or political science.

Thanks for the advice! I do plan on taking the ACT in September and December for sure. Hopefully my tutoring over the summer and taking College Algebra will help. Math is really what bogs me down. I just don’t have a math brain. LOL. I’m waiting on results from this past June ACT, so hopefully my studying has paid off. I am looking at trying to page at my State’s Capitol so hopefully that works out as well. Thank you again!