White Female New York; Upper Class
Large public school; poor performance. A handful of Harvard acceptances over the years, one recruited Princeton athlete, one recruited Stanford athlete, about 3 Cornell acceptances a year.
Stats
99.5 GPA weighted, 96.1 unweighted (no maximum GPA; honors weighted 1.05 and AP 1.1)
Ranked 16/575
My GPA- based stats are an interesting case. I was very unmotivated 8th grade (took highschool courses and received poor grades) and freshman year, so I’m not where I’d like to be. That being said, past two years I have had either the highest GPA of my class or the at least top third highest (8th grade-92, 9th grade-99, 10th grade-103.5, 11th grade-106.5 (pretty much unweighted 99.8))
I expect to graduate with a 102 weighted GPA and probably ranked 8/9th.
1560 SAT (770 eng/790 math)
First SAT was a 1510 if it matters; current score was second attempt and school record
760 World History
650 Chemistry (taken unprepared after Honors chem, didn’t realize Honors did not cover 5 topics; will either retake or not send)
Planned: Bio and Math 2 (will most likely be doing well and sending these, I’m pretty good at standardized testing)
Classes
(h=honors)
8th Grade (GPA: 92): Algebra, Earth Science, Spanish, Studio Art (all highschool classes);
9th Grade (GPA: 99): English H, Geometry H, Global History H, Living Environment H, Spanish, Law and Legal System, Web-Design/Java, Sports Marketing,
10th Grade (GPA: 104): Algebra 2 H, AP Comp Sci A, AP Seminar, AP World History, Chemistry H, English H, Spanish,
11th Grade (GPA: 107): Advanced Data Structures (Comp Sci), AP Bio, AP Stats; Precalc H, AP Lang, AP Research, AP USH, Corporate Class;
12 Grade: AP Physics, AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Calc BC, AP Comp Sci, Health;
Most rigorous courseload except for science sophomore year (“promising” students in middle school were placed into Honors Chem freshmen year and AP Chem soph year; I was placed into Living Environment Honors freshmen year and Honors Chem soph year)
To be quite frank aside from that one class, I have taken on the most challenging courseload possible and will be making up for it senior by doubling up AP Physics and AP Chem. I doubt course rigor is an issue.
AP Scores- Global (5), AP Seminar (4), AP Computer Science A (4) (no one passes this and I was one like one of 5 people to do so last year)
To be taken this year + predicted scores- AP USH (5), AP Bio (4/5), AP Stats (5), AP Lang (hard to predict, 4), AP Research (hard to predict, 3/4)
Next year: Calc BC, Physics, Chem, Lit, Gov, Comp Sci Principles
ECs
Robotics: Secondary software leader (not main code, I do like lights + vision); Outreach (“chairmans”) Leader + Team Presenter (host STEMinars for Girls, volunteer at coding clubs at middle school, host international teams); awards detailed below;
Model United Nations: basic MUN stuff, I chair so I suppose that’s leadership;
Academic Team: JV Captain; next year Varsity Captain, we’re trash but it’s fun;
Science Olympiads: Team started this year; founding member; at our first comp was one of two partnerships to medal. No leadership this year; may be president next year. This year’s vice president is running for president, but it’s based on vote and I have underclassmen popularity.
Corporate Club/Class: Club that’s also a class grade for some reason; host multiple events with local small businesses; shadowed at local hospital and won $3000 award in resulting competition (I wasn’t an original team presenter but on the day of the presentation no one really knew what they were doing so I learned the presentation + stepped in + am credited with saving the saving the team and securing the bag; I’m considered integral to team’s success); will be getting neurology internship through club;
PTSA: School’s PTA but with students involved; community service;
Honors Societies;
Will possibly be teaching local girl scouts about computer science (details in awards section);
Rowing: Most of my extracurriculars end in spring so I joined a rowing club; major time commitment (1 hour away and 2.5 hour practice); since I’m older + just started I am not really competitive for recruitment (that being said, same team is very competitive and had a girl my height join the same time last year and end up getting recruited so who knows); may do over summer;
Awards:
NCWIT Rising Star: in recognition of being female and active with computer science; pretty low-level but allows for me to run program with local organizations teaching younger girls compsci; will probably teach local girl scout troop;
(don’t know if team awards count but I was very involved with this) Regional FIRST Robotics Engineering Inspiration + Chairmans Award: Both in recognition of community outreach/STEM initiatives; team lead on this + Chairmans is most prestigious robotics award;
9th in Regional Science Olympiads for Anatomy and Physiology: I know this isn’t that impressive but it was our team’s first year;
Summer:
Freshmen: One of two students selected for camp under federal judge to learn about legal system;
Sophomore: Community College class;
Junior Year: TBD.
I’m waiting to hear back from a national lab research opportunity. My school has a good history with placement + I know comparable students who have gotten in; I have a very solid chance. However, it’s not known to be outrageously prestigious and I honestly don’t know if I want to do it if I get in.
My rowing team also has 5 hour practices every day. I really like the team + sport, plus the coach has indicated if I really put in the work over the summer, I could maybe get some college prospects. I will probably go with rowing, not even because of college but because I really enjoy it.
Written
LORs:
Humanities:
I am the first student my APUSH teacher has ever had to maintain a 100 average year round. We joke a lot, and I am acknowledged as a class leader;
Science:
TBD. I have had my Bio teacher for 3 years for various classes (Seminar, Research, and Bio), and have done well. However, I am not particularly exceptional. My Honors Chem teacher will most likely be my AP Chem teacher, and he really likes me (and my boyfriend was one of his favorite students and he’s really happy we’re dating which is really weird but shrug), but he’s also a school favorite/ may be swamped/ I may not have him for AP Chem
Looking at / for
I will probably ED to Cornell.
My second choice would be Dartmouth.
I will likely be applying to several t20’s.
However, I am also looking for safeties.
I greatly prefer rural areas; I really love Northern Forests, the Pacific NorthWest and the Colorado region. Any school with a focus on the outdoors is really appealing to me. I really like UC Boulder, and am definitely looking for similar schools!
I will definitely be applying to my state schools. My counselor has nominated me for RPI’s “The Medal” (apparently meant for most promising math/science student in each class), however, I know RPI is having some issues currently.
Misc
The class above mine’s admission season was really… weird. It was the strongest class the school’s ever had (the top five students all had a higher GPA than the past several valedictorians, many had national awards, national merit, regional leadership positions, prestigious summer programs, a TON of research, basically CC’s wet dream), but surprisingly, most did NOT do well. A couple dark horses got Cornell ( no hooks; 2 while males +1 Asian).
I’m a very similar applicant to those who got into Cornell, however, many other similar and better students got rejected. Only one applied ED, however, and he got in.
Not to be overconfident but I’m pretty well situated compared to my peers.
Am looking to be psychiatrist so probably either a Bio or Psych major (leaning towards Bio).
Thanks for reading!