Chance?

Colleges & Universities Pomona College
1

<p>sorry…another chances thread, but i really love Pomona College, and wanted to know if it would be a reach for me or not.</p>

<p>Korean Girl from Southern California
Currently a junior in high school.</p>

<p>4.0 Unweighted GPA</p>

<p>SAT: 2130 (CR: 740, M:710, W: 680)
it was my first time, and i will probably be taking it again.</p>

<p>SAT II: 790 Math IIC
(will be taking US history and Chem in June…expecting 750+…hopefully, lol)</p>

<p>Took Human Geography AP last year (got a 5)
am currently taking Chem AP and Calculus AB/AP
am planning to take Econ AP, Calculus BC/AP, English AP next year</p>

<p>-Part of the National Distinguished School Panel (9th grade). I was one of 2 freshmen chosen representing our entire school.
-Was chosen again the next year (one of 2 sophmores) for a Student Panel for WASC (practically the same thing…representing our school)
-Key Club Cabinet Leader (running for officer)
-member of Simple Faith (3 years)
-nominated by a teacher to attend NYLF: Defense, Intelligence, and Diplomacy (couldn’t go for personal reasons)
-nominated by a teacher to attend NYLC (will be attending in the summer)
-Will volunteer at my Dad’s hospital this summer</p>

<p>i know my extracurriculars aren’t very strong compared to other people.
but what do guys think? do i have a chance?</p>

<p>thanks for reading this! input would be great!</p>

2

<p>Hey, perfectly_flawed. You’re a junior, so you’ve still got some time. What’s your weighted gpa? Are you taking a tough course schedule in terms of APs? It seems like Pomona looks at things other than numbers - while your numbers are within range (a bit low on SAT), your personality doesn’t stand out. You should really find something you enjoy, and get involved. All of your extracurriculars appear very surface-level. Overall, I’d say that Pomona is a reach for you, but your situation can definately be improved.</p>

3

<p>I agree with DebateChic:</p>

<p>a) Are you taking the most rigorous courseload offered? Depends on the school, at my IB School it is 13+ IB Classes

  • Unfortunately this could distort your GPA…</p>

<p>b) Your SAT’s are average (good to me though), lets change the wording to that… they are in Pomona’s range.</p>

<p>c) Your EC’s mean nothing to me. I’m sorry and I’m sure this National School Panel is impressive, but it probably took 3 hours max. Or was it something you invested your time into? I’ve been chosen for many state and local committees as well…</p>

<p>d) Please forget NYLF and NYLC. My experience has been that they are marginal at best and are not a true honor. However there are other things that are such as TASP, I’m going to DC for a National Conference (all-expense paid). Generally when you have to pay for something, it isn’t an honor. Sorry if i come off like a jerk…you can still work on EC’s!</p>

<p>e) On a lighter note: Simple Faith and Key Club are worth something, but do not say anything about who you are as a person.</p>

<p>If you want examples of things I have done I can post them/PM them to you… but i would suggest persuing things that you enjoy! It sounds like you might be interested in medicine? Thought of doing research?</p>

<p>And finally, you need leadership! lots of it! Don’t turn into a wall flower, paint yourself as a vibrant applicant needing to be admitted to change the college for the better. If i were an Adcom i would wonder how you are different from the 5,000 applications we get and how you would contribute to campus life.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>

4

<p>thank you all for your input!
i really do appreciate it all!
hearing that 2130 is low confirms my decision to take it again!</p>

<p>i really want to do research (because i am interested in pre-med), but i have no idea on how to start.
do you guys have any advice? </p>

<p>i am taking a hard courseload for my school, but it is not the hardest (IB would be the hardest). but i am taking the maximum number of APs that we are allowed to take for each year.</p>

<p>i think the problem with me is that i haven’t found anything that i have a true PASSION for. of course that are a few things that i like doing, but not anything i am obsessed over. the only thing close to it is sticker collecting, but that isn’t really anything…
at least i a couple more months to figure it out…</p>

<p>skyhawkk08, if you could post what you have done would be awesome!</p>

<p>thank you all!</p>

<p>–oh yea, how do you figure out your weighted gpa (sorry, if that is a really stupid question)</p>

5

<p>I’m a junior, going to competitive IB school in Oregon (public)</p>

<p>SCHOOL STATS:
GPA - 3.99 unweighted/ 4.2 weighted (all As in AP US last year)

  • I am an IB Diploma student taking IB Enlgish, Bio, Psychology
    (HL) and French, Calculus, Business (SL)
  • this tri i got a 4.8, first b in IB Calculus
    but I’m shooting for an A this tri…
  • major: Government
  • taking Most rigorous courses available!</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian
Socio-Economic Status: Middle-Class</p>

<p>Awards:
-Scholar of the Month

  • NHS fundraiser, NHS Prez. next year
  • Honor Roll
  • Duke of Spirit
  • Coach’s Award
  • Going to get Letter of Rec. from Mayor, possibly Congressmen.</p>

<p>Extracirriculars:
-Track (3 years) - Varsity Letter
-Cross Country (3 years) - Captain, Varsity, Prestigous Coach’s Award for Leadership and excellence on the team, 1 per year
-Mayors Youth Advisory Board (2 years) - Co-Chair, going to Washington DC for a National Conference on it
-Uganda Club (3 years) - Organized fast for malaria, Prez next year
raised $20,000 this year for our Sister School

  • Diversity Club - went to Diversity Summit, VP next year
  • Freshman Treasurer
  • Varsity Ultimate Frisbee - starting defender, captain next year
  • FCA - Prez this year and next year. Founder last year</p>

<p>Running - 17:32 5k PR. I could run for Pomona, Whitman, Amherst?</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:

  • 190 Hours at Beaverton Library helping Children
  • 40 Hours working at Senior Center
  • IB Executive Committee, organized/made advertising
    campaign for IB Iron Chef fundraiser
  • Student Staff Action Council</p>

<p>Internship: Internship w/ Congressman or EPA</p>

<p>Hobbies: Photography, Cooking</p>

<p>Hook: Planning an event w/ a local running company owner to give 100 pairs of shoes to lower income children in Portland who cannot afford shoes. By end of Senior year i want to give 250 pairs of shoes through donations of corporations etc</p>

<ul>
<li>Getting a $5,000 regional grant for Recycling in my school</li>
</ul>

<p>ACT: 30
SAT II: took US History 660 :confused: (not going to submit)
APUSH Test: 4</p>

<ul>
<li>Have gotten 4 offers to write letters of rec. should be excellent.
Essays will be solid… I’m starting in the summer </li>
</ul>

<p>Colleges: My opinion

  • Pomona (ED) - slight reach</p>

<p>perfectly_flawed, no one is perfect (despite what people on this board make you believe). I suppose that “Share the Sole” shows my passion for helping people/running and my internship reenforces my interest in Public Policy. Another thing that helps me is that I’m an athlete and plan on running for Pomona. I’m also planning on submitting my extended essay (on the Psychology of Leadership) and am doing some research/a study on psychology this summer. Despite all this i still suck at Standardized testing :/</p>

6

<p>Also, just do what you enjoy and makes you happy! This will come out in your essay and interview…</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: It depends on your school, I think Pomona recalculates it anyways…but for us, if you take an AP/IB Class an A = 5.0, B=4.0 etc. So next year i could get a 5.2 Weighted GPA since I will have 6 IB Classes in a schedule meant for 5…if i don’t die.</p>

7

<p>wow…
aren’t you a busy boy (at least i am assuming you are a boy)! how do you have time to sleep?! lol</p>

<p>well, thanks for posting that! it gives me a really good perspective of what i would have to do…i have a lot of work ahead of me!</p>

<p>just want to say that i really do admire all your hard work. keep it up!
i’m am definately going to try my hardest to find something i enjoy and pursue it with a passion!</p>

<p>wish me luck!</p>

8

<p>good luck, perfectly flawed! I know Pomona is a very competitive school. Hell, I got 2 C’s in my first semester of Jr. year, and after that, I lost a lot of hope. I am in my 2nd semester of my year, but don’t let anything deter my hopes. LACs do value the numbers. But remeber, they are LACs. So personality counts as a big part of the application. I am probably thinking of EDing, but I am going to have wayy harder time than you :[. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>thanks kevster! good luck to you too!</p>

<p>i know pomona is a really big reach for me (and for awhile, i actually told myself to not even consider it, since i knew i wouldn’t make it), but since i have been keeping my hopes up, a lot of good things have been coming my way.</p>

<p>i was personally asked by the key cub president to run as secretary (i know, i know, it’s not “president”, but i would probably be a better secretary than president anyways)…and i also found a great internship program working in my city government!</p>

<p>so definately…don’t lose hope! i hope things are going well for you too!
and you never know, maybe we’ll both end up making it to Pomona! :)</p>