Chances at Cockrell

<p>So I come from a very good private high school out of state, and I want to be admitted into Cockrell for PE for 2013-2014 (I’m going to be a senior next year). Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 unweighted, 3.8 weighted
12th grade- AP Calc AB, AP Language, AP Physics, Economics (Possibly Ap Gov), No language this year, Intermediate guitar II and theology classes (It’s a catholic school).
11th Grade- Trig/Pre Calc, AP European History (got a 3), Latin Vergil, AP Chemistry (5), AP Chemistry Lab, American Experience, Study Hall and theology classes
10th Grade Algebra II, Composition, Pre-AP Chemistry, US History III/IV, Latin II, Intermediate Guitar, and theology classes
9th Grade- Psh I forgot</p>

<p>Extracurriculars-
Regular Member of Student Council, Kairos (Christian Retreat- participant one year and leader the next), Varsity Cross Country (11th and 12th Grade - State championship participant), Varsity Track (11th and probably 12th Grade), Augustian Youth Ministry (Member where we participate in school-ran mission trips to places affected by natural disasters, etc.), Debate and speech, Latin Club, Rugby (Played lock and got my butt kicked), Ultimate Frisbee (Participated in the first year of the club where it was student lead and will be leading it next year), and Guitar Club (Lead player in instrumental concerts). </p>

<p>Employment:
Lifetime Fitness- I currently work as a Lifeguard (lifeguarding, obviously, apply first aid, and general maintenance), a swim-instructor and a supervisor.
Wedgewood Pool- a dinky little neighborhood pool where I lifeguard (2nd year) and run occasionaly. </p>

<p>Community Service:
Routine Food Bank volunteer and Little Lighthouse volunteer (a school for people with hendicaps such as austim and down syndrome- I participated in a monthlong project where I would come daily and volunteer). </p>

<p>Miscellaneous:
Been playing guitar for the past 5 years and have been improving my skills via school and lessons and am certified in Lifeguarding, First aid, CPR, AED and WSI.</p>

<p>Academic Achievements:
National Honor Society- will be my second year in the chapter
National Student Leadership Conference- been invitied every year via nomination from the school staff, but cannot attend due to finances
Gold and Silver Honor rolls along with Outstanding Achievements in Math and Science related classes.
(My grade has about 100 students in it, so due to the small grade size and competitiveness my school doesn’t rank individuals.)</p>

<p>Standardized Test scores;
ACT- I’ve taken it twice and unfortunately I’ve gotten 27 both times (English 25, Math 28, Reading 25 and Science 29) (English 27, Math 32, Reading 23 and Science 26). I don’t know if colleges look at the individual scores of of the subjects, but it’s obvious that english related subjects are holding my scores back. Heck, I already passed the College-Ready mark for calculus and I’m not even into my senior year…
SAT- 1820 but I’m not sure what my individual scores are. I’ve onyl taken it once and I need to take it again before college transcript time.
AP- (Already said before) Chemistry 5 and European History 3</p>

<p>I have great recommendation letters from my Department Head at Lifetime, my English teacher of 2 years (who is also a leader at Kairos) and my Math teacher of 3 years. I swear I am a good, well rounded kid (if that doesn’t sound narcissistic) and I’m aware that my ACT/SAT scores need to be raised if I need a good shot, but I don’t think they accurately reflect me. I’ve pushed through the 8 hour drive to Austin for longhorn Saturday so I can have some for lift under my wings to UT. So how do you think I stack up? Honest answers are appreciated.</p>

<p>Class rank? Looks good except for your GPA. Since they look at your weighted GPA, 3.8/5.0 is low compared to other students.</p>

<p>I probably have the wrong idea about weighted GPA… Isn’t it the same 4 points for A, 3 for B etc, except if it’s an AP class it’s +1 and still averaged with all your other classes? I could be wrong… don’t wanna give the wrong impression haha.</p>

<p>Weighted gpa for my high school and pretty much every school I have heard of, is that unweighted GPA is on a 4.0 scale and weighted is on a 5.0 scale because if you make a 90 an honors class (pre-ap, AP), it is equivalent to a 100 in a regular class. So if you make a 100 in an honors class, it is pretty much equivalent to a 110, which is over 4.0 on a standard scale, which is why weighted GPA is always on a 5.0 scale instead of a 4.0. I recommend you take as much honors classes your senior year to boost up your GPA and send in an updated transcript after the first semester. Also, UT like the people in the top of their class, so if you are not in the top like 8%, you will be at a huge disadvantage, especially since you are out of state and Cockrell is really competitive.</p>

<p>To be a strong candidate for the Cockrell, you need to take AP Calc BC and AP Physics C if your school offers the options. IMO.</p>

<p>You’ve been a lot of help. Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>Please study the holistic review rubric here: <a href=“http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/after-you-apply/factors[/url]”>http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/after-you-apply/factors&lt;/a&gt; and talk with your GC to learn more about your school’s profile, grade distribution info and anything else your HS will submit on the issue of class rank. GPA in a vacuum is meaningless–UT wants to know how your performance compares to the performance of your HS peers.</p>

<p>Your standardized math score is probably not high enough to get into Cockrell. My son and daughter scored 36 and 35 in math respectively. My son was admitted to UT but actually chose A&M for various reasons. Both took Calc BC and scored 5s. I think Cockrell looks at those math courses and SAT/ACT math scores above all else because no matter how wonderful a leader you are and how many extracurriculars you have…you need to love your math! A&M is “growing” on me…although not as selective as UT for engineering, it gives everyone who is auto admit a chance at engineering (if you apply early enough…engineering fills quickly)…so even if your heart is set on UT, apply to A&M as well. They are both excellent programs.</p>

<p>…also, my son was not auto admit to UT, but got into biomedical engineering…very competive high school…and took all AP sciences and math courses and scored all 5s…also competed in UIL science and math competitions. 36 math on act (35 composite)…class rank top 10%, but not top 9%.</p>

<p>I was planning on applying to both UT and A&M. But thanks to everyone who’s responded. You’re make g this process a whole lot easier haha.</p>