<p>Age: Will be a junior this fall
Sex: Female
Race: White/Jewish
Geography: underrepresented state</p>
<p>Standardized Tests
SAT: CR - 800 M - 710 W - 600 (ugh) combined - 2110
Soph PSAT (bad): CR - 66 M - 67 W - 55 combined - 188
AP Euro: 4
AP Art History: 4</p>
<p>Grades: Freshman Year, had A+ GPA
Soph Year, had A- GPA
Schools strange weighted GPA: 3.94
UW might be around 3.83
Rank (not sure if released): top quintile, which is most specific </p>
<p>Courseload: THE MOST challenging in my school. Took on an additional AP class that sophs typically can’t take. </p>
<p>EC’s:
Varsity Swimming: 9,10. ranked 13th in the state
JV Tennis: 10
Science Olympiad: 9, 10. 3rd and 9th in state.
Chinese Culture Club (I’m White): 10
Currently studying for international brain bee. most likely to win state (not too competitive)
Student Ambassador Board: 11
Underpriveledged Girls Student Advisory Board Member: 9, 10, 11
Underpriveledged Girls School Tutor: 9, 10, 11</p>
<p>Awards:
Random departmental awards
Sandcastle Contest Winner (teehee)
Science Olympiad
Swimming</p>
<p>Summers:
pre 9th: CTY Crafting the Essay; swimming lessons instructor
pre 10th: CTY Writing Analysis and Persuasion; swimming lessons instructor
pre 11th: CTY History of Disease; Lieutenant Governor Intern</p>
<p>I’m working on a hook. Winning the international brain bee would sure be a big help since I plan on studying biological sciences. I know my standardized test scores are pretty weak, especially my PSAT. Would it be detrimental if I didn’t get national merit scholar or commended or anything?</p>
<p>Ok… So, here are the things that will help and the things that won’t…</p>
<p>Underrepresented State - Big +
Jewish - Don’t think that hurts or helps.
Female - I think that hurts you a little. more girls than guys apply, so the acceptance rate for girls is lower.
PSAT - I don’t think they care. Commended, semi or finalist would be a plus, but if you’re not, no big deal. Lot’s of people aren’t.
SAT - Take them again. Get your writing score up. The others are good.
GPA - Within range, but I’ve seen higher get rejected.
EC’s - Good, not great. You have no EC’s where you have to cooperate with a group. All are individual sports or activities. They will notice that. If you were on a relay team in swimming, or you were on a ranked pairs team in Tennis, let them know. That will help.
Awards - Special recognition can only help you. Keep taking AP tests. Get enough 4s and 5s and you’ll get a nice award from the college board.</p>
<p>Here’s the bottom line - My grades were equivalent to yours, my SATs were better, I had a ton of awards for scholarship and athletics, I captained a varsity team that I founded and I got flat out rejected. However, that doesn’t mean you will. I came from a very well represented state, so they didn’t need any more of me. Maybe if I was from Nebraska or Montana, I’d have been accepted. Who knows? I do know that I think they made the right decision in my case and I wound up at the college that most reflects my character, so it all worked out.</p>
<p>It’ll work out for you too. Have faith in your abilities and apply to the colleges that speak to you as a person most. And visit campus. It’s the only way to really know if you like it there.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>