Hi guys!
I’m finally at a point where nearly all my tests and grades are in, so I figured now’s a good time to evaluate my situation and what’s realistic and what’s not. I intend to major in Engineering, specifically something along the lines of environmental, petroleum, or chemical. I know my interests lie in that general area of study. I have high ambitions, and know that I’m capable of lot, but I’d be delusional if I said I was at the top- I don’t have perfect test scores and due to my school I’m not sure if my classes stand out, although I have taken the most rigorous course load available, taking 7 courses instead of the typical 6. Below is what my transcript will look like. I know it’s a lot of information but here we go.
I’m currently looking at Princeton (my dream and reachiest reach), Penn, Penn State, Pitt, Cornell, Brown, RPI, Colorado School of Mines, and Bucknell. I might throw in an app to Stanford and MIT just for the hell of it.
GPA: 4.37 on a weighted scale (based on number grades, not letter grades)
Freshman classes: English 1 (96), Theology 1 (100), Biology (99), World Studies (99), Geometry (99), and Spanish 3 (98)
Sophomore classes: English 2 (97), Theology 2 (98), Trig (100), Spanish 4 (100), US History (99), Chemistry (99)
Junior classes: AP English Lang and Comp (98, 5 on exam), Theology 3 (99), Intro to Calculus (99), AP Spanish Lang (100, 5 on exam), APUSH (98, 5 on exam), AP Physics 1 (97, 4 on exam), and Intro to Engineering Design (98)
Senior year I plan to take the following: AP Physics 2, AP Chem, AP English Lit, AP Calc BC, Principles of Engineering, Theology 4, and AP Amer Gov.
SAT- 1510 (760 E, 750 M) 7,7,7 on writing
ACT- 35, 11 on writing (This is the one I’m submitting/hope colleges look at the most)
SAT Subjects- 800 in US History, 780 Spanish, 740 Math 2
—I plan to retake Math since I’m scoring way higher on practice tests now that I’m done with Precalc, and I plan to add physics, expecting a 720-750 on that one.
I’m probably proudest about my achievements in Spanish, because despite being Latino I do not natively speak it and put a lot of work into it, as I really enjoyed it. As far as extracurriculars go, I’m a 4 year marching band member and section leader, 2 year jazz band member, and 1 year concert band member, vice president of NHS, cofounder and vice president of a competitive Economics Team, varsity member of a quizbowl team, 1 year Science Olympiad member (with medals in sciences I’m interested in), Student Council Representative, and part of a decent amount of community service in my school and church.
Thanks if you read all this! I know it’s a ton of information, but I’m still unsure about where I stand. I know that I have a lot of good things going for me in my application, but I’m not sure if some of reach schools are even worth trying for. I’d appreciate any advice,
Thank you!