<p>long-time lurker, first-time poster, you know the drill – hiya =)</p>
<p>i’m currently a first-year at The Ohio State University (heck yeah, the THE’s important!) majoring in Biology (basically a euphemism for Undecided, i love learning Bio, dunno what i’ll do with it – everyone thinks i’ll go pre-med <.<). in short, i wanna transfer to Rice (1st choice), Northwestern (2nd), don’t think i have a chance at Duke, WUSTL is expensive (not expecting merit $$), would go to UMich if i could get a fair chunk of cash worth the transition.</p>
<p>High School Stats</p>
<p>9th
first, an explanatory note. i skipped 2nd and 5th grades and entered high school at the age of 12. i was seriously depressed at this time, had like no friends to carry over from middle school (awkward time for me), mom was getting remarried to a guy who got violent towards me on two instances.
no EC’s, i’m talkin like none. plus a C in honors english and intro to web design. As and Bs in otherwise challenging classes.</p>
<p>10th
straight As in honors courses, school didn’t allow AP before junior year
tutored middle schoolers for 20hrs
Quiz Team, JV did well
over the summer, participated in workshop for math/science-inclined high school girls</p>
<p>11th
AP Chem (A-, B+, B-) 5
AP US Hist (B+, B+) 4
AP Comp Sci A (A, A-) 5
AP French Lang (school didn’t offer this class, self-studied after completing French III) 4
Honors Precalculus (A-, B+)
Honors English (A, B+)
otherwise As in the most difficult courseload possible
Science Olympiad started this year, i became a vital member to the team and events leader, school was 4th at regionals (my events got 2 medals), 13th at state,
Quiz Team varsity, 5th at conference
National Merit Finalist, eventually Scholar
bagger @ Kroger for 2 months, 16hrs/wk</p>
<p>12th
AP Calculus BC (A-, B+, A) 5
AP Literature (A-, A-, D [just didn’t do assignments in favor of AP studying ><]) 5
AP Biology (A-, B+, B+) 5
AP Physics B (A - only audited final trimester, self-studied) 5
AP Spanish Lang (B+, A+ - audited, no previous experience w/ the language) 5
AP Statistics (self-studied) 4
colleges i applied to only saw the first trimester grades, none of the scores… and i’m thinking that D in Lit is gonna shut me out as a transfer applicant
Science Olympiad events leader, 1st at regionals (my events got 2 medals), 6th at state (again 2 medals)
Speech & Debate, dabbled in this, got good results at 2 tournaments
Mock Trial A Team defense witness, 1st at regionals, like 18th at state, i got a Best Witness Award
Tennis Varsity B Team, undefeated 2nd doubles player</p>
<p>Overall GPA: not including last trimester, i was 4.44W (dunno UW) and about 13th in a class of 477</p>
<p>SATs - 800M, 780V, 800 Math IIC, 800 Writing, 740 Literature
ACT - 35</p>
<p>1st quarter at OSU
Gen Chem 123 - B- (TA wouldn’t let me use my non-approved calculator on first midterm, gonna see if i can get this to a B)
Organic Chem Honors 251 - B (i was the only freshman in this class, my counselor pulled strings getting me into it, wish i had a study group but it was weird with people 3 years older than me)
Math Honors 190 - A- (most rigorous, proof-based calc sequence, record for # of girls continuing the sequence is 2, haha)
Spanish 401 - A
basically i overloaded this quarter, taking the hardest classes for a 3.35 GPA currently; next quarter… math, starting russian, honors o-chem, and 2nd-yr honors english… i’m determined for a 4.0.
undergrad research volunteer at the best molecular genetics lab on campus, just running PCR and gel electrophoresis
selection staff for campus’s premier literature magazine, 1 of 3 freshman selected
undergrad student gov’t diversity committee member
gonna get as involved as i healthily can, some volunteer work soon hopefully</p>
<p>looking over my record, my grades have always been lower than what i’m capable of if i put more work in. the sad thing now is, i’m more than willing to work my ass off for a class, but academic competition at OSU is very lacking and i need to push myself harder than ever. that’s the primary reason i want to transfer.</p>
<p>my first time applying to colleges, i was rejected from JHU (think my transcript was too weak), Rice (fudged my essay/app >.<), Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, waitlisted at WUSTL, accepted by OSU and Case w/ lotsa scholarship (full ride now). didn’t want to go to such a 1-dimensionally geeky school like Case; Rice is now my first choice because it’s a competitive small school, Texas is nice, no greek system a plus.</p>
<p>i also don’t know what i’m doing in college at age 16… dude, virtually everyone here just wants to get drunk on weekends. would take a gap year, but dunno how i can keep myself entertained/productive/competitive… i’m thinking my transfer efforts this year won’t go over so well, i’ll try again next year, then spend 3yrs finishing undergrad at the new institution with multiple majors/minors, so i’ll have lotsa time to figure out what i wanna do (interests right now are too diverse, i love foreign cultures, wanna keep literature as a hobby, enjoy and am good at sciences, wanna try some economics…).</p>
<p>chances, suggestions, life advice in general… i’ll take anythingggg.
if you read all this, haha, crap it was long.
THANKS</p>