Don't Read This

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>That title’s basically to see whether reverse psychology really works…
Anyway, chance me please?</p>

<p>Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
Location: Small midwest town</p>

<p>Classes
I’ve taken the most advanced courseload possible each year, but my school doesn’t offer as much as many (only two ap’s, which you can’t take until sr. yr.)</p>

<p>**Freshman Yr. <a href=“A/A”>/B</a> Choir
(A/A) Biology
(A/A) Algebra II
(A/A) Health/Orientation to Technology
(A/A) Accelerated English I
(A/A) P.E./World History
(A/A) Spanish I</p>

<p>**Sophomore Yr.<a href=“A/A”>/B</a> Choir
(A/A) Band
(A/A) GAT I (Geometry, Algebra, and Trig)
(A/A) Spanish II
(A/A) Chemistry
(A/A) Accelerated English II
(A/A) Psychology/Sociology</p>

<p>**Junior Yr.<a href=“A/A”>/B</a> Choir
(A/A) Band
(A/A) Pre-Calculus
(A/A) French I (I hated our Spanish dept…)
(A/B) Physics (ugh)
(A/A) Accelerated English III
(A/A) Accelerated US History</p>

<p>Senior Yr.
Choir
AP Calculus
AP Literature
French IV (I taught myself French II and III, got A’s on the finals, so they’re letting me move up)
Middle Eastern Studies (This is a self-designed independent study class; I’ll be studying Arabic and learning quite a bit about both the history and current events of the ME)
Advanced US Government/Advanced Economics
Band</p>

<p>Rank: Top 5% (about 200 in class; v. competitive in top ranks)
Recs: Should be very good
Essays: Definitely my strongest point</p>

<p>Test Scores
SAT II: 800 Lit, 760 USH, plan to take French in Nov.
SAT: not yet taken
ACT: 35 (36 R/E, 34 Sci, 33 Math, 11/12 W)
PSAT: 225 (80 CR, 75 R, 70 M) </p>

<p>ECs
Involved in community choir and orchestra (sing mezzo soprano; play trumpet, xylophone, piano, and bass guitar)
President, section leader, soloist, and occasional practice accompanist in the HS choir
Section leader and soloist in HS band
Have danced since 6 (clogging, tap, jazz, ballet, celtic); member of competitive groups for the clogging, tap, and celtic
NHS member (no office, but chairperson for several specific activities)
Thespians member (again, no office, but won Best Supporting Actress)
HS theatre (mainly musicals, but have done some plays; usually, but not always, onstage)
Community theatre (several major roles; also helped choreograph/teach choreography a few times)
Peer leaders (a group at my HS that’s pretty much what you’d expect; promotes anti-drug, alcohol, etc. use, does some general helpful stuff around town)
French Club, Spanish Club, and Fine Arts Club (may not even put these down; they don’t do much of anything at my HS)
Speech (called forensics at other schools; v. competitive around here; I’ve been a frequent competition winner)</p>

<p>Work Experience
Had a paper route from when I was 12 until last Oct.
Have worked for about a year (10-20 hrs/wk) as a waitress
Occasionally tutor, babysit, and house sit for neighbors
Freshman year, helped teach a few dance classes at our local studio </p>

<p>Random Extras
Expect to be National Merit Scholar, will definitely be a NM something
National Honor Roll
National Achievement Academy (2 yrs in a row for English)
Will be hosting a German foreign exchange student later this year
Have fibromyalgia, an incurable lifelong disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis; has caused many, many absences, but may also be able to be used as an “overcoming obstacles” type hook</p>

<p>Schools
Amherst
Brown
Yale
St. Olaf
Macalester
Wash U
Elon
Middlebury
Haverford
Oberlin</p>

<p>Sorry this is pretty long, but I didn’t want to leave anything out.</p>

<p>Thank you!!!</p>

2

<p>I didn’t read it, I just posted.
Next time, if you don’t want people to read something, don’t post.
;)</p>

3

<p>i don’t really see you at amherst, yale, or brown. your test scores are good, but that doesn’t hide your easy course load (2 APs in your entire high school career??) and mediocre rank (for the above three schools). your ECs are also meh cause i don’t see much leadership and passion. they also seem kinda discursive</p>

<p>i suggest aiming slightly lower</p>

4

<p>…why did you make 2 threads? i posted in your other one. remember that patience is a virtue.</p>

<p>and i didnt notice you only had 2 APs. how many AP classes are offered at your high school?</p>

5

<p>Sorry about the double post…stupid mistake (long story, please don’t ask). Is there any way I can delete one of them so as to not annoy more people?</p>

<p>Also, as I said at the beginning (but it’s a long post, so I don’t blame you for missing it or anything), our school only offers 2 APs. I’ve been taking the most challenging courseload offered, and even taking initiative to go further on my own (teaching myself 2 yrs. of french, designing an independent study class).
Still, I do know that a lot of people are taking APs from their sophomore year on. Is there some way I can explain to the schools that I didn’t have anything more available, or I would have done it? </p>

<p>In terms of the ECs, I agree that they’re not the strongest, but I’ve had to really limit myself (in terms of scope and depth both) because of the fibromyalgia. Basically, I don’t feel right taking on a lot of leadership positions or anything like that unless I can really deeply commit, which I rarely can with confidence. Any advice in terms of explaining that as well? (without it sounding like a string of excuses; the last thing I want)</p>

6

<p>pm moderators to delete the double post</p>

<p>if your school only offers 2 APs then the story changes. just make sure your counselor mentions in your rec that you can’t have a tougher course load</p>

<p>as for ECs, your best hope is to write a good essay to explain your situation. but be warned, chances are this kind of essays are likely to come across as full of lame excuses. so be careful</p>

7

<p>Makes sense. Thanks for the input.</p>

8

<p>Don’t worry about the minimal APs. Remember that colleges analyze your courseload in the context of what classes your schools offers. As long as you’ve challenged yourself within your own academic environment, that’s all that matters.</p>

<p>And I personally think your ECs are fine! They show focus and consistency in the musical and performing arts. I honestly don’t think you have a problem.</p>

9

<p>id say ur in at all besides the top ivys and amherst…but u never know, write great essays and anythigns possible</p>

<p>can u give me a holla on my chance post/? noone ever comments mine</p>