eeeeeeeeeeeek!

<p>So here’s the deal. I looked at my college list the other day and found that my schools are at the extremes of difficult-to-get-into and safeties. So far, I’m applying to UTD, Austin College, UT, Rice, Georgetown, Harvard, and Columbia. It’s a pretty hefty list and I don’t want to have to choose between Austin College and UT/UTD in the end. So, any good suggestions for near-safeties, nice matches, low reaches? Can i get into this university? I’m planning to study international relations.</p>

<p>SAT: 2170ish…i have to double check but it’s in that ballpark
SAT IIs: spanish 700, us history 700, math II 700
very competitive public school in a suburb of Dallas
“white”…whatever. My parents are Middle-Eastern.
Muslim female.</p>

<p>resume:
WORK EXPERIENCE
August 2007-present
6 hrs/week Arabic School of Dallas
· Kindergarten level Arabic teacher</p>

<p>SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
3 hrs/week Amnesty International
Co-President, Plano West chapter (12th–appointed), Member (11th)
· Liaison between Plano West chapter and Dallas student chapter
· Posted human rights facts on daily announcements</p>

<p>3 hrs/week Shalom Salaam Social Movement
Founder, Plano West chapter (12th)
· Congregate Christian, Jewish, and Muslim students for recreational group activities
· Represent Muslim community</p>

<p>2 hr/week Muslim Student Association
Senior President, Plano West chapter (12th)
· Currently organizing first annual Plano Ramadan public student iftar</p>

<p>COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
June 2007-present
5 hrs/week, year-round Lebanese American Youth Leadership (LAYL)
Founder and Co-President
· Contacted over sixty humanitarian groups and banks to propose teamwork
· Planning “Project Lebanon 2008”, a summer trip to Lebanon to work with needy
· Created website for LAYL</p>

<p>October 2006-present
3 hr/week, year-round Shalom Salaam Social Movement
Texas Representative
· Worked as liaison between mosques, synagogues, and churches in Dallas
· Exchanged ideas with Harvard’s Shalom Salaam chapter for group activities
· Organized activities in the North Texas area, such as hikes and picnics</p>

<p>August 2007-present Islamic Institute of Learning in the Metroplex (IILM) Youth Group
Vice President
· Lead and plan religious activities for Muslim youth and interfaith projects</p>

<p>HONORS AND AWARDS
11th First Prize at Plano ISD District Fair
Special Award presented by the Meteorological Society of Texas at Regional Fair
· “Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful, Year III”: A third-year study of acid rain in the North Texas region</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Achievement</p>

<p>10th Third Prize at Plano ISD District Fair
Honorable Mention at Regional Fair
· “Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful, Year II”: A second-year study of acid rain in the North Texas region (continuation from 8th grade study)</p>

<p>Commended award for poem, “Untied, United”, by Arab American Institute’s Spirit of Gibran Contest</p>

<p>Third Prize for essay, “The Final Trickle of No Rights,” sponsored by HAMSA Hands Across the Middle East Support Alliance (HAMSA)</p>

<p>9th First prize in Microbiology at Shepton High School Annual Science Fair
· A study of halobacterium salinarium’s response to a variety of light pulses</p>

<p>SUMMER ACTIVITIES
11th Traveled to London, Paris, and Athens
· Visited modern political and historical sites, including Buckingham Palace, Arc de Triomphe, site of Princess Diana’s death, and the Acropolis</p>

<p>Self-studied beginner’s French
· Put skills to practice in entire stay in Paris</p>

<p>10th Student Peace Action Network Conference in Detroit, Michigan
· Traveled on a fully paid scholarship based on achievement
· Discussed political issues and brainstormed student involvement methods</p>

<p>9th Traveled to Lebanon
· Visited historical Roman ruins
· Observed political strain and an assassination in July</p>

<p>SKILLS, TALENTS &
ACHIEVEMENTS Foreign Languages
· Fluent and literate in Arabic
· Currently self-studying conversational Hebrew and continuing French grammar</p>

<p>Music
· Nine years of piano
· Participated in two annual multicultural talent shows, singing in Arabic</p>

<p>Composition
· Currently writing nonfiction memoir titled “Salt in the Wound”</p>

<p>I think you have a good chance.</p>

<p>I’d say you’ve got a good shot, but you should realize NU is up there with Georgetown (The CAS, not SFS) and Rice in terms of admissions, so you’re not much further down the list. International Relations is called “International Studies” here and is an umbrella program covering multiple departments. We also have a lovely International Studies themed residential college (ISRC).</p>