<p>Hi everyone, I’m new here, so apologies if this is the wrong forum/format.</p>
<p>My first choice is Northwestern University, because I love Chicago and I really, really want to be on their debate team. The problem is, I’m starting to feel like it’s not even a viable reach school, since my freshman (and current sophomore) grades are pretty bad.</p>
<p>Freshman year (semester 1/semester 2)
Jazz Band, A/A
Gifted Chemistry, C/B
Gifted English, A/A
French 3, B/A
AP World History, A/A
Concert Band, A/A
Gifted Trigonometry/Algebra, C/B
PE, A/A</p>
<p>Sophomore year (semester 1/projected semester 2)
Gifted Precalculus, A/A
Health, A / Theory of Knowledge, A
IB Physics SL, B/A
AP US History, B/A
IB Music, A/A
French 4, B/A
AP English Language, A/A</p>
<p>Cumulative unweighted GPA is 3.57</p>
<p>SAT score from 7th grade: 2040
CollegeBoard Practice SAT score from last week: 2230 (800 reading, 740 writing, 690 math)</p>
<p>Junior year I’ll be taking jazz band, AP Biology, AP Calc AB, AP US Gov, AP English Lit, AP French 5, IB Music, and some random elective. I project that if I work my butt off I can get all A’s, maybe one B.</p>
<p>I go to an extremely competitive public high school, so my class rank is probably extremely low right now.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Flute
-Six years private lessons
-Two years finalist at fairly competitive local flute competition
-Two years qualified for playoffs at regional Solo and Ensemble festival, placing in top 6
-Two years qualified for All-State Band
-Two years member of high school band, section leader freshman year
-One year in local youth symphony, as principal flute
-Attended summer flute camp, where I worked with college professors in masterclasses and assisted younger players
-Volunteered at Title I middle school’s after-school jazz program, providing flute and drum coaching to students</p>
<p>Debate
-Founded team at school, currently serving as squad captain and PR officer, next year will have the same roles
-Won several speaker awards and placed in top 3 at several tournaments
-Attended 3-week institute last summer, attending competitive-admissions 7-week institute this summer
-Volunteered at Title I middle school helping debate team</p>
<p>Miscellaneous/inconsequential
-Freelance web designer/developer for 5 years, producing websites and user interface layouts for customers
-Part of church youth group for 4 years, one-week trip last summer doing community service in food banks, consignment stores, other charities
-Chinese school for 6 years</p>
<p>I plan to be much more active with extracurriculars/service my junior year. I’ve learned a lot from freshman and sophomore years, and I’m figuring out how to manage my time, etc.</p>
<p>I’m Asian-American. Both parents have graduate degrees from reputable schools (Berkeley/Cornell for my mom, MIT for my dad) so not first-gen college student, but no legacies either. My parents are not super rich and probably would not be able to donate much.</p>
<p>As previously stated, my first choice (and where I’m applying early) is Northwestern. My second choices are Georgetown, UMich, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC. As safer schools, I’ll be applying to U of Oregon, University of Washington, UC Davis, etc. </p>
<p>I don’t know if these are realistic choices. Enlighten me?</p>