Help a Junior Out? Chances, and suggestions

neverXclarity
Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:01:53 +0000

Hi (:
I’m a rising junior in a public high school. Our high school isn’t exactly known for academics as we fail to meet the required percent of proficiency on the state-mandated tests year after year, but I’m taking as many high-level courses as I can. Our school runs on an alternating day schedule, so I have four class periods one day and four the following day, but AP core classes take up two of those blocks…this makes it really hard to take more than one or two AP classes per year, and most are not offered to underclassmen.
That being said, can you chance me for any of the following or suggest other schools to look at? I want to stay around these areas.

Safety:
East Stroudsburg University
Bloomsburg University

Match:
Bryn Mawr
Haverford College
Penn State University Park
West Chester University
Kutztown University
Temple University

Reach:
Syracuse University

Serious Reach (I’m not expecting to get in)
University of Pennsylvania

Freshman Year:
Gifted English (I’ve been in gifted since 3rd grade; high IQ program)
Gifted World Cultures
Honors Geometry
Honors Biology
Philosophy
Speech and Debate
Acting
Computer Applications (graduation requirement)

Sophomore Year:
Gifted English
Gifted American History
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Chemistry
Concert Band
Psychology
French 1 (the school screwed up my schedule in 9th grade)
Gym/Health

Junior Year:
AP English Lang
Gifted American Government
Trigonometry
AP Psychology
Wind Ensemble (the more experienced class)
French 2
Yearbook

Senior Year (projected)
AP English Lit
Pre-Calculus
Wind Ensemble
Gym elective
Honors Physics
Yearbook
French 3 (OR AP Music Theory…which would look better?)

Stats:
Took SAT in 7th grade (1500) and 8th grade (1620) as part of a talent search
Took PSAT in 10th grade (185) and scored in top 1% for critical reading, expecting to raise score to around 216 this year
Taking SAT subject tests (Math 1, Literature, and maybe US History or Chemistry) in the winter
GPA is 3.8 unweighted, not sure about weighted

Extracurriculars/Leadership Roles/Volunteer Work
Marching Band - 10,11,12 - section leader 11,12
Drumline - 9,10,11,12 - section leader 11,12
Private lessons - 11,12 (I’m a percussionist)
Yearbook - 11,12 - possibly editor-in-chief for senior year (class is not offered to underclassmen)
Literary Magazine - 10,11,12
POSSIBLY NHS (you qualify in 11th grade)
~100 hours volunteering for a hospital as a secretary (filing paperwork, answering phones, etc) 9,10
Volunteering at a women’s shelter starting soon, which will require 40 hours of training - 11,12
Tutoring at an elementary school ~30 hours
Will be getting a part-time job after junior year to hold through senior year

My extracurriculars are a little weak, I know. Band takes up a TON of my time and makes it hard to participate in sports or clubs. I might be taking classes at a community college this spring, and doing distance education over the summer through a larger university. Besides that, what else should I participate in to raise my chances, if possible?

Thanks a lot for your help (: I’m looking towards either an English or a psychology major with a music minor, if that matters.

-Jess