<p>I am 17, Hispanic, and foreign born in Naples, Italy. I am currently working at a job I intend to keep until I graduate. I put in around 40 hours a week and i do not get paid overtime (if that matters at all). My mother just completed her masters at Southern Methodist University and she does not work. My dad is a former marine and my mother previously held a government job if that helps for scholarship or anything of the sort. I really love the bigger school environment and I feel that I would not do well in an urban setting. The idea of a small school to me is a college with around five thousand students, I do not think I could handle a school smaller than that. A Coed college is a must of course and I, although living in Texas, am quite liberal but I do not require the same environment. I love to meet new people and I am very interested in college away from home.</p>
<p>School work: I made the amazing mistake of taking regular classes my freshman year but we wont talk about that. My GPA from the end of my sophomore year is a 3.52, I do not currently know my GPA now although i know it will be bolstered by my previous Junior year. I have taken the hardest classes offered at my school since sophomore year and sadly we do not have an IB program at my school. My AP classes have been my highest scoring classes all receiving above a 93 except AP US History with an 86.</p>
<p>AP Classes: Taken and scored: World History (4) English Lang (4), Microeconomics (3), US History (5), and Human Geography (5). Plan to take/Enrolled in: Biology, Calc Ab, Macroeconomics, English Lit, and US Government.</p>
<p>Volunteer work: I volunteer with two local organizations that help special needs children and i will leave with around 100 hours in total. I am currently in Palestine volunteering at a relief center to discuss how American youth view the conflict in Israel with Palestinian youth. I have been attending many lectures at Bethlehem University over the occupation and the effects on the people. My volunteering begins every morning at around 9am and ends every night around 6pm. I will be doing this for a total of 15 days.</p>
<p>EC: SMU TAG program receiving four hours of college credit with a 4.0 GPA summer 2010, Cornell University summer college for 8 hours of college credit with a B average summer 2011, National Student Leadership Conference representative at American University summer 2011, Duke TIP program in recognition of my SAT scores in 7th grade summer 2007, John Ben Shepperd Leadership Conference hosted by SMU 2010 , Education in Action Leadership Academy Summer 2008, National Honor Society 2011, Rotary Club Academic Excellence Award 2010 and 2011, Academic Decathlon team captain and gold medalist 2011, Raytheon LASER award in math and sciences 2011, Kiwanis Key Leader seminar and program at SMU summer 2012. (some of these sound ridiculous but I am putting everything I can think of down that could help me even a little.)</p>
<p>I know they say that starting a club senior year means nothing to colleges but I am doing it anyway for the cause, not for the college app. My being in Palestine has profoundly affected me and I will form some kind of awareness group at my school and within my community to educate my community and perhaps help sponsor some children attending a local school here in Bethlehem in Zone C.</p>
<p>And now the juicy and scary part… Standardized test scores. ACT: Sophomore year, 26. Junior year, 30. Senior year, ?. SAT: January 2008, 1460. Dec 2008, 1560. May 2011, 1700. May2012, 1960 (v/m/w) (700/670/590 ouch) Senior year ?. SAT Subject tests: Lit 730. US History 750. I do plan on retaking the SAT and ACT again early senior year so they will be ready by the time applications are due. If my ACT is a stronger bet I would replace my retaking of the SAT again for additional SAT subject tests.</p>
<p>I am number 67 out of 395 (from slacking), but when class ranks are recalculated I should move to around number 30 or 40 at least, putting me almost at top 10% I believe.</p>
<p>I am very interested in the social sciences and humanities. I am not 100% sure what I will major in however, I do plan on double majoring if possible with a double minor as well. Since I am not completely sure I will list some of my interests: English, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, International relations, Economics, and Law. I will most likely follow the pre-law program if my school offers it but I would not complain if it did not. History and cultural studies also fascinate me.</p>
<p>I am not necessarily looking for colleges that I could for sure get into, but strong colleges that would be tough to get into that would fall in the small reach to medium reach area with my particular skill sets. Please do not factor money into the equation. If you must ask I will simply reply that I can spend 50k before scholarship. The ones I know I cannot afford I will rationally remove from my list. Thank you for your help as this will greatly help me as I am a rising senior. If you would like to also, and do not feel as if you must, you can chance me on the schools I already have on my hopeful list. UPenn, Berkeley, Penn State, UT Austin, Boston College, Boston University, NYU, NYU AD, SMU, and U Minn Twin Cities. </p>
<p>I am not very knowledgeable with the LACs, so if you could throw out some names that would be very helpful as well. Thank you. Also I do not believe I will be penalized for my number of SAT sittings as two were part of the Duke TIP program. Basically, which colleges do my stats look alright for? I’m looking for reaches and maybe a few matches/financial safeties.</p>