How do I look?

Colleges & Universities Tufts University
1

<p>Student:</p>

<p>User Name: pmalone224
Gender: M
Location: MA, USA
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: sends some grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Weighted: 4.10
Class Rank: top 10 students
Class Size: 370
Courseload: one of the hardest possible at my school, all AP and honors when offered (minus English, 7 in all). Double language Fresh+Soph year, double science Jun+Sen year.
School: Top 20 or so in MA… sends a handful of kids to Ivies each year</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 780
SAT I Critical Reading: 790
SAT I Writing: 760
SAT II U.S. History: 740
SAT II Chemistry: 790
AP US Hist: 5
AP Chem: 5
AMC: Don’t remember exactly, >100</p>

<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Peer Counseling (11,12), A Capella group (12), theater (11), Boy Scouts (life) (9-12), Science Team (11,12), German Club (9,10), Latin Club (9,10)</p>

<p>Athletic Status: Swimming Varsity 9-12</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work:
*Group work with Asperger’s teens, once weekly (11, 12): Serve as a “role model” in a group with a social worker.</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Summer jobs before 10th, 12th lifeguarding about 30 hr/week</p>

<p>Travel Abroad:
6 wk exchange in Germany, Austria, Czech before 11th</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
*National German Exam 99th% 9th-11th
*Science Olympiad State champ (chemistry) 11
*German Award 9,11 Chem Award 11 [top in class]</p>

<p>Colleges of Interest:</p>

<p>Dartmouth College, Athlete: Yes
University of Pennsylvania, Athlete: No
Tufts University, Athlete: Yes
MIT, Athlete: Yes
Johns Hopkins University, Athlete: No
Penn State - University Park, Athlete: No
Villanova University, Athlete: Yes
Boston College, Athlete: Yes
Rutgers, Athlete: No</p>

<p>I’ve had contact with the coach, and I hear he’s very good bout supporting apps.</p>

2

<p>Please post a picture so we can tell you how you look…</p>

<p>Yes, the answer is just as ridiculous as the question</p>

3

<p>please see photo posted at <a href=“http://www.figure%5B/url%5D”>www.figure</a> of speech.com</p>

<p>honestly though, do I stand a decent shot of getting in ?</p>

4

<p>Why wouldn’t you get in?</p>

5

<p>My main worry with Tufts is that I don’t have the leadership that they usually look for in applicants. Could the rest of my application maybe balance that out?</p>

6

<p>I do think that your transcript and board scores will balance that out.
You are a strong applicant.
Good luck!</p>

7

<p>haha go to <a href=“http://www.figure%5B/url%5D”>www.figure</a> of speech.com…nice </p>

<p>anyways, you’ve got worthy ec’s but you’re right, you do lack some leadership roles…are you maybe president or captain of some clubs or teams? that would help.good luck</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>That is the shallowest of ploys by applicants who want to demonstrate “leadership”, adcoms see right through it. In the vast majority of cases, even “class president” is largely ceremonial, with no real meaning or contributions (putting up fliers in the hallways is the most BS of activities).</p>

<p>Despite my scathing reply to the OP, if I were an adcom, I would be much more interested in a “Science Olympiad State champ (chemistry)” and has served as a ““role model” in a group with a social worker”. The latter could be bogus, or it could be truly meaningful. When it comes to leadership, leading quietly by example is far more meaningful that being a class president.</p>

<p>Seriously, why is the OP stressing out? The academics alone will get him into almost any college he is applying to. Relax, dude… you don’t have much to worry about other than, when reading between the lines, I am left with the impression that you view Tufts as a safety school</p>

9

<p>Well, thanks for the confidence, it’s just that I’ve seen a few candidates that I viewed as extremely good students rejected from Tufts, and I in no way see it as a safety (that’s why there’s Rutgers and Penn State).</p>

10

<p>From my point of view, I would say that essays make a huge difference here. Since you are in good shape academically, focus you energy on the essays (and DO THE OPTIONAL ONE!)</p>

11

<p>Why don’t you tell us how you think you look?</p>

<p>What are the compelling reasons why Tufts will accept you?</p>

12

<p>strong academics/scores, community service, and hopefully some well written essays (i will definitely do the optional one)</p>

13

<p>Well swimming should help, right? What’s your best stroke/times? I’m curious. I know that Rutgers has really hardcore athletics (one of my hs team mates is getting a scholarship to swim there, but she’s crazy fast).</p>

<p>But you seem pretty well rounded, so I think you have a decent shot. I can’t say for sure, only time will tell.</p>

14

<p>I have some friends that I’ve swam with for a while that are on the team, and also I have been in contact with the coach. It would not, however, be enough to play any huge role in admissions.</p>

<p>On the brighter side, though, I got SAT Subject Test scores today… 800 in math IIC and 800 in German w/ Listening… does anyone know how SAT Subject Tests are used in Tufts admissions?</p>

15

<p>You look stellar. Write really good essays to seal the deal, I would say.</p>

16

<p>So one more question about tufts admission: their questions for the optional essay seem to be somewhat sarcastic (“what is more interesting a gorilla or a guerrilla”) is it ok to be sarcastic in a witty way in my reply? That was my intent, but I really want to have the best shot at admission that I can.</p>

17

<p>I don’t think that question is “sarcastic” – I think they genuinely want to know what is more interesting to you. Be witty, but don’t be overly sarcastic – sometimes that doesn’t come off so well in writing.</p>