How do I weigh in?

lives4music
Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:50:49 +0000

Hi, I’m writing in regards to how well I measure up to applicants and fellow juniors right now who are applying to the top tier of universities. I’m currently an IB diploma candidate taking:
IB History of the Americas HL, IB English A1 HL, IB Biology HL, IB Spanish B SL, IB Math SL, IB Physics SL. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, and our school doesn’t do a weighted GPA but does class rank. Out of a class of 576, I’m 2nd. I’m also involved in marching band and am a section leader for the 2nd year. Some of my extracurriculars include team captain of our school’s scholar’s bowl team, I am in NHS, Spanish Honor Society, cross country for the 3rd year, men’s choir club, theater and pit band for the musical. Lastly I am a volunteer at the hospital for the pediatric emergency department in my spare time. In my free time I play piano to relax and write songs, being that it’s my 11th year of piano.

For IB and for my personal growth I’m doing a project where I do outreach at an assisted living center. A friend and I are passionate musicians and we wanted to do some one on one time with someone who would enjoy the music so we are starting to visit living centers every other week to play for a few hours and talk with the elderly as a community service project.

For standardized testing I’ve taken PSAT’s and scored a 204. (CR 63, M 72, W 69) For my AP Calc test I only scored a 3. Math II SAT II I scored a 710. I have yet to take my SAT’s but am continually studying…

Anyone have any advice or input? How do I weigh in for college admissions? I’m dreaming of attending Columbia and I know my SAT’s are a bit on the low side…anything else?