I don't know anymore...

infraredcrayon1
Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:35:49 +0000

I’m currently a junior. A lot of the students in the senior class who I thought had pretty strong chances of getting into good colleges have been either deferred or rejected. This comes as disconcerting news to me. Perhaps I misjudged how heavily certain extra-curriculars are weighted? I just want to know if I’m on the right track, especially because I have been long worried about the range of extracurriculars that I participate in.

Class '11
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Happa (Halfie)
Location: Northeastern suburbs
School: Public – mediocre
GPA: 4.6-ish, weighted from sophomore year
Class Rank: Somewhere in the top 4, top 1%, but my school only releases up to top 5%
SATs: Haven’t taken yet, but planning on taking until I get a perfect 1600 (for scholarship reasons), and hoping for over a 2350 in one sitting
PSATs: 234 (74 crit. reading)
SAT IIs: Chem: 800, Math II: 800, probably taking US history & bio this year
APs: Chem: 5, Microeconomics: 5, taking 5 more AP classes this year and taking 1 test for a class that I’m not taking (art) – hoping for National AP Scholar in junior year

I think my stats are pretty decent. My focus, or, rather, lack of focus, in my extracurriculars is cause for concern.

Human Rights Coalition (school-found organization, hoping to branch out with other chapters in nearby schools; deals with humanitarian crises, currently working on providing aid and relief to children affected by the ongoing genocide in Darfur):
-two years participation (as of now)
-currently VP
-probably VP or Co-President next year

Key Club:
-three years participation (as of now)
-currently Secretary
-almost definitely President next year, unless I run for Lieutenant Gov.

MUN:
-three years participation (as of now)
-haven’t yet won any awards beyond commended, and that doesn’t really count for anything
-will be on executive board of school club next year

Mathletes:
-won Lenchner Award in 8th grade (does this count for anything? probably not…)
-three years of HS participation (as of now)
-qualified for regional ARML team last year, hoping to do the same again this year
-award for highest team member score at ARML (was on the B-team, though)
-might be Co-Captain of school club next year
-planning on taking a math course at a nearby college next year, if that’s feasible with my schedule (taking BC Calc this year & my school doesn’t offer higher math)

Science:
-Science League member for 3 years, no real accomplishments here :
-Chemistry Olympiad, no real accomplishments here :
-Chemistry Olympics club, SGO representative
-two summers of internships at a state college, worked in a molecular biology lab
-speaker/presenter at regional science fair last year (one of two sophomores), didn’t win, but trying again this year

Academic Team:
-highest qualifier for school quiz bowl team
-member of quiz bowl team (4 school students)

NHS:
-just got inducted, but I’ve heard that it’s the most useless thing ever, so I guess it doesn’t count for much
-might run for office of some sort, probably VP

Chess:
-LOL
-I’m kinda fail at chess, esp. with my rating, but I never go to tournaments, so I’m planning on jacking it up to something decent once I can drive and do stuff on my own
-6th in state tournament this year

Sports:
-regional badminton awards
-national awards in the most-obscure-sport-ever (a bit vague, but if I were more specific, random people would be able to figure out who I am–sorry)
-my friend managed to sucker me into doing Winter Distance Track, and I guess that’ll help me with the most-obscure-sport-ever

Arts (haha, edited in because I forgot at first):
-I really enjoy the arts and am planning on submitting my portfolio to schools that will take it (PM me for examples of stuff that I’ve drawn/painted)
-took an extension art course at a state college, but it was more of a recreational thing and less of a class
-played the violin for the past 8 years, but it’s more recreational than anything else (not good enough for regions)

Essays:
-will probably be decent, perhaps good
-maybe a bit cliche in theme, but at least the grammar will be sound

Recommendation Letters:
-maybe glowing, I hope? at least good
-I won’t get to see them, so I have no clue, but the teachers I plan on asking think I’m outspoken, quirky, and smart

Interviews (if any):
-I think they’d go over pretty well

I’m applying to RSI, Gov. School, Girls State, and maybe, maybe TASP.

I’m pretty much interested in all of those impossible-■■■■-it’s-a-lottery-reach schools, especially Stanford.

So. How am I doing now? Please explain why you think I’m doing either well or poorly. Any advice? I don’t think these things are wholly /luck/, per se, but I do know that they’re unpredictable. It can’t hurt to have good credentials.

Thanks!