I need admissions advice/help

km1992
Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:47:18 +0000

So, Brown is my dream school. I visited it in November and instantly fell in love. I know I sound obnoxious, but I want to do EVERYTHING I can to get in. I’d have to say, my chances aren’t that great, but I keep holding onto the hope that they’ll see something in my character that will make them want me.

I’ve had a good GPA, but compared to Brown applicants, it’s actually not great at all.

After junior year, my GPA (weighted) will be about a 4.6. That’s about a 3.7 unweighted. My freshman and sophomore years were awful- I got lots of B’s and just didn’t work as hard as I could have/should have, because I didn’t realize how important it was. This year, I have a weighted GPA of 4.9 (4.0 unweighted), which clearly shows that I am fully capable of handling my schoolwork. I’m hoping that maybe, the “upward trend” will work to my advantage somewhat. I’m a great student when I apply myself, which I have learned to do. Because of my GPA though, I’m not in National Honor Society, so that looks bad against my competition. However, I do go to one of the most competitive, “best” public high schools in the country.

I took one AP class freshman year, one sophomore year (these two years, only one was available) but I am taking 4 this year and 5 senior year.

After graduation, I will have taken all honors and AP: AP Bio, Euro, Lang, French 4, French 5, Latin 5, Psych, Envi. Sci., Literature and Composition, US Gov., and Calc. AB. I take lots of major classes, because I just love to learn.

AP TESTS: 4 on Euro, 3 on Bio. I would probably hide the Bio score, though.

I’ve taken 5 years of both French and Latin, and I’m hoping that that can be my hook. This is EXTREMELY rare in my school. I’ve excelled in both- high A averages, awards on National Latin Exam, and I ranked 3rd nationally in the National French Exam. I’m also in French club. I’m going to France this summer, and want to major in it. I’m also taking a Spanish class this summer, and plan to continue until I go to college. I LOVE languages and other cultures, I just think it’s all fascinating. I think my language thing is a big deal, especially finishing two languages at the AP level- do you think they’ll see it that way?

SAT: So far, highest score is a 2160, but I am working my butt off to improve it. I am also a National Merit Semifinalist, at least. I might be higher- we haven’t found out yet.

Other things I do: I am self-taught on guitar, have played soccer on the same team since 3rd grade, am in my school’s CoExist Club and French Club. I am on the Literary Magazine staff (this year only, though) and next year I will be a co-editor. Freshman year I ran cross country, winter track, and spring track (all JV) but I stopped to devote more time to soccer. I only really started to get involved in my school this year. Again, this is not a great thing.

I have taught Sunday School classes at my church (volunteered) for 6 years, and have recieved honors like “most dedicated to community service” (which I probably wouldn’t put on my transcript anyway, right?).

This year, I organized a Shoe Drive for the Haiti earthquake victims. I got neighbors, friends, my school, nonprofits, and other schools involved, and collected 1,500 pairs of shoes. I’m really interested in helping people and working with them- this shows through my service, church teaching, Psychology and Sociology classes (I hope).

I am also a Certified Oral Presenter (that probably doesn’t count for anything, though).
I’m counting on good recommendations, one of which I think will be fabulous. I’m not worried about my essay either, really, because I’m a good writer and I have a personality that I think is interesting. I have a sense of perspective and so many ambitions that I will try to make them see.

Why Brown? The liberal atmosphere and the open curriculum. I LOVE the idea of being able to take so many things that I’m interested in. I have so many interests, so I would love it. There are also a few specific classes I already know about taking, which I could put in my essay.

I know this is a lot. I’m just trying to include everything I can think of, good and bad, and maybe get some advice on what to do.

Do you think it would help if I applied ED, or would it hurt me? Do I even have a shot, or should I just give up? I’m holding on to hope because I know that Brown cares a lot about personality, not just numbers.

Thanks SO much to anyone who reads this. Sorry I wrote so much, I just really need some outside perspective. Thanks a TON!