I really screwed up.

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>The first semester of my senior year…I have really, really screwed up.</p>

<p>I had a huge, long list of colleges to apply to. Now, I’m down to only four…because I slacked, and didn’t have time to get letters of recommendation. The only places I can apply now are the schools I’d selected with January 15th deadlines. I was going to apply to Brown, on a lark…but, obviously, that didn’t work out too well.</p>

<p>Oh…and I got 2 B’s my first semester. Not good.</p>

<p>So. Here’s what it looks like now. Chances?</p>

<p>Caucasian female, with Native American heritage (registered tribally, benefit recipient)
GPA: Was 3.97 unweighted, but now will probably be closer to 3.8-ish
Class rank: Was 2 of 219, now probably 4 or 5 of 219
SATs: 750 CR, 660 M, 730 W, essay 10
SAT IIs: Literature (800), Math IIC (650), Biology M (630): I’m re-taking the math and bio in January
APs: English Language/Composition (5)</p>

<p>Took all Honors up through senior year, when the Honors program was cut: immediately went full-time community college, 18-20 credits per quarter</p>

<p>My ECs:</p>

<p>National Alliance for Autism Research: Walk Captain every year for four years, youngest spokesperson in Washington state, winner of the 2005 Young Leadership Award for NAAR, raised over $10,000 last year for autism-related causes, Honorary Member of the Women’s Council of Realtors (alongside Superior Court Justice Mary Yiu) with regards to my work with NAAR</p>

<p>ASL Club President (11th grade), ASL club member 9-11 (club disbanded in 12), fundraised and did charity work, participated in statewide Sign-Off for two years running and received 4th and 3rd place medals</p>

<p>ASL interpreting internship, interpreted two hours per week at nearby elementary school for a class of Deaf 5th and 6th graders, one of only two students chosen for the internship out of approximately 300</p>

<p>3 years varsity gymnastics, lettered all three, chosen as one of six to represent our school at the regional level on beam</p>

<p>2 years varsity swimming (no letter though :frowning: )</p>

<p>I’ve won a few minor awards: Academic letters, three ASL letters, Bon-Macy’s essay contest winner, et cetera, but nothing really at a national level.</p>

<p>And now, the list:
I applied to the University of Washington in November, to meet the merit scholarship deadline. I’m a legacy and state resident.
I’m also applying to UNC–Chapel Hill, Washington U., and Rice.
Western Washington U. and Central Washington U. are my safeties, but their applications aren’t due until March, so I have a lot of time.</p>

<p>What are your opinions on the three reaches? I know it’s a long shot…but I’d be perfectly happy at the UW, so it’s okay. Thanks in advance for any critique…</p>

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<p>I’m kind of new with predictions, but even so…</p>

<p>UW = match / slight safety.
UNC = slight reach
Rice = reach </p>

<h2>washington U = slight reach</h2>

<p>i’m also applying to UW + in-state, and people have said i’m good, so for sure you will probably make it in there. you got solid SAT scores, class rank is high, and though GPA got affected, it’s definitely still up there. Your EC, as compared to others I have seen go to places similar to your list, is kind of skim…but I’m not in the position to judge you in that area since yours is definitely more potent than my list. Overall, I’d say you’re in great shape.</p>

3

<p>Really?</p>

<p>Wow, thanks…I really appreciate the encouragement, especially now. I’ve been feeling kind of lazy and worthless of late.</p>

<p>Oh, and I’ve been working 25-30 hours a week, at Office Depot…does that influence my odds at all, if I’ve only had the job for 2-3 months?</p>

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<p>Uhh… 2 B’s is not that bad. I average about 4 A’s, 2-3 B’s and a C this year in my classes, but that is because I have 9 (6 IB, 2 AP), and the teachers are pretty much crazy.</p>

<p>At first I thought you did something like fail half your classes. 2 B’s… is nothing.</p>

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<p>LOL. Thanks, again, for the encouragement and kind words. I’m just not used to getting B’s, is all…especially since the B’s were in precalc II (a class I took in HS last year, and got an A in…I’m in Running Start now, so the Bs are in CC classes) and acting (my favorite subject in the entirety of the known world…go figure).</p>

<p>I really appreciate the help. Anyone else?</p>

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<p>Bumping one time before I go to bed…</p>

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<p><em>tear</em> <em>sniffle</em> …Why won’t anyone reply to me anymore…:'(</p>

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<p>Oh wow.</p>

<p>“I screwed up really bad”</p>

<p>… and got 2 B’s</p>

<p>big shock!! =p</p>

<p>UW = would be surprised if you don’t make it. if your status is ‘reviewed and final decision is pending’, you should be able to know if you got in or not but clicking ‘students’ (on the myuw page), & scrolling down to ‘unofficial transcript’. click it - if you get a student ID # it means you are in. and CHECK YOUR MAIL! =D you should be getting a response shortly.</p>

<p>UNC-CH - big reach since you are out of state.</p>

<p>washington u/rice - reach. i think you have a better shot than unc-ch. rice is more likely than washington u.</p>

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<p>I know they’re all reaches, and I’m okay with that. I’d be totally happy at the UW…at this point, the UW is really my only hope, so if I don’t get in, I’m screwed up the ying-yang, so to speak.</p>

<p>Thanks for the input, though.</p>

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<p>why does everyone think UNC is so hard to get into, i know so many ppl that have gotten in there out of state. Personally, i think that UCLA and UVA are the toughest out of state schools to get into.</p>

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<p>get rid of CWU as a safety…stick with WWU or WSU…i go to garfield…and half of our class was accepted by CWU so its not that good…but i got UW (ED) :)</p>

<p>And your stats are better than mine</p>

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<p>hey adams. They are reaches for everyone if you look at tests only. Here’s how I see it. As long as you have the minimum average accepted SAT score you stand a good chance (after all, they accepted it). GPA is highly unreliable to base acceptance on because of courseload rigor, different difficulties, etc. Nevertheless, what gains acceptance is uniqueness. </p>

<p>In my opinion, the students that have 2300+ SAT with 760+ on all SAT II’s, top 1%, and the usual math, science, music (in this case violin) recognitions are screwed. Complete toss up because THERE ARE SO MANY. Now, if you have a mediocre test taker (2000-2100) with good enough rank, SAT II’s, and the hardest courseload, but with unique traits like being a freelance photographer, poet, artist who paints in styles of certain artists, etc then you stand a great chance.</p>

<p>That speaking thingy and the ASL stuff might make you stand out. Try to make your essays unique as well and you have a damn good shot in my opinion.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Ragnarok…I’m going to print your post up and hang it over my bed, it makes me feel a lot better. :P</p>

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<p>The lethal bump of DOOOOOOM!!!</p>

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<p>2 Bs! ::gasp:: You really did screw up. Maybe you should just stay at the community college.</p>

<p>Come on, you’re in a much better position than the vast majority of high school seniors. Your SATs, class rank and GPA are, to reference my favorite Brit sketch comedy, absolutely fabulous. Maybe they could be better, but really almost everyone thinks their stats could be a little bit better. I do understand the anxiety (I’m already bracing myself for rejection letters), but your a strong applicant whose competitive at all your schools, even the ones you identified as reaches. Kids have been accepted to Rice and WashU with SATs and GPAs lower than yours (not to say yours are low, but you know what I mean) so I’d hope for the best. Plus if you’re perfectly content going to the UW then you’re all set because you will get into the UW. So quit whining k.</p>

<p>Comment: Doesn’t it suck when your high school cuts the Honors program? My school did that two years, unfortunately one year before I was eligible for Running Start, but now I’m also full time CC student. Where are you in Washington? I’m in Seattle.</p>

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<p>LOL. Your comments are going up next to the last ones I posted over my desk. I really appreciate the encouragement.</p>

<p>I’m in Burien…I go to Highline Community, but I’m technically enrolled at Tyee High School. What school do you go to?</p>

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<p><<now, if=“” you=“” have=“” a=“” mediocre=“” test=“” taker=“” (2000-2100)=“” with=“” good=“” enough=“” rank,=“” sat=“” ii’s,=“” and=“” the=“” hardest=“” courseload,=“” but=“” unique=“” traits=“” like=“” being=“” freelance=“” photographer,=“” poet,=“” artist=“” who=“” paints=“” in=“” styles=“” of=“” certain=“” artists,=“” etc=“” then=“” stand=“” great=“” chance.=“”>></now,></p>

<p>Hey, I’m a mediocre 2100er with a solid rank and GPA, but also a rugged environmentalist whose spends every summer living and working in the backcountry and also studies Arabic and constructs natural languages in her free time. You think that sets me apart?</p>

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<p><em>low whistle</em> …Yeah. More than.</p>

<p>I’m a mediocre test taker too–2140 SAT, as you can see above–but don’t have anything, really, to set me apart. All I have is the NAAR work and interpreting internship, really…two of my brothers are autistic, and I’d like to go into pediatric neurology at some point, so most of my essays dealt with that.</p>

<p>I like languages, too…but I’m crap at learning them. Trying to teach myself Spanish at the moment.</p>

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<p>I taught myself Latin =) and found it near useless and forgot it.</p>

<p>Japanese— I read manga and watch anime! =)</p>

<p>German— I love German Rock because its the perfect language for heavy metal. Harsh and powerful</p>

<p>Spanish— I live 3 minutes from mexico…</p>

<p>PS: Going, if that doesn’t set you apart. I don’t know *** will.</p>

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<p>Sign that the SAT is junk:</p>

<p>My math score : 760</p>

<p>Math IIC: 800 (harder material, while sick without any prep)</p>