<p>So I recently transferred to a small (read:tiny) town in the South, and no one from my school is looking at top universities (except instate ones, we do live in VA, and military academies). I don’t know my counselor at all, and she doesn’t know me, also she’s brand new so I don’t trust her advice extremely well. My parents, of course, think I walk on water, so I can’t trust their opinions either. </p>
<p>What I would REALLY appreciate is if someone could read my stats and tell me what universities I should be considering as matches/reaches and where I have a reasonable shot etc. Just the range/type of schools. So I don’t unfluence ya’lls opinions, I won’t say the colleges I’m considering, except right now LSU is my safety…</p>
<p>Okay, so…
Unw GPA: 4.0 (haven’t gotten a B yet)</p>
<p>Courseload:
(fresh) All Pre-IB/Honors, electives were art, speech&debate, and spanish II
(soph) All Pre-IB/Honors, took IB Chem I and IB Physics I simontaneously and elective psych
(JR) AP Chem, AP Psych, AP English, APUSH, Anatomy & Genetics, Honors Precalc
-I’m also currently inrolled in VASTS, which is an online, college-credit, tech and engineering course through NASA that may result in summer week at the NASA base.-
(SR, projected) AP Gov, AP Euro His, AP Calc, AP English, AP Physics, Ecology (might try AP stats over the summer, I don’t know if it’s possible)
<em>If it matters (I’m hoping it doesn’t hurt me too much) I only took Spanish through level III (soph. year), I really struggled with it and didn’t realistically have time to continue it and pursue science as much as I want</em></p>
<p>ECs:
-Varsity XC/track every season; will be captain sr year, but I don’t have a prayer of running in college
-varsity debate 9, 10 (new school doesn’t have it, trying to start a team for next year…if successful I will be founder, captain, and probably de facto coach)
-active in youth group
-Worked at a fast food restaraunt summer between 9 & 10
-Took Infectious Diseases and Nutrition seminars at BU between 10 & 11
-Next summer probably volunteering abroad
-hopefully doing the NASA summer program
-Just applied for a volunteer position at the Virginia Living Museum (science/wildlife museum locally)
-Young Republicans 9, 10
-Math Honors League 11, 12</p>
<p>Extra Information:
-I have little to no awards to speak of…
-I transferred schools after sophmore year and it has been an extremely difficult transition to say the least.
-My English teacher has a reputation for writing stellar recs, and she’s told a few people that I’m her favorite student and wrote my rec for the nasa program, also my AP Chem teacher likes me well enough, so I should have good reccomendations.
-I’m trying to show a “strong, focused interest” in science…hopefully it’s working?
-I’m a decent writer, and said english teacher will likely review my essays…
-I haven’t taken the SATs yet (two weekends…), but I received a 200 on the PSAT with no calculator… I don’t remember the breakdown but my math killed my score, obviously.
-My class rank is currently in the toilet (17th) because I attended an IB school sophmore year and therefore couldn’t take any AP classes, whereas many of my classmates did, and so they are ahead of me. I’m going to go have a chat with my counselor soon…it seems a little unfair to me.
-I’m in the top tax bracket and white, so no way I’m claiming any sort of disadvantaged childhood</p>
<p>Also, quick question:
If they ask for extra info/extenuating circumstances, should I talk about the transfer, or is it too commonplace of an event? </p>
<p>I know this is a lot to process but I would dealy appreciate feedback, because half the time I feel like I’m aiming too low and other times I feel like my ego is too big, and I’m going to get rejected at all the schools I’m looking at. So please! Help me out!</p>