Ivy League RD Chances (Alternative High School Curriculum)

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi,
This is my first CC post so I apologize as I get acquainted with this platform.
I attend a Waldorf school, which is vastly different from public or even other private schools so bear with me here.

Ivies:
Penn
Brown

Others:
William and Mary
Colgate
Wellesley
Wake Forest
Duke
UNC?

*If decide to retake subject tests, then possibly Harvard
Intended Major: Political Science, History.
Penn: Criminology
State (if domestic applicant): CA
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 70-80k
Hooks: father struggles with anger problems, addiction, Jewish (not sure if hook or harm), learning disabilities

GPA: 3.93/4.0 (It’s technically out of 4.3 but in my application I’m specifying that many classes don’t even offer A+s)
We have the block system so every four weeks, I have a new class.
First Semester Classes:
Economics
Optics
Calculus and Chaos Theory
Zoology

Track Classes:
AP Calc AB
Honors Bio (Hardest Bio track in school and studying AP outside)
Senior Essay, American Transcendentalism
Mandatory art classes

Outside of school: (Apex Learning)
AP Macroeconomics
AP U.S. Government
AP Spanish Language and Culture

I got a C+ in Astronomy last year. Because of the abstract curriculum and learning disabilities I have, there was no possibility of me doing well in the course. Trust me, I pulled all-nighters basically every night for three weeks studying, and obviously, they did little good. I tried tutors too, so I’m taking an online college level one to hopefully make up for this detriment.

Junior fall, I had several family illnesses and five members of my immediate family or very close extended family in the hospital simultaneously. My family was considering moving back to the East Coast; it was a tumultuous time all around and my grades declined.
I’m not sure if I should express all of this because it seems like too many liabilities for a rep. to see on an app.

ACT: 33 (would have been higher 34-36 had my science been better)

Extracurriculars:
I have many but these are my main ones

Club Volleyball, School Varsity Statistician:
9, 10, 11, 12
Basketball JV and Varsity Managers and Statistician:
11,12
-develop algorithms
-founded and established iPad coding programs for future statisticians
-computer programming
-collaborate with Stanford women’s teams since Fall 2012

Singing:
9, 10, 11, 12
GRAMMY winning ensembles for about 8 years, hold many leadership roles
11,12
Another GRAMMY winning ensemble for about 2 years, hold many leadership roles
-section leader, premier level, etc.
-amazing performance opps.
-voice lessons

Model UN/ Politics:
10, 11, 12
-Myriad awards
-Club President
-Increase Club Membership by 200%
-Liaison to local United Nations Association Chapter
-Teacher for another local high school’s Model UN Team

11, 12
World Affairs Council Summer Institute and Student Ambassador
-Work with United Nations Association and GenUN on Gender Issues
-Founded and President of Darfur Fundraising Initiative (2007-Present)
-Anti-Eviction Mapping Project

Teenage Change blog
-Fashion Blog
Intern for local Blog
-Social Media Coverage for non-profit
-Poetry
(Dad is writer)

History:
9, 10, 11, 12
-Many History Projects
-Manuscript Coding Project from 1600s England
-Volunteer, Intern for City and State Historical Societies
-Developed Initiative to Engage students in colonial VA and provide funding to explore local sites
-Holocaust History Project with a local Jewish agencies, and it is currently providing connections for 300+ people in area

2

Your credentials are so unique that it is hard to provide anything that would resemble a “chance” prediction. If you have won Emmys-well then I would think you would be a catch for almost any school. I’d drop the qualifications. You provide a lot of qualifiers. To me it sounds like this,I’d have a Pulitzer if I could write well and if I did not have so many responsibilities. I would have a Academy Award if not for the fact that I lack talent. I’d say that is how some of the LD speak is beginning to sound to me. Academic achievement requires a complex set of skills. When some are absent the level of achievement is likely to be lower. So, it does not make so much sense to suggest grades and scores would be higher if not for x and y. But your ECs seem like they may be very appealing to very competitive schools.

3

@lostaccount Absolutely agreed-the last thing I want to express is remorse. I was just expressing my p.o.v. as an individual who has experienced academic adversity. I also don’t know how some of the most competitive schools will view LDs, I guess. Thank you for the advice :slight_smile:

4

You need to be sure you understand what those particular colleges look for, especially the more competitive. And what hooks really are.

5

@lookingforward Sorry to barge in, but what do you mean understanding what some colleges look for?

6

@ayyyyyyy @lookingforward I am aware of what the colleges I am looking at favor and prioritize in students. I have done extensive research into institutional priorities, from something as simple as looking at construction on college campuses to talking to alumni and those with whom I have connections, whether it be through friends, professors or coaches. However, some schools may view my religion as a hook while others (a majority today) will not. Similarly, my experience with LD shows determination and ambition without tangible credentials, a great draw for some schools but negative for others. I understand my profile is unique-that’s why I am asking for specific advice. I also identify as LGBTQ, if that helps.

7

Construction? Religion as a consideration at those colleges? (That’s so outdated that I barely know what to say.) Or your father’s anger as a hook? “my experience with LD shows determination and ambition without tangible credentials…”

I know you’re trying to be frank, but ambition alone isn’t an “it.” You have to consider the competition, nearly all of whom are ambitious. They can be distinguished by what they did about that, what they did take on and accomplish, their impact.

8

@lookingforward Any specific suggestions for improvement would be welcome. (I was just providing examples as far as the construction part.) I haven’t really been set up for the college admissions world due to my education which literally deemphasizes it quite strongly.

9

Why not UCB, UCLA? And USC?

10

@ClarinetDad16 I didn’t do UCs because my parents are moving back to the east coast to be closer to family which would disallow instate tuition for me. USC is a possibility, though.

11

You look like a very interesting person. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get into most of the universities on your list.

If you really like Harvard, I’d suggest applying there as I personally feel that you stand a really good shot.

Best of luck!

12

I recently submitted my SAT subject test scores of 690 USH and 700 Math I to Harvard and Penn. How much of a detriment will they be?

13

Honestly, both the scores aren’t that great by Ivy-league standards. They will definitely be a bit detrimental, but I dont think you should worry much about it because the rest of your application looks quite strong.

14

What does Grammy winning ensemble mean?

15

^Yes, I was wondering the same. Grammy while you were an active performing member? How big is the ensemble? That seems like your only possible hook – the other things you listed are not hooks, and may be TMI for a college application.

You also need safeties – are you a senior? If you are and put all the stuff in your post in your apps, you may not get into most of them – it seems like there are a lot of excuses and a lot of baggage coming through. That can hurt you odds of acceptance.

16

@anotherdude Thank you. @ClarinetDad16 Yes. @intparent Yes Grammy while I was an active performer. I did not add any of the superfluous commentary at all.

17

So @vibrantviolet you have won Grammy awards each of the last 8 years?

18

You have a great profile. Penn might be interested if your application for Criminology demonstrates a genuine interest. But I totally agree with the earlier posts from lostaccount, lookingforward, and intparent that you (at least in your introduction here on CC) seem to emphasize ways in which you feel you were held back or disadvantaged rather than appreciating your accomplishments. So it is good to hear you omitted “the superfluous commentary” in your apps but you also may want to stop thinking of yourself as a victim too. Is your guidance counselor or other responsible adult aware of your father’s anger management issues? He needs counseling.

19

@Oregon2016 No. My family is fairly private about the matter.

20

How detrimental will the 690 USH and 700 Math I be? I’m concerned because I felt way more solid about the rest of my application. I know this process is harsh but after 12 years of education, it would be a shame to let it come to two test scores. I thought I would do super well on all my subject tests because I am pretty good at those subjects but apparently lacked the strategy component.