My chances

Colleges & Universities Pomona College
1

<p>Female junior from Hawaii
1/2 white, 1/4 Mexican, 1/4 Asian
Mother has Master’s degree, father never went to college</p>

<p>No GPA… my high school doesn’t do GPAs, but I would estimate it to be 3.9-4.0 unweighted
No class rank, but I am definitely in the top 5% of my class, probably top 1%
SATs: 760 Critical Reading, 680 Math, 800 Writing, 2240 composite… this was when I took it last year, I’m retaking it on Saturday and aiming to increase my math to the 700s
SAT IIs: I’m going to take Math I, English, and Biology, and my practice tests are all in the high 700s for each</p>

<p>For the three years I’ve been in school, I’ve taken 7 subjects a semester, and they’ve been the most challenging ones my school offered. When I graduate, I’ll have 5.5 English credits (2 of those will be from self-directed studies where I’ve taught myself), 4.5 social studies inc. history, 4 science (1 self-directed), 4 math (up to trig), 4 fine arts, 2 PE, 3 “leadership”, and 3 foreign language (Hawaiian). My school doesn’t offer any honors or AP courses, but the Pomona website said that this fact would not count against me.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Mock Trial: in 9th grade I was a witness and got the judge’s honor for Outstanding Witness at regional level. In 10th grade I was a prosecutor and got the judge’s honor for Outstanding Prosecutor at regional level. In 11th grade I coached my school’s team, and was also lead prosecutor (for which I won Outstanding Prosecutor twice at regional level). In 12th grade I will reprise both my coaching position and my role as prosecutor. Mock Trial has been something I’m really passionate about - I joined it on an impulse, and I wound up loving it. Each year I’ve devoted upwards of 300 hours to it.</p>

<p>Model UN: In 11th grade, I was a delegate at the Hawaii Model UN Convention. In 12th grade, I plan to take on a coaching role (and reprise my position as delegate).</p>

<p>Workshops: In the summer after 9th grade, I presented a workshop at a “Coalition of Essential Schools” conference in Miami. The workshop was attended by around 50 students and teachers from across the country. It lasted for around 4 hours and focused on student voice and ways to encourage student leadership. In 10th grade I was a co-presenter at another CES conference in Denver - this one focusing on school improvement through student action research.</p>

<p>Other: I was the co-founder of my school’s literary magazine, but it turned out that the rest of the students weren’t particularly literary-minded, so it shut down after 6 months. My school has a student-taught class program, where a student teaches an 8-week course for other students. I have taught several of these - Speech/Debate, Intro to Mock Trial, and Graphic Design.</p>

<p>Next year, I have to do a 400 hour senior project. I am going to take on production of the yearbook by myself. I’m going to be responsible for everything - photos, budgeting, layout, fundraising, and sales are all my job.</p>

<p>Volunteering: In 10th grade, I spent 120 hours volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in a second grade classroom. Several times, the teacher wasn’t there and didn’t have a substitute, so I wound up instructing the kids myself. In second semester of 10th grade, I spent around 100 hours volunteering at a local nonprofit that supplies housing to mentally ill people. I still volunteer there for a couple of hours each weekend.</p>

<p>I am (at the least) a National Merit Commended student. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be a Semifinalist, and if the cutoffs from previous years are any indicators, a Finalist as well.</p>

<p>My biggest passion is writing. I’ve always loved it. I taught myself how when I was 3, and ever since then, it’s been my biggest love. Right now, I’m writing a novel (as an extracurricular project), but I also write poetry, short stories, essays, songs, everything. I want to be an English major, with a concentration in creative writing.</p>

<p>I’ve been researching colleges since I knew what college was, and out of every college I’ve looked at, Pomona is my absolute favorite. I know this was long (I’m sorry), but I need to know if I need a reality check or not. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>katie13 - I think you stand a good chance at Pomona, but bear in mind it is very selective - certainly apply! If you’re from Hawaii you might want to also consider Stanford as well as Scripps and Pitzer.</p>

3

<p>katie13</p>

<p>While nothing in this life is guaranteed, I can’t see how you would not be accepted at Pomona.</p>

<p>Your respectably high SATs (if you get your Math over 700, that would be even better), demonstrated personal initiative across a wide spectrum of academic, artistic and extracurricular activities, and commitment to ongoing personal improvement marks you as a real leader with that special “something” that they claim to look for in applicants.</p>

<p>Keep up the good work in senior year, apply to Pomona ED1 or 2, and spend a little bit of extra time on those essays to make sure they not only tell them more about you than the blanks on the app form allow, but that they are tight, logical and really shine! Put a little personality into them. Don’t be afraid to use a bit of gentle humour –*but only if it works with the rest of the piece. A suggestion for what it’s worth: if possible, use one of the essays to explain WHY you take on the extra work and challenge yourself. If appropriate, write with passion about your love of learning for its own sake, and how you strive to become a better person and a healthy, sincerely contributing citizen of the world. Speak of your interesting mixed heritage if you like, and how it allows you a different perspective on life. Not a plea for affirmative action, just a nod to what makes you, YOU. Show them that you are working toward self-awareness, putting your life in context and understanding your place in society. Lessons learned, goals to be achieved, etc. </p>

<p>That is the essence of a true liberal arts education. Make it clear to the good folks at Pomona that you understand that and embrace it. </p>

<p>One last thing: Good luck, katie13. I truly hope you get your wish!</p>

4

<p>sarsfield: I’m probably going to wind up applying to Scripps and Pitzer as well. I fell in love with the idea of a college consortium - smaller communities within a larger one sound perfect for me. And it’s just my luck how selective it is. Such is life, though. I’m absolutely going to give it a shot.</p>

<p>enkephalon: I’m going to aim for ED1, I think. Thanks so much for the essay ideas and feedback!</p>