Notorious Procrastinator Applying Everywhere Help!

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>I have all of my letters of recommendation and all of my essays complete!! for all of my applications! I’m applying everywhere Regular Decision.</p>

<p>I am an Ivy League fiend like everyone else on this board (but i REALLY suck at math.)</p>

<p>BROWN* (first choice), Columbia, Dartmouth, (my dad wants me to apply to Harvard)–then some other schools like Northwestern, Georgetown, NYU</p>

<p>White Female/ NJ/ Public school</p>

<p>SATS: (1st time around) 800 Writing, 790 verbal, and eeeeek 590 Math
(2nd time around) 800 writing, 800 verbal, and emmmm…630 Math (2230)</p>

<p>SATII: Literature-800, World History 750, Spanish w/listening 710</p>

<p>3.878 GPA out of 4.0 unweighted/ 4.472 out of 5.0 weighted
-no class rank est. top 5% of 600 seniors</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
-My “hook” is that I’m a writer. I’ve published a few short stories and poems in a few pretty good literary magazines.
-Also published childrens stories.
-Currently writing a novel (thats what my English teacher wrote my recommendation about, among other things)
-Editor in chief of school newspaper since 11th grade
-Editor in chief of school literary magazine since 11th grade
-Summer Internship at local newspaper</p>

<p>Also:
-Performed piano at Carnegie Hall twice. (I won an improv jazz competition)
-Volunteer over 500 hours at Soup Kitchen
-NJ All-State ranked Alto II vocalist
-school chorus accompanist</p>

<p>I wrote a really good essay. If there’s anything I can do correctly on the application, its write a good essay. But, I’m afraid my grades might not be up-to-par for Brown or any other Ivy. </p>

<p>Last–Courses (as I said, i stink in math)</p>

<p>Freshman year: Honors English, Honors World cultures, Honors Bio, Algebra II, Honors Spanish 2</p>

<p>Soph: Honors literature, AP European History, Honors Chemistry, Spanish 3 Honors, Chinese 1, Geometry–(>for dummies)</p>

<p>Junior: AP Literature, AP US history, Honors Physics, Chinese 2, Spanish 4 Honors, AP Government Politics, and really bad math–Trigonometry (everyone else took Precalc/Calc)</p>

<p>Senior: AP Lit, AP world history, AP environmental Science, Chinese 3, AP spanish, Precalculus, Independent Study (for novel)</p>

<p>AP scores: 4-European history…5 English Lang…5 Writing or w/e its called, 4 Gov/Politics</p>

<p>Some insight please!</p>

2

<p>oh yes I also forgot:</p>

<p>President of NHS
Nat’l Merit Commended
AP Scholar with distinction? or commended?</p>

<p>I teach piano lessons. I have had 5 students for the past 3 years.</p>

<p>I work 3 days/week from 6 PM-10 PM waitressing at local restaurant.</p>

<p>-1st in family to attend college. </p>

<p>The thing I’m worried about:</p>

<p>I havent taken Calculus! Am I crazy? or is this a worthy worry?</p>

3

<p>I’ll start off by saying that you’re insane (like everyone else here me included) but you have amazing credentials and a very impressive list of EC. With that in mind I think you are a strong competitor at Brown and maybe Dartmouth. Columbia and Harvard are reaches but overall I think you will get into atleast one of the ivy schools that you apply too. And not having calculus I couldn’t see how that really hurts you unless you plan to major in math or math based sciences. I wish you the best of luck.</p>

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<p>I agree with Yoshi, you’ll get into one of these hopefully although its not certain. Northwestern and Georgetown are even a better bet. NYU is a sure bet. My only advice is to add a school between NYU and Gtown/NU, its too big a gap. Also, will you like NYU? Its nothing like the other schools. You might want to try a place like Emory or Vassar to hedge your bets a little.</p>

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<p>I think the list looks pretty good. When had to do 10 apps last year all during winter break, I sure wished I was a writers. lol</p>

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<p>not having calc does hurt trust me…</p>

<p>imagine a student with the same exact gpa, sat, and ecs as yours that perhaps took calc…</p>

7

<p>BROWN* (first choice)- Rejected (Low Math SAT)
Columbia- Rejected
Dartmouth-Rejected
Northwestern- Accepted
Georgetown- Rejected
NYU- Accepted</p>

<p>I’m sorry if this came off a little harsh… Not taking Calc, low math SAT scores, I’m just not convinced. Colleges will also see that you are Really, REALLY good at Reading and such, and that is really impressive. </p>

<p>PS… when you say “Ranked Musican,” that could mean anything from 1 out of 1,000 or 999/1000.</p>

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<p>In the NJ all-state chorus, I’m # 3 in my vocal range. There are about 30 people who are also Alto II in the chorus. Many more try out but do not make it. </p>

<p>On another note–I’m obviously trying to sell myself as a literature person. I’ve been told that colleges try to create a well-rounded student body, but want “angular” students. Although I am not very gifted (to say the least) in math, my abilities in literature are unique.</p>

<p>So you guys think no chance at Brown, whatsoever? I’m hoping that along with my skills in lit, it might help that i’m the first person in my family to go to college? </p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback, by the way. Post back!</p>

9

<p>I think the people here are being really harsh. Why would it matter if she didn’t take Calculus or get that great of a math SAT score (630 isn’t horrific)? After all, she is a writer with near perfect credentials for a writer. I think the Ivies will realize this. They aren’t looking for someone that has two 700’s without a focus. I’m sure two 800’s in your specialized subjects will be more impressive. How else would someone show off their writing skills? How else would a high school writer get in? You’ve done every reasonable thing that I could think of for an aspiring writer in high school. Also, assuming that you’re not going to be taking any mathematics classes in college, they’ll think even more highly of you. Writing is more important for all of your classes than math. What is math’s use in some history course? I only hope that when I apply to college, my transcript will look as close to yours as possible (I’m also an aspiring writer in high school who isn’t great in math). I almost forgot to tell you your chances…In my opinion, your chances are great. I think you’ll get into a few of these, especially with your great essays. Oh, and apply to Harvard, you might be surprised.</p>

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<p>oh man. I took a precalc test today and failed. god forbid i ever have to take a required calc course in college. my GPA would plummet to unchartered depths. </p>

<p>Btw…is math required as core curriculum in most colleges?</p>

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<p>no worries, youll most likely get in at maybe 2 or 3 ivies.</p>

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<p>Wow, you sure do suck at math though. Never seen such a discrepancy in scores.</p>

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<p>But to make up for sounding like an A S S, you do have very impressive everything else and with good essays, many colleges can overlook one weakness.</p>

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<p>i remember reading colleges prefer 800 verbals with low math over 800 maths with lower verbals.</p>