Out of State Chances?!

seandonohue8
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:13:45 +0000

What are my chances of getting into UVA out of state? the admissions officer said I was “competitive” however I’m doubting myself.

Here is my resume:

Sean Donohue
Cary, NC 27519

Extracurricular Activities

Mass Club
As a Junior, I created a service club focusing on the community in and around the Research Triangle Park area. Although it was great how much our school was doing for those in other countries (such as Haiti and countries in Africa), I felt that many students were looking past the poverty and issues that faced our own community. I titled the organization the Mediation, Advocacy, Sacrifice, and Service Club, or MASS Club- “Service for the masses.” When the Raleigh area hit temperatures of under ten degrees on city streets, I undertook our first service project. We collected over 185 coats for men, women, and children for the Men’s and Women’s Healing Place of Raleigh. For our next service project, I was able to talk with the head adviser of the National Honor Society to advocate the creation of toiletry kits for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Because of the opportunity to work with the NHS of Green Hope, we were able to create over 70 kits that all included toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, a poncho, sanitary wipes, soap, and shampoo.

Honors Received
Member of National Honors Society at Green Hope High School
Ran for president as a Junior for NHS
Member of the National Society of High School Scholars

Youth and Government
Joined the YMCA sponsored Youth and Government program as a sophomore. I went to the state conference that same year and won the award for the Best Debater in the House of Representatives (freshmen and sophomores) for the state. I enjoyed the program and the school club so much, I ran for Vice President of my school’s chapter and won. Junior year, I went to the state conference as vice president of our club and also ran for lieutenant Governor for the state of North Carolina. It is the second highest position in the state and helps run the entire conference, focusing on the Senate. After a long and tiring weekend, I was voted into the office. As Lt. Governor, I was given the opportunity and honor of attending the YMCA’s National Youth and Government conference, called CONA (Conference on National Affairs). Held in North Carolina, the best debaters from each state in the U.S are hand picked to attend, making it highly competitive. At the week long conference this Summer, I was awarded the honor of presenting in General Assembly, the second highest accomplishment in the whole conference. I will be running the Senate this February as Lt. Governor and helping run this year’s state conference.

Mission Trips
I have gone on several mission trips in my high school career, the first being as a sophomore. A youth group from St. Michael’s in Cary flew to the Apache Reservation, south of Phoenix, Arizona. We worked with kids struggling with alcoholism, addiction, and domestic violence issues. We painted houses, fixed rotted or broken down homes, and took care of small children. Although as tiring as it was, showing leadership and dedication to a craft as I did has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I also recently went to Manassas, Virginia where I worked with kids with disabilities ranging from mild autism to mental retardation. It definitely was another defining opportunity, as it was a great teacher of compassion, and patience; two things I feel that are imperative for a great leader.

Community Service
I have volunteered with numerous organizations doing a broad range of work. To name a few, I have helped teach healthy environmental practices at Cary’s annual “Frog Fest” celebration, helped fund raise for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at Green Hope’s Annual Matt Cossa Memorial Event, Cut back and maintained the Green Hope Wetlands so that future AP Environmental students could continue to use the area for research, volunteered at Bond Park and Hemlock Bluffs helping to stop erosion and maintain natural soil composition, as well as lead the service projects in my MASS Club. Freshmen and sophomore year, I worked in the Helen Wright Center cooking and serving meals to the homeless as well as volunteered at my church, St. Mary Magdelene, as a Youth Minister to Middle School and High School kids. In Junior year alone, I logged over 100 community service hours with a total of 476 hours so far in high school.

Research
While learning more about the brain in my AP Psychology class during my Junior year, I decided to job shadow a Pediatric Neurologist, Dr. Kevin M. Rathke, out of Raleigh Neurology. Over the course of a week, I spent over 35 hours in the office with Dr. Rathke seeing patients who had abnormal neurological disorders. The experience furthered my interest in Neuroscience and my passion of medicine.
After Junior year of high school, I applied for an internship position at Duke University. I cold-called over 50 professors in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS) until I was offered 3 different intern opportunities. I chose to work under Dr. Edward Levin in a Neurotoxicology lab. I helped study the teratology of nicotine, as well as helped develop new drug therapies for nicotine addiction. I worked around 22 hours a week for my 3 month Summer Vacation. We studied Prenatal exposure to nicotine and its effects on cognition and memory, as well as studying how different regions of the brain react to new drugs. It definitely had a personal touch, as both of my parents are avid smokers.

Published Writings
Worked with the Independent Weekly newspaper as a sportswriter covering home and away football games for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, and others. I have been published in their newspaper and have interviewed many top professionals, such as Head Coach Cutcliffe for Duke University as well as Head Coach Davis of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Sports
Freshman year: Starting JV Wrestling-119 pound weight class
Sophomore year: Starting Varsity Wrestling-125 pound weight class
Junior year: Starting Varsity Cross Country
Senior year: Starting Track and Field

Work History
Lab Technician at Duke University: Worked under Dr. Edward Levin PhD in Neurotoxicology
May 2010-August 2010. Summer Internship, approximately 22 hrs. per week.
Starbucks Coffee Company: Barista
October 2009-Present
Summer: 25 hrs. per week
School: 18 hrs. per week
Chick Fil A: Team Member and Trainer
February 2008-October 2009
Summer: 20 hrs. per week
school: 13 hrs. per week

Brief Overview
SAT: Math:620 Reading: 650 Writing: 640 total: 1910 Essay:11/12
GPA: 4.5 weighted and 3.71 unweighted (out of 4)
AP Scores:
Range lowest to highest achieving: 1-5
AP Environmental Science: 4
AP Comparative Governments: 4
AP U.S History: 5
AP Psychology: 5
Received the AP Scholar with Honors Award from The College Board
Total of 7 AP’s taken in High School.
Dual enrolled at Wake Technical Community College taking a total of 7 credit hours. At the end of Senior year, will be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) through the North Carolina Huskin’s Program.
President of 2 clubs (M.A.S.S. Club and Youth and Government Club)
National Honors Society Member
Lt. Governor for the State of North Carolina’s Youth and Government Program
Will graduate as an NC Academic Scholar
Highly self-motivated and self-driven
Has always had an innate desire to excel, no matter what the task or obstacle.
Has attempted to incorporate service to others in all aspects of life.

“From a small child, I learned early on that the best way to live is one of full engagement. When I say full engagement, I mean giving every single activity, idea, and task 110% of my ability and effort. This idea alone is one that I constantly live by and feel is essential for success.”