While my grades and test scores are acceptable, my extracurriculars are seemingly arbitrary
I have maybe 15 hours of volunteering at best…
my application lacks a story, or a spike like others would say. I just kind of spent my time doing whatever seemed fun.
i had NO EXTRACURRICULARS 9th grade year. Most of my ECs and awards are concentrated in 11th grade.
Demographics
US citizen
Wyoming
Public Highschool
FGLI
Cost Constraints / Budget
The NPC seems affordable for all of my targets. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll just attend my local safeties.
Intended Major(s):
Applied Math & Computer science with a concentration in economics if offered.
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.9/4.0
Weighted HS GPA: 4.9/5.0
Class Rank: no rank
ACT/SAT/PSAT Scores: 36, 1600, and 1510
List your HS coursework
19 APS, 22 exams (5’s on most), 4 DEs
Senior year course load:
AP physics C: EM, DE Calc 3, DE linear algebra, DE discrete math, AP Spanish, AP Literature,AP CSA, AP Environment science, as well as my music electives.
Awards
I haven’t decided on how I would structure them yet.
aime and amc awards
deca glass
scioly medals (states & nats)
quizbowl award (nats)
national merit
all state band and all state orchestra
usaco gold
questbridge college prep scholars
Extracurriculars
city business internship
glorified lab assistant for cs research
fitness youtube channel (10k)
game plugins (100k)
band and orchestra (state, district, and school)
navy internship - cs & math
scioly board member / quiz bowl pres
local music NPO
jobs (seasonal farmer & waiter)
foster cats
Essays/LORs/Other
While my essays aren’t horrible, they aren’t spectacular either. I’ll definitely focus on these better before apps are due.
LORs are from my English teacher, physics teacher, and a mentor from my navy internship. I’ll also send in music supplements to schools that accept them.
Schools
No REA or ED. (I’m poor)
Columbia
UPenn
UChicago
CMU
Boston University
UMich
Stanford
and my local safeties
I’ll appreciate feedback on my extracurriculars and awards, and some comments on whether I’ll be competitive enough for the schools that I’m applying to.
You have a fine high school record. I would concentrate now on your essays…and make sure they are excellent.
As long as you have sure things that are affordable on your application list, you can apply to as many reaches as you want..but don’t do too many…because you want to do a good job.
Any chance you could reach National Merit Finalist status? What was your PSAT? You mention “National merit”. If that is the case, there are a few places where you would be able to get a full free ride guaranteed.
My budget is about 5k per year. The NPC on most of these schools are give me a low EFC and they appear to fall within what I am able to contribute. If its slightly over budget, I’m alright with taking out loans as long as I deem it reasonable.
If I end up at at my local in-state schools, I’ll be alright. At least I’ll save money that way.
My PSAT was a 1510. I am confident that I can obtain National Merit Finalist if all goes well. If that’s the case, I will definitely look into these schools that will give me good aid to attend.
Tulsa free. Alabama, if NMF, five years free tuition, 4 years housing and $4k a year. UTD and more could work
You should apply to W&L (Johnson) and SMU for the Presidential. Then run NOCs on schools like Lafayette, Franklin & Marshall, Sewanee, Tufts, Northeastern, Emory, Vandy, WUSTL and more
Look into Berea too.
I cannot imagine U Mich getting close.
Here is the meets need list. Run NPCs. Schools like Denison and Kenyon. Can they meet cost ?
It’s 3rd party but have your folks check each. You might find other names.
The most compelling reason to apply to Ivies is financial aid! Look into Colleges that Change Lives as well ctcl.org. There may be good fits for you between reaches and safeties. I get that finances are a priority.
There is free essay reader service here on CC. Go to the Essay section and follow the instructions. You are quite modest in my view: often that results in a nice essay.
Geography may help with admissions! Glad you are doing a music supplement. You can include recording/video, music resume and 1-2 music letters of recommendation, depending on what the schools accept. Congrats on your scores .
Essays don’t have to be “spectacular”. What they need to be is authentic. They must ring true. The story you tell must be your story. They are not looking for writing that will win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Not sure if you would be interested in tech schools but you might want to look at MIT since they were the first school to announce they would be tuition-free for students whose parents make less than 200k and they’re known to be very generous with their financial aid. Also MIT has a major that combines computer science, economics and data science. It’s another reach and you have a lot of them so you might not be looking to add more reaches but just thought to throw it out there in case their program would interest you.
I think a 1510 would qualify from any state since it should translate to a 226 or higher. Even states like MA with high cutoffs tend to still be around 225 at most and this student is from Wyoming.
You’re in a really good position, especially being from WY and FGLI. Your current approach for school selection seems to be “cast a wide net” and see what happens or see who gives you the best deal; like an auction. This could work, but if you want to improve your chances significantly, focus on a few need-blind schools and shape your application to demonstrate strong fit, i.e. you just belong there and they have to accept you. Between your seasonal farming job and fostered cats, you can probably come up with a very good “story.”