Suggestions for an UTTERLY confused junior?

cottoncandy
Tue, 05 May 2009 22:21:41 +0000

DISCLAIMER: I am not a huge fan of the whole “admissions game”, and do not intend to ask what (to the hundredth place) my exact chances are of getting into a particular school. I’ve just barely started looking for colleges, and don’t really know where to visit or get more info on, so suggestions would be awesome! I’ll also place where I’ve thought of at the bottom. Thanks in advance! (I know that if you go to my school you’ll know who I am… sorry!)

School: suburban Phila, v. competitive (sends many grads to “top” schools)

GPA: 3.71/4-- 3 B’s sophomore year (Precalc H, Chem H, Spanish 2H- this was a really strange year for me as my father moved out of the state among other things, but I wouldn’t include that in an app), 1 junior- AP Calc AB

Junior Sched: Calc AB, Physics H, AP Lang & Comp, Spanish 3H, AP US History, Philosophy, Theology

Senior: AP Gov, Spanish 4H, AP Stat, AP Environ. Science (NOT taking as a joke, I really am interested in sustainable development, etc.), AP Lit, Journalism H
Considering a course at local college (Penn)- one of my teachers suggested it

SAT:
took twice, highest combined= 2360 (800CR, 760M, 800W- 12 on essay)
Will take SAT 2 in US History, Lit, and world history or math/physics in June

EXTRACURRICULARS ( I really do care about the ones I’ve continued with)
-JV soccer (9)
-Track (Pole Vault, 9, 10, 11, 12)-- JV, then varsity
-World Affairs Club (10, 11, 12)-- sort of a Model UN
-Amnesty International (10, 11, 12)-- Co-Pres (11), then Pres (12)
-buildOn (community service/activism- 10, 11, 12)-- VP (11), potentially Pres (12)
-Theater- Publicity crew one show(9), Crew and then “Crewhead” (10- like vars. credit)
-Culinary Arts Club (10,11)
-Writer for school newspaper (10, 11, 12)
-Features Editor- newspaper (11)
-News Editor (12)
-9 years of piano lessons- no competitions, I just love to play
-Teaching myself guitar

-Member of Student Steering and Advisory Committee for World Affairs Council Phila

COMMUNITY SERVICE (basically, my passion):
-Volunteered delivering food boxes (5 hr/month) with JRA for upwards of six years
-SAT tutor disadvantaged students for 2 hours on most Saturdays
-hundreds of hours with buildOn (www.buildon.org- a GREAT organization) at various projects
-Volunteer Coordinator for the Friendship Circle (11)


Was selected as one of twelve Philadelphia students to travel on an all-expenses paid “Trek” to Mali through buildOn. We helped to build a school and lived with local families-- didn’t count hours, but it was 4+ each day for two weeks. (Another plug for buildOn!)
[To where they’re needed | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/04/2009](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/42464642.html)


I really do care about learning and being in an intellectual (though not cutthroat) environment. I’m also very interested in international/global affairs, though a strong IR program is not a prerequisite for potential colleges.
ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED! PEACE!!!