Hi, CC!
I've listed my schools in priority order (UPenn, Tufts, Vassar, NYU, Geneseo). I'm unsure about applying to UPenn, which has been my dream school for quite awhile- I would love to go there, obviously, but I think that my low GPA moves me into the next-to-no-chance category. Should I even consider wasting my ED on UPenn, or should I use it on a more sensible school like Tufts? Is Tufts unreasonable as well? I may consider NYU, but if it costs more than 30K I'll have to pass. I am close enough to commute but would rather not. If I have a shot of getting into Penn I'm willing to try, but I've been told that my GPA is too low. Vassar seems to me like a reasonable target school. It seems like Geneseo is a good safety school (Though I'm also applying to Hofstra and Stonybrook to be extra safe), but I've been told that they've been very inconsistent and unpredictable in terms of admittance.
Unweighted GPA: 93 (3.8)
Weighted GPA: 95 (One online calculator estimated around 4.27 for a weighted GPA, but I know that every school calculates it differently.)
Trend:
Weighted GPA in:
Grade 8: 94
Grade 9: 94.98
Grade 10: 93.48
Grade 11: 96.34
Strength of High School:
Very strong- "best" HS on Long Island (although I have no idea who decided that)
SAT (All one sitting): 2160/1470 (Will take again)
CR: 800
Writing: 690
Math: 670
PSAT: 198 (JUST missed Letter of Commendation)
Subject Tests:
Literature: 720
US History: 700
Math 1: 680
Biology: 660
APs:
English Language: 5
US History: 4
Courseload:
Took all Honors and APs available to me, except for Regents Physics and Regents World History (However, I did quite well in these lower-level courses)
Junior Year:
AP English Language 11
AP US History
Intro to BC Calculus Honors
Physics Regents
Spanish 4 Honors
Latin 3 Honors
Health
Wind Ensemble (college level, most selective band in my high school)
Senior Year:
AP Macroeconomics
AP Literature
AP European History
AP Calculus
College Spanish
College Latin
Wind Ensemble
Lunch? I may drop for AP Psych
Essay: Still chipping away at it but seems good so far. My writing skills are quite good.
Recs: I've shown to my guidance counselor that I am very ambitious and I've shown a natural curiosity in Physics and AP English. My counselor and teachers like me and know me very well. English teacher runs my school's poetry club, has read a lot of my poetry, taught my college essay class and loves my writing style.
Extracurriculars:
5 years of varsity fencing, captain for two years
At least14 hours of training per week year round
Rated fencer (C15)
Top 32 in Division III Men’s Epee Nationals (2015)
5th place in County Individual Championships (2015)
3rd place in Underclassman Individual Tournament (2010)
Several fencing camps over summer
8 years playing the Bb clarinet, 1 year playing the Eb clarinet
Studied with Private Instructor for ~2 years
First chair in high school Wind Ensemble (Very selective and talented band program)
Participation in Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony, 2 years
9th Grade: 100 on NYSSMA 6 (Highest level), All-County Band
10th Grade: 99 on All-State Solo, All-State Alternate, First Chair in NYSBDA Honor Band, All-County Orchestra
11th Grade: 99 on All-State Solo for Bb Clarinet, 100 on All-State Solo for Eb Clarinet. Most likely All-State (Eb), All-State Alternate (Bb), NYSBDA Honor Band (Bb), All County (Bb or Eb)
2 years Tri-M Music Honor Society
Editor-in-Chief of School Newspaper
LIU Summer Honors Institute in Journalism (2015)
2 years Member of Literary Circle Club
4 years Member of Latin Club (Leadership positions TBD in beginning of school year)
4 years Member of Latin Honor Society (Leadership positions TBD in beginning of school year)
National Latin Exam Level I Gold Medalist (Freshman Year)
National Latin Exam Level II Silver Medalist (Sophomore Year)
National Latin Exam Level III Silver Medalist (Junior Year)
National Spanish Exam Bronze Medalist (Sophomore Year)
National Spanish Exam Bronze Medalist (Junior Year)
Most Likely NHS in senior year
Very Little Community Service, 20-30 Hours. Planning to volunteer over the summer if I can find the time.
Hooks:
White male from an upper middle class family. So basically no.