"We evaluate candidates holistically"...truth?

geedean
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:19:09 +0000

Every college swears by this maxim for admitting students.

How accurate/truthful is it?

How much do the tests/grades matter versus the essays?

I want to attend a top university…many of which reject students with 800 SATIIs and such qualifications…that I don’t have

However, I can write the hell out of an essay

It actually makes me more optimistic to see students with 800s repeatedly get rejected. I would be nervous if I did have a perfect score.

Theres a lot more than numbers to my academic record…

Me…

ACT: 33

UW GPA: 3.5
Weighted: 4.4
Part of the holistic thing is that I didn’t realize i wanted to go to a top university until halfway through sophmore year and I really turned it up
Last year I had all IB courses, (6.0 A…higher than AP level). Basically the harder my classes got over the years the better my grades got.

Class Rank: 79/500
…improved 90 places junior year

Extracurriculars:
A lot…like everyone else
baseball is the most important varsity captain
then photography club president
NHS
about 5 more less serious but I enjoy them

Extra Credit:
i’m mexican and doing engineering…not common

As previously mentioned can write the hell out of my essays

Awards: AP scholar with distinction
Science fair wins
Various other things, nothing earthshaking

How high should I be aiming?