What Are My Chances?

Falthor
Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:17:15 +0000

I know. I’m back. Just critique and tell me if my safeties, matches, and reaches are in their appropriate categories. I don’t want any trouble…

Trivia:
First-generation college-bound student
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican and Cuban
Second-generation high-school graduate

Cumulative GPA (weighted): 4.2
Cumulative GPA (unweighted): 3.5
Class Rank: 36/225 (Top 16%)
SAT: 1820
CR: 560
Math: 620
Writing: 670
Essay: 11

ACT Composite: 28
Essay: 11

AP Exams
AP English Language and Composition: 4
AP Calculus AB: 3
AP Spanish Language (May '09)
AP Calculus BC (May '09)
AP English Literature and Composition (May '09)

School offers 15 AP Courses, mainly to be taken in Junior and Senior year. Average number of AP courses per student per those two years: 1-2.

Just recently took an ACT with Writing this October. Scores will be sent soon.
I will take SATs again in December, as well as an additional ACT if necessary. SAT IIs will be taken in January, with potential retakes in February.

Extracurricular “Résumé” (Incomplete as of now)

Student Ambassadors Program (Grades 10-12) An elite organization that accepts only six percent of the roughly 1,000 students who attend the school. One can only enter by nomination and must survive and pass a grueling admissions process, including an on-the-spot random interview with the heads of the program. We welcome parents to the school, answer questions, and assist the Admissions Directors with our abilities.

Forensics (Grades 9-12, Varsity Grades 11-12) I practice Oral Interpretation with the Varsity Forensics: Dramatic Performance Branch. I switched to the Dramatic Performance Branch after being part of the Public Forum team in my Freshman and Sophomore years. The team is known for its dedication, teamwork, and camaraderie; we criticize each others’ performances and tweak anything in order to create a stunning performance for the judges in our competitions. We have ranked nationally every year since its beginnings in the early 80s.

The Knights of Christ (Grades 11-12) Recently instated in my Junior year, the Knights of Christ is the school’s religious organization, dedicated to community and volunteer service, God, and camaraderie. A student must make a pledge to visit the Chapel daily and volunteer to participate at Knights members-only masses. Many are expected to lead them, make banners, and assist the priests with the basic Mass preparation setup. I elect to read from Scripture every mass, as well as serving the Eucharist.

Student Newspaper (Grades 9-12, Editor-in-Chief 12) Journalism is one of my many interests. I have also taken Journalism as an independent study when it was offered in my Junior year. I currently hold the Editor-in-Chief position.

Literary Magazine (Grades 9-12, Editor-In-Chief 11-12) Along with journalism, literature is a great passion of mine. On many occasions, I have helped the Editors with organization, and at times, I’d lead meetings when the moderator or the Editors wouldn’t be there. I was granted the Editor-in-Chief position in my Junior year.

Eucharistic Ministry (Grade 12) I am one of twelve students designated to serve the Eucharist at all school-sponsored functions. We serve the Eucharist at all school-hosted masses and also serve it in the morning and midday masses. We also assist the priests when they need help serving the Eucharist in larger places in the community, e.g. retirement homes and hospitals. This organization requires much commitment and dedication to service of others before self-service, and only those willing would accept the great responsibility that is the Eucharistic Ministry.

Quiz Bowl Team (Grades 10-12) The Quiz Bowl team is one of the school’s noted clubs. To be part of it, one must endure a trial of sorts, as he is asked over one hundred NAQT questions and must answer many before his competition just to be even considered by the members. The team has won numerous championships and is currently ranked number nine nationally. The school’s Quiz Bowl team always manages to be in the top ten every year, and we are also invited to compete in Quiz Bowl tournaments at some prestigious universities.

The Free Association for Creative Expression (Grades 11-12) A recently-opened club, the Free Association for Creative Expression discusses, defends, and discovers the First Amendment: the right to free speech. To that end, students learn of art, culture, and present their own ways they speak their own voices, whether it be through word of mouth or visual expression.

Schools in Consideration

Reaches
Colgate
BC
Swarthmore

Matches
Providence C.
Holy Cross
Elon
Loyola of Maryland
Emerson
Bucknell
Will & Mary (out-of-state, definitely disputed as match/reach amongst people on CC and in my H.S.)

Safeties
Saint Joe’s University
Muhlenberg
(Need a third)

I’m applying to 13 for a reason: it’s my lucky number.
Anything you need added (I’ll give you a full résumé soon, along with the Service Projects I’ve been a part of), let me know.