Why so Serious?

<p>"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming! " Shoot me your opinions on the following:

  1. UF
  2. Duke (see Stanford)
  3. William and Mary (OOS)
  4. Dartmouth
  5. Princeton (dream of all dreams)
  6. UVA (OOS)
  7. Penn
  8. Washington and Lee (really adore, but debating somewhere bigger)
  9. UNC (OOS)
    10.Vandy
  10. Stanford (SCEA, tied for top with duke)</p>

<p>Background
Ethnicity: white.
Sex: Male
Residence: FL
Graduation Year: 2009
Major interests: Political Science, Economics, Finance
School: Medium-sized public, relatively competitive
Class Size: 375</p>

<p>GPA
100 Scale:
UW: 98.something W: 102.8
4.0 scale
UW: 4.0
All Mid-High A’s on Transcript</p>

<p>SAT/SATII
SAT: 2040 Math-670, Cr-730, Wr-640 (MC 66, Essay 8)
SAT IIs:
US History:800
Lit:700 (havent taken lit, little off-guard)
Math I: 730</p>

<p>ACT:
English: 29
Math:31
Science: 34
Reading: 34
Composite: 32</p>

<p>AP Scores:
Psych (Self-Studied thanks to CC): 5
US Gov’t: 4
US History: 5
Eng Lang/Comp: 5
Env. Sci: 4</p>

<p>Rank: top 2ish%; 10/375</p>

<p>Course Rigor:
Most Rigorous
9th-12th: 9 APs, </p>

<p>12th: 4 APs (Lit, Micro, Macro, Bio)
DE: Calc w/ Bus. Apps., Trig., College Algebra, & Stat. (fall)</p>

<p>Extracurriculurs</p>

<ul>
<li>club soccer for 6 years </li>
<li>sopohomore senator in SGA</li>
<li>Vice President of Jr. Class<br></li>
<li>Student Body President-Elect for 08-09 school year<br></li>
<li>Key Club<br></li>
<li>Fellowship of Christian Athletes </li>
<li>Biology Team (district champs!)</li>
<li>Parliamentarian of JSA</li>
<li>Mu Alpha Theta (Vice President) </li>
<li>Ultimate Frisbee Club (founder) </li>
<li>Environmental Club (secretary)</li>
<li>Spanish Club (possible presidency this year) </li>
<li>Algebra II Team</li>
<li>National Honor Society</li>
<li>TV Production (director) </li>
<li>Student Advisory Board </li>
<li>member of newspaper staff for senior year</li>
<li>Spanish Honor Society member,</li>
<li>(10) JV Cross-Country Team</li>
<li>(11) JV Soccer Squad (bummer)</li>
<li>Duke TIP at east 3 yrs (dystopian lit., music history, film criticism)</li>
<li>Duke TIP Field Study in China for two weeks studying China’s economy and foreign relations</li>
</ul>

<p>Summary of Leadership:
-Student Body President
-Director of TV Production
-Founder of Ultimate Club
-Mu Alpha Theta VP
-Iniated/Spearhead 100-member reading mentorship program with local elementary schoolers
-metoric rise in student government
-sucessful legislation in FL association of stu. co.'s
-church leadership team</p>

<p>Honors/Special Programs/Awards</p>

<li>TIP programs, field study, etc.</li>
<li>TIP Grand/State Recognition</li>
<li>AP Scholar with Distinction
(Most if not all school/local awards are given senior year)</li>
<li>First Place on Biology Team at district competition, </li>
<li>Regional Spelling Bee Champion 3 times, </li>
<li>4th place at regional AMC-10 Math Competition between schools</li>
<li>Cross Country Sophomore Outstanding Scholar</li>
</ol>

<p>Volunteer Experience
100s of Hours:

  1. church worship band
  2. church student leadership team
  3. chaperone at regional church conference
  4. more and more hours at church events, planning, activities
  5. key club activities (50 hrs just jr. year)</p>

<p>Work Experience

  • High School Football Videographer; recording football games and creating a highlight DVD for seniors; August-November; 4 hrs/week
  • High School Soccer Videographer; filming girls’ and boys’ soccer games and creating highlight DVD for seniors; November-March ; 10 hrs/week
  • United States Senate Page during summer session 45hrs/wk for 3 weeks</p>

<p>Other
Recommendations: haven’t done them, for schools that ask for any teacher I plan on using a teacher who wrote me the best rec. for an early program (said I was two grade levels above, mature, great kid, etc.) For others schools requiring upperclass teachers, I’ll use AP Lang. teacher who is a really great writer and liked me. along with possibly my APUSH teacher or my econ. teacher depending how we hit it off.
Counselor Recommendation: no idea, never really talked to her at this point, but plan on going the whole nine yards in the fall (flowers, thoughtful notes, being around her a lot while not being annoying, etc.)
Worries: Obviously I have three possibly four high reaches, but my parents have encouraged me to try no matter what the odds. I could be the admissions mistake, who knows? Second, my school does not send off many kids to big, bad schools. In my HS years, one kid to Dartmouth and another to Stanford, both playing football. Last year, best college was Vandy with one kid sent. So obviously weak there.
Please help me figure out what to work on in the next three months, and maybe suggest a safety or two.</p>

<p>You should try to get the SAT up atleast 100-200 pts…that will change your chances significantly. Otherwise, your other stats are in-league.</p>

<p>Hi, I’m happy to chance you … but can you chance me as well? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538677-please-chance-me-i-d-really-really-appreciate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538677-please-chance-me-i-d-really-really-appreciate.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Your grades are definitely impressive - a 4.0 is hard to achieve. Your courseload is also quite difficult, and you seem to have taken the most out of your high school. However, your test scores are a bit weak. A composite of 32 on the ACT is fine, but your SAT should be bumped up by at least 100 points if not 150. Try to work on math, which is easier to crack, and your writing multiple choice scores. Review your math skills and grammar skills. I recommend Princeton Review (heck, you want to go to Princeton, right?). Your SAT IIs are quite fine. Your ECs are quite impressive, but I suggest that you don’t put down that you’re a class president, because in most schools the class president does almost nothing. You also clearly demonstrate leadership in what you do, but I feel that there’s too much of an emphasis on sports in your app. I also like how you went to the Duke program; it looks good.</p>

<p>Chances:

  • UF- Safety match
  • Duke - Reach (get your SAT up)
  • Dartmouth - Reach (ditto)
  • Princeton - FAR reach (it’s a top Ivy; what can i say?)
  • UVA (OOS) - Slight reach
  • UPenn - Reach
  • UNC (OOS) - Match
  • Vandy - Match
  • Stanford - FAR reach (it’s another top Ivy!)</p>

<p>I don’t really know about the other schools, but after you get your SATs up, you have a pretty good chance. Good luck!</p>

<p>I took a Kaplan course for the SAT, so it pains me to have to take it again, but I feel my essay blew last time and I need to bring it up I guess so I’ll do it again. That ACT score is the second try btw. Same scores in math and english, added five in science and reading the second time around. I’m confused what you mean by “class president.” To clarify, I showed my previous positions in student government and my position next year will be student body president, you know overseeing the entire student government. If you mean, the jr. and sophomore positions, that would make more sense. Too sports-oriented really? beats me.</p>

<p>baha.
love the title.</p>

<p>I think you have a very good shot at William and Mary and UVA. You have done a great job in high school. Best of luck to you.</p>

<p>Pedsox</p>

<p>A TIPster!
An EASTIE!
Holy crap. I just got back from East.
Term one or term two?
(I have major TIPstalgia, if you haven’t noticed)</p>

<p>Anyway, your SAT I is going to hurt you at places like Stanford-- you might consider retaking.
Best of luck!
(East > West !)</p>

<p>Term two indeed. I’m probably gonna go back over my Kaplan stuff now and retake the SAT I. Whats the best date for me if I want the scores for Stanford SCEA or another early decision. (I’m really torn on this, i know EA helps but enough for stanford? Should I use the boost somewhere else. I’m back and forth on this.)</p>

<p>any input on W&L? anyone?</p>

<p>Awww
Term one FTW</p>

<p>i went term one my second yr, so i have sympathies (this is a pretty shameless bump)</p>