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Wow. Seeing the quality of the profiles some of these concerned applicants are putting up, I am feeling very, very small. Even the ones who are being dissed seem more qualified than I do. So I want to go ahead and put forth what I have, and let everyone see if they think I have a fleeting chance of even being considered for Brown, which is my top choice at this point, after my visiting searches.

Okay, I'll give you a little profile from off the top of my head. I may be leaving out some things, but overall I'd say it's an accurate assessment.

I go to a small private school in Florida. Our recently-retired headmaster is a Brown alum. I'm female and a rising senior.

Testing:
SAT I: 1520
(Verbal 800, Math 720)
SAT II: Writing 800
US HIstory 710
(I will take both Literature and Spanish this Oct as well)

My classes:

9th
Western Civ
English 9
Band
Spanish I
Algebra II
Biology
Latin I and II

10th
Precalculus
Honors Chemistry
World History
English 10
Spanish II
Latin III
Band

11th
Spanish III
Shakespeare/Mythology of Ancient Cultures
Band
AP US history (5 on exam)
American lit/Gothic lit
Intro to Calculus
Latin IV

My projected schedule for 12 grade:
AP English
Honors Physics
AP Calculus BC
AP Art History
Advanced Spanish IV/V
Band
Latin V

-Through Junior year, I have made straight A's in all 6 semesters, all 12 interims. My GPA is 4.0 unweighted.

-I am in my school's National Honor Society, Spanish NHS, Latin NHS, and Cum Laude society, of which I am one of 8 members.

-I am on Latin Club, compete at local and state forum, also attend Spanish Conference.

-I am Starting my 3rd year on the Academic Team. We have won 1st for our county the past two years and junior year I was one of 6 from our county to attend the statewide competition.

-I start at 2nd Base for the school softball team; we won the district championship this year.

-I was one of two students selected thru essays to travel to Ireland this June on a fully paid trip to celebrate "Bloomsday" (100th anniv) in Dublin. Only three other schools in the nation participated in this venture (another in FL and two boarding schools from MASS- Berkshire and Hotchkiss).

-In band I play electric bass and take lessons on the side. I have played in the small pit band for all three of the school musicals we've had. There are financial issues, but I want to get a hold of a full-size acoustic bass this year and carry over into college; hopefully I can get in a jazz band or something.

-My worst application aspect might be my community service/activity record. I meet my school's basic requirements and do plenty of humanitarianesque work on the side, but nothing "official" enough like Key Club to brag about. Will this be a huge factor?

My advantages in the application process may be that my teachers are nuts about me; one of my English teachers recently told me I was the "single greatest writer [he'd] encountered." I have a number of them from whom desirable recommendations will flow. I also hope I can pull off a great essay that will catch the attention of the admis. officers.

Is there any chance that any personal qualities that shine through may overcome my lack of an astounding academic and extracurricular track record? I'm feeling very discouraged. Be brutally honest; am I right in viewing Brown as a pie in the sky, or do I have any kind of clout to stand up with these other top-notch applicants?
Consider that I would like to apply early decision. Will this help my chances at all?

Thanks

PS- I would also appreciate any advice on how my qualifications look to other selective liberal arts institutions, ie Amherst, Swarthmore, Vassar, and Wesleyan. And my chances at Oberlin? My sister went there, and I'm generally a better student than she is so it gives me hope. It's kind of my safety school right now. Is that a dangerous assumption?