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Hey, guys. I'm kinda insecure, so I'm applying to a lot of schools. I'd really appreciate some input as to if I'm dreaming or not. Also, I'm not doing well in my Calc AP class- I think that my highest overall average for the semester will be an 80-83 (unweighted.

I'm applying to: Swarthmore, Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, Georgetown, University of Chicago, NYU, Northwestern, Emerson, University of Texas, and perhaps Haverford (I'm looking for a less selective "Little Ivy" that I have a shot at.) Here's my stats:

Family background
I'm a Cuban female, both parents are unemployed and my father is at unknown whereabouts.

Standardized Testing
SAT- 800 Verbal, 650 Math
SAT 2- Writing 780, Bio 690, Literature (to be taken) Math 1 650 (to be retaken
AP- English Lit 5, English Lang 5, Psychology 5, U.S. History 4

Class Rank- I find out tomorrow, I'm confident I'm at least in the top 15% out of 120 students. GPA 3.75.

Courses:
Senior Year
Macroeconomics AP
Government AP
English 4 AP
Calculus AP
Bio AP
Engineering Design and Development (Rochester Institute of Technology PLTW course)
Architectural Graphics
Independent Study- Creative Writing. This is a class I designed with my English teacher.

Junior Year
U.S. History AP
English 3 AP
Pre-Cal preAP
Physics preAP
Psychology AP
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (A RIT PLTW course)
SAT/ACT prep

EC's
University Interscholastic League- Science, Journalism. Placed 8th in Science at the TMSCA Meet 2002. Placed 1st in Editorial Writing at District Meet 2003. 4 years.

Robotics Society- Team Captain of El Conquistador Apartments in my sophmore and junior year, Secretary Junior year. Won in various intramural competitions. 3 years

Writer, www.everything2.com. Have reached "Level 3" Acolyte status on this site of essays and writing, and have penned over sixty essays for the site. 2 years

Columnist, Valley Morning Star. I have published three editorials in this newspaper with a circulation of 35,000 people. I am also an official columnist for the Teen Column. This is in my Senior year.

I volunteered at a local kindergarten's summer school the summer of my ninth grade year for thirty six hours a week, for two months. I've also volunteered at church for two fall seasons, a total of 150 hours for church.

I babysat for two summers for thirty six hours a week, two months a year. Where should I include that- and where would I include my travels to Brazil to visit family?

Renaissance Festival Committee- Public Relations, Senior Year.

National Honor Society- 3 years


Awards
National Merit (Index 215)
Eastman/Kodak Young Scholars Award
Various UIL merit stuff
Various academic stuff- biology, u.s. history, art

Summer Stuff
Rice Summer Symposium, 2003
University of Texas Honors Colloquium
Texas A&M Gifted Scholars Program 2001

Thank you so much for your time and input.

By Addiena (Addiena) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 04:57 pm: Edit

bump

By Aeg315 (Aeg315) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 05:35 pm: Edit

i'm a newbie - what does "bump" denote

By Rubenizm (Rubenizm) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 08:22 pm: Edit

apply early so the school doesn't see your semester grade and you should get in everywhere(being cuban is of huge help).

By Rubenizm (Rubenizm) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 08:22 pm: Edit

bump thread up

By Addiena (Addiena) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 08:50 pm: Edit

About that- I don't think I can apply ED anywhere. For one thing, I already gave recs to my teachers, and they all say Regular Decision because I wanted to make sure I can pay for college (both parents being unemployed). I realize that Columbia will cover everything, but I don't think ED is a wise choice.. does anyone have thoughts? Am I screwed over?

By Neo (Neo) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 09:10 pm: Edit

Don't listen to your teachers -- do ED if that's what suits you best. Paying for college? That's what financial aid is for. It's not going to be any easier to pay for Harvard, or any other private university for that matter, if you apply RD compared to ED. The aid package is the same, and that's what the majority of us will use if we get into an expensive school, and plan to attend it. Just apply to what you think is right.

By Addiena (Addiena) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 09:26 pm: Edit

Neo- Since I already gave my teachers Columbia let recs with Regular Decision on them, I am going to call the Admissions Office and explain my situation, saying that Columbia is my first choice school but that I had believed that finances would get in the way. Do you think that's acceptable? I hope things work out... I really want to get in to this school...

By Anduin (Anduin) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 03:01 am: Edit

Hmmm...

You have far too much going for you already for a single grade to slow you down significantly. Ivies will definitely forgive the odd low-80 grade.

Among the largest feathers in your cap are your Cuban heritage, your 800 verbal score, and your apparent devotion to writing. Were you born in the United States? Did both of your parents attend college? If your answer to either of these questions is no, these things too would work in your favor. However, if you misplay these cards--and this is a very real risk for the activities and qualities you've described--they could well prove a losing hand.

First, a few more questions. If you've already gotten 5's on English Lit and Lang, what about the English class you're taking this year makes it AP? Also, what's your class rank? I assume that you're reading my reply on the 3rd or later.

The online writing is a very sticky business. The problem is that, to those who don't know what the site is about, the fact that all of this writing is on the internet makes it seem much less serious. I spent a couple of minutes checking out everything2.com, but it is doubtful that the admissions officer reading your application will take the time to do so. So, you should minimize the web element of this. It would be good to mention these internet essays in direct conjunction with your published newspaper editorials, and it might be helpful to flesh this out a little in one of your application essays (though you shouldn't devote one primarily or even strongly to this website unless it is extremely meaningful to you).

You should list your babysitting under the jobs or work section of the application. Your travels actually might not be worth mentioning at all, because they smell of privilege--something many admissions officers distrust (so saith A is for Admission, a book by a former Dartmouth admissions officer). The fact that your parents are unemployed belies this, but if you talk about your travels, you should let the reader know that these travels were not made possible by the fact that your relatives have lots and lots of money. If this was what enabled you to take the trip, you should either downplay or omit it from your application.

The engineering, manufacturing, and robotics all suggest a different side of you that you don't really develop in your post. If this part of your life is an important one, you should give it a little more attention to it in your application. If not, you should let those things stand as they are.

By Addiena (Addiena) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 09:54 am: Edit

Thank you so much for the input, Anduin. I really appreciate the commentary.
About English Lit- I took the test before taking the class, so now I'm taking the AP class after the fact *laughs*. I've taken Everything2 seriously, so I would like to cite it on my resume- perhaps giving a brief profile of the website? It's meant for essayists and writers, not as a general community (where lower caliber stuff might make it in). I was born in the United States and my mother has her Master's degree, but my father has yet to finish college.

I STILL don't know class rank, and it's bugging me. I'm definitely not going to be in the higher portion of the top ten though- probably barely in the top ten %, but definitely in the top 15%.

As far as engineering and robotics- I attend a magnet engineering school, so this is why I have participated in those things (it interests me as well). How should I introduce that in my application? My essay is going to be more personal, not about EC's- how do people usually order around activities such as that?

Thanks again, I'll be posting more updates soon. I'm going to try to contact Columbia about the ED thing.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 10:12 am: Edit

Anduin has great advice for you. Most colleges will forgive a low grade in AP calc--a lot of kids get their first C in that class. An good admissions info book, "A is for Admisssioms" by Michele Hernandez touches on that subject.
So I would not worry too much about that especially since you are only in the first quarter and if you go for help, you can probably bring your grade up still. If it is really a thorn in your craw, you can still drop it and go to reg Calc without it showing as a drop in most schools--After the first semester is usually when they show an add-drop check with guidance. You have so many APs that it would not hurt you to take a non AP calc.
If you can go ED, it is best to do so. Columbia is one of those schools that really makes a big distinction between ED and RDs. Their rates show it. You have the geographics and personals on your side. It still is early--ED are usuallly not due for nearly another month: most schools require at most 2 weeks notice to put together you ap. I would nicely look into it. Take care and good luck.

By Addiena (Addiena) on Wednesday, October 08, 2003 - 06:47 pm: Edit

On my last calculation, my GPA was around a 3.73- and that's weighted. Is that bad?

By Addiena (Addiena) on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 01:59 am: Edit

Ouch. I think I'm in the top fifteen percent out of a class of 120- not in the top ten. I think. Do I still have a chance, or will schools immediately discount someone not in the top ten percent?

By Neo (Neo) on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 02:46 am: Edit

Of course they won't -- don't be silly.

By Zephyrmaster (Zephyrmaster) on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 02:58 pm: Edit

Yeah, they'll come to your house and slap you silly for EVER thinking that a person in the top 15% could be accepted...

don't be silly.

Seriously though, don't stress about the grade. You have so many other things going for you!

By Aeg315 (Aeg315) on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 07:18 pm: Edit

You don't even need your amazing credentials. You're Cuban! Just apply to all of those schools and tell us that you got into every single one of them! Good luck!

By Addiena (Addiena) on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 11:29 pm: Edit

I dunno. That's kinda unrealistic, don't you think? Just because I'm Cuban?

Anyways- I'm filling out the UChicago uncommon app, and noticed they have no section for honors or awards- should I just put that in additional information?

By Addiena (Addiena) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 01:42 pm: Edit

I found out my class rank!

I barely slid into the top ten %- 13 out of 133. Whew!

Does being in the top ten percent like this really improve your chances?