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White/Asian male, single (divorced early) mother, 1st generation, 2nd in family to go to college (a cousin is in a state college right now), my mother and her side of the family are Vietnam War refugees

GPA freshman year 3.9 UW 3.9 W
GPA sophomore year 3.9 UW 3.9 W
GPA junior year 3.6 UW 4.5 W
GPA senior year will be out of 4.7 W max
Rank 12/370 top 3%, will get better
Have taken hardest schedule possible at somewhat competitive CA public school

SAT 1
Highest math 690
Highest verbal 770
Highest one sitting 1430
Highest combined 1460
Retaking in June, will try to study

SAT 2
US History 760
Math ???
Writing ??? (I'll assume 700+ for both)

AP's so far
Chemistry 2 or 3
US History 3-5
Calculus AB 3-5
Assume 3-5 for all future APs (5-7 more)

EC's/Awards
Best Buddies for 3 years
UCSF lab assistant 9+ hrs/wk for one summer
Mock Trial for 1 year (maybe)
National Merit Commended (so far, the process isnt over)
Took AP Calculus 10th gr summer at ATDP program at UC Berkeley

I say I am a "public school" applicant because people say I stand a much better chance in applying to the UC (public) system because of my very weak EC's.

Do you guys think I could get into W&L or a good LAC if I wrote a damn good essay?

By Rakem (Rakem) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 02:04 pm: Edit

If you can, try and get involved in something to supplement your application this summer. Based on grades and scores, I'd say you've got a great chance, but those ECs need work.