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Hey! I just finished my junior year and I'm trying to figure out where to apply to college this fall. What do you think my chances are here? Any other college recommendations (I'm also looking at LACs)? Thanks!

Entering senior at a top 10 public high school in California
GPA: 3.55 UW/ 3.67 W (upward trend)
SATII Writing: 800
SATII Literature: 690
I'm taking the SATI in October after I do test prep this summer
By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 APs and 1 honors class (AP Music Theory, AP Psych, AP Euro, AP US History, Hon. English, AP English, AP Gov/Econ, AP Stat, AP Calc AB)

-Member of Junior Statesmen of America
-Mock Trial- 2 years
-Vice President of Philosophy Club
-Staff writer on school newspaper
-Member of Amnesty International- 3 yrs
-Member of History Club
-Member of the school district's Diversity Committee, which works to combat such issues as homophobia in the school environment
-I'm starting a book club and a Democratic club next year, both of which I'll obviously be president of
-Member/Volunteer at Feminist Majority Foundation
-Volunteer/Organizer for John Kerry for President/ Kerry Campaign Writers Bureau/ Students for Kerry (about 15 hours a week)
-Participated in National Youth Leadership Forum for Law in Washington DC this spring
-Won the underclassman award at my school 2 years in a row, once for English, once for Precalculus (each teacher picks one student from years frosh-junior to give an award to for academic excellence)
- I'm in the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) at my school
-Took classes at UC Berkeley every summer I've been in high school (got straight A's in them)
-Taking classes at local community college as well
-During budget cuts, I led a letter-writing campaign among the students to protect the teachers and programs that had been put in jeopardy
-Wrote a novel (unpublished) and 2 plays, one of which was performed at UC Berkeley
-I don't know if this will factor in at all in assessing my grades, but my mom has been unemployed for a year, on top of which there was a death in the family, the combination of which made for a stressful junior year to say the least. :-( However, my grades have definitely rebounded, and this semester, I have a weighted 4.0
-I'm a very strong writer and will be able to get good recommendations.

If someone could let me know what you think my chances are, that would be great!!

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 03:42 pm: Edit

Your chances look good! But it seems like your trying too hard-with such a BUSY schedule. Sometimes it's better to focus on just a few ecs!!! Also, you could write the college essay about your mom's unemployment struggles. Wash U is a GREAT college, and is considered one of the "Hidden Ivies." Some other "Hidden Ivies," Carleton, Emory, Haverford, Middlebury, Ponoma, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. Good Luck!

By Leftyleftist (Leftyleftist) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 04:48 pm: Edit

Really?? Thanks!! It's funny that you mentioned Haverford- that's also really high on my list. :-)

Do you think that my GPA is going to hurt me a lot in the admission process here, or do you think that they might be willing to overlook it since I've been going through some personal problems but am improving again?

Thanks again for the positive feedback!!

By Missmolly (Missmolly) on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:13 pm: Edit

Lefty,
That is the best place to be, on-the-rise.
You certainly are impressive. I think Wash U and the other schools will notice you, and you can always write about the family struggles. Make sure that the essay is clever, and most of all be creative. If Wash U is your first choice why not apply ED??? If you work hard senior year, the GPA will naturally go up. Good Luck!