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I'm going to be a senior next year, and I'm trying to, like everyone else on this board, create a solid list of colleges to apply to. These are my stats:

White male from small town (8,000-) in California Central Valley.

Rank 1 out of 237
GPA: 4.3 weighted (its rising, jazz band brings it down), 4.0 unweighted
most rigorous courseload available at my school
SAT: 1440 (730 M, 710 V)
SAT II: Math IC: 730, Writing: 710, and Lit:640 (retaking, bad experience, proctor said ten minutes when we had 20) I'm also planning on taking IIC.

I took AP Lit and AP Chem this year, and took the AP Hist. test (not a class offered at my school), I'm taking AP Physics, AP Calc., AP Lang., AP Spanish IV, Civics/Economics, and Honors Humanities or AP Psychology. I plan to maintain straight A's.

Some EC's:
-Eagle Scout
-Interact Club (2 year president, 1 year director of community service, currently District govenor)
-Music (play 6 instruments, commendable at 2)
-local symphony, city band, county honor band 3 yrs (probably 4), all-state band, jazz band, etc.
-Tennis team(2 years, will be 3)
-Fencing (took a class at a local college, like it a lot, might pursue in college)
-French Club (President 2 yrs.)
-California Scholarship Federation (President, life member)
-Acadecmic Decathlon (honors starter 3 yrs., prob. 4) (first freshman on starting team in my school's history)
-Westside Challenge (academic decathlon pre-competition)- placed 5th, 6th, and last year 2nd overall
-School Drum major (sophomore year)
-Band Council (President Sophomore year)
-Visual and Performing Arts Club (3 yrs, will be four)
-Knowledge Bowl- captain of the two year champion team
-Camp Royal- Rotary Youth Leaderchip Camp
-Drama- two school plays (will be three) starred in one
-Tutor- algebra
-Special Olympics Club member (vice president sophomore year)
-University of the Pacific summer music Camp
-Golden Bear Junior Leadership Training (Boy Scouts)
-Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scout troop
-USA Drum Major Camp (numerous ribbons)
-DeMolay member(youth group sponsored by the Masonic Lodge)
-6th grade science camp counselor (1 yr., will be two)
-Escalon City Youth Advisory Counsil- Mayor Pro-Tem, Director of Distant Activities
-Attended 6 Interact district conferences
-Gone to mexico 2 times with Interact Club to put up playground equipment in neglected schools and give donate books and sports equipment to the children
-Over 650 hours of community service, hope to make 800 by the time applications are due


Awards:
-Eagle Scout
-Academic Awards in: Band, World History, US History, Biology, Humanities I, Spanish II, Humanities II, Spanish III, and Tigonometry
-Golden Cougar Award (to a freshman in band)
-Govenor's scholarship
-Scholar Athlete award (2 yrs., tennis)
-Medals in United States Academic Decathlon competition

I know that my awards are lacking a little, but I plan on fixing that (ideas would be GREAT!). I'm also planning on starting two new clubs at my school next year. Amnesty International and a Political Club (still need to decide on Republican or Democratic). As far as the essays will go, I'm a pretty good writer, and I'm confident that mine will be creative.

I'm very interested in majoring in something like International Relations, or a language like Greek, French, or Italian. Suggestions on how I can improve my ECs and Awards to get into Washington are more than welcomed. Thanks.

By Melissa27 (Melissa27) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 11:11 am: Edit

You look like a good candidate, but I really wouldn't go and start 2 clubs next year. Colleges can see right through that, and Wash U specifically looks for nice, honest, down to earth people. They might be turned off by your obvious resume padding.

By Trebleclef829 (Trebleclef829) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 02:00 pm: Edit

I agree with Melissa. Your resume looks fine. Maybe consider applying to some scholarships on fastweb.com. Persue genuine interests, as Wash U can see straight through resume padding. Think of ways to deepen your interests in your senior year without trying to figure out the admissions game. Wash U looks for people not "applications." Your interest in politics also does not seem genuine by your comment on which party political group you would start. If you were really passionate about starting a political organization for a particular party, you would not be so undecided. Perhaps, instead of starting two new clubs in your senior year (which truthfully just looks like an attempt to improve your resume), consider expanding on a club in which you are holding a leadership position. For example, use your role as French Club president and your interest in languages and international relations to plan a foreign language and culture event. When you fill out your application, you will need to write about the club or activity that affected your life the most. If you have only had a month of experience with it when you fill out your application, then you don't seem to be so passionate. Expand on your current commitments and interests to give them a three dimensional view of your true self instead of a two-dimensional application filled with more and more activities. Do the things you love with drive and passion and work hard and you will be a great candidate for Wash U. Your grades and resume seem to put you up there with other candidates, and you will have a great shot at Wash U. My verdict: I think you have a great shot, but stay real. GOOD LUCK