[abc123__]

General:
I'm currently a Junior
Female
100% Chinese
Live in Maine
Go to a small high school (800 students) - Rarely sends kids to top-notch schools.
My family kind of lived the American dream. We went from rags to riches -- we first lived on a Chinese cook's wage. (hardly enough) THen my parents went on to open their very own Chinese Restaurant, which has been very sucessful. --- although we aren't rich. But we are doing well.

Academics:
Take as many honors classes as possible. I take all the AP classes possible... which isn't say much -- I currently take just one. =(
GPA: 101.98 on a 100 scale, 5% weight for honors classes (which is very little)
I have A's and A+'s in all my classes except chemistry. I am getting a B (Somewhere around a 90 - 88)
Rank: 1/205
Teachers: I could probably get really good recommendations from them. I am realtively known around the school; teachers that I don't even know recognize my face and name. (Sorry, not to sound pompous)

After-school activities:
Theatre
9, 10, 11
I'm a prominent actresss. I devote my afterschool life to theatre. I have been in every single play production since Freshman year, oftening recieving lead roles / significant roles. Our theatre group is quite sucessful too; last year, we made it to the New England Drama Festival. Only 2 schools per state may attend. This activity requires a lot of time: 10 - 18 hours a week, depending on how close we are to a performance.

Speech team
9, 10, 11
I really enjoy speech team. Our speech team is exceptional; we have been state champions for more than 7 years consecutive. I'm a prominent speaker. I often place 1st and 2nd in our meets. This year, I've consistently recieved 1st place in the touraments. I've won a few state championship titles.

Band
9, 10, 11
I am part of the jazz band. I am 1st trombonist/ section leader. I have made it into KV band, which is audtion-only. I participate as much in band as possible.

Also, under the topic of music, I was asked to join the school's jazz-choir this junior year, which is audition only. The jazz choir did really well last year in the jazz festival - 3rd place in the state of Maine.
*Do group efforts such as these count? If your school placed 3rd or something for jazz band, would that count?


Sports
Sports aren't really my thing. Not too gifted in that area. I played tennis Freshman and Sophomore year, but I'm not really good at it. I don't think I'll be including this in my resumé. I only pplay sports so that I don't so severely lack physical activity. I actually played soccer freshman year too, but I despised it.

Amnesty International
Years 9, 10, 11. I've been an active member. I don't know what else to say here. :-)

Newspaper Staff
I was supposed to be layout editor, but they put it online so there's no need for one. I write articles. :-D I'll probably omit this one when applying.

I also am part of the National Honors Society, but I heard no one cares about that.

Awards
Sheperd Award - 9th grade
Speech/Drama Department Award - 9th Grade
Foreign Language Department Award - 9th Grade
Music/Band department Award - 11th grade .... (Do these awards actually matter?)
Maine Youth Excellence in Art - 9th Grade
KV Band - Audition only. Years 5-11. 2nd chair, 3rd chair trombonist usually
KVC Speech Championship - Poetry, 1st place
State Speech Championship - 2nd place poetry, 3rd place ensemble
New England Drama Festival - One Acts (Recieved a foreign language monologue commendation here)

Leadership
Maine Youth Leadership - I attended this Sophomore year. Very fun program :-)
Student Council-- Years: 10, 11
Class Treasurer - Years 9. I left this posiiton to join student council because I felt I was not much help as class treasurer

Volunteer Hours
I've got maybe 50 hours or more volunteering so far.
I love to work with children, so I'm in the school's buddy program.
I also tutor some children every Friday for an hour.
I am a member of the Rotary Interact Club.

SAT Scores
Hre's where it kind of gets weak. I'm not so good at taking these type of tests. The PSAT scores I've recieved so far are quite weak.

PSATS:
540 Math
540 Writing
550 Critical Reading

It scared the crap out of me. It foreshadows really bad SAT scores. =(

I've been tutored, and practicing on my own
During practices, now I usually get 700 - 730 on the Writing section. I usually recieve high scores in this area. I rarely get lower than 690 or so.
The math is a huge range. Can be anywhere as low as 500 to something as high as 700. Math is quite weak point.
Critical Reading- I've been able to reach a 710 or so.

___________________________________________________

Where are my strong points? Weak points? What if I were to apply with an SAT score of 1900? (A 1900 seems to be what my SAT score will likely turn out to be)

Though Tuft's appeals to me the most (I'll be entering liberal arts), I am considering other schools as well.

I am looking also at :
Boston College
Boston University
Brown
Bowdoin (Doesn't consider SAT scores )

^^^ Do you know my chances in those ones?


THANKS!

[l jennzie xOxO l]

well I'm not a huge expert on tufts, but just looking at your stats, your SAT (?) scores are very low in comparison to their median range. Did you actually take the SATs yet or are those ur PSAT scores? Coz I would definitely recommend tryin to obtain better scores for those! And also some SAT IIs will perhaps help =]

Strong points are definitely awards! Although most schools don't give you unlimited space on their apps to put that many! Id say you have quite a few to pick from and thus pick the strongest and that will do you wonders especially if you are pursing a liberal arts education!

You also have great extra-currics, but I's say the most is trying to obtain a leadership role in a few rather than having so many. Most colleges look specifically to see you've established a leadership position in your activities =] Hope that helps! Also do well on your APs this year!! =] Good luck and let me know if you need anything else!

For colleges, it really depends on yourself. It depends what your actual major is going to be and where you wanna be in terms of location as well.

[abc123__]

Sorry. I was being unclear. Those were my PSAT scores. I am taking the SATS on May 5th. Which is the day of prom. Yup, our school is bad at planning.

[kamui_hime]

so you're still a junior? seems like u got plenty of time
heh i just got in Tufts ED and i used to live in maine so i'll be happy to give you my opinion lol

i think you would have a good chance of getting in, your extra-currics and grades seem amazing, although its a bit weird that your psats are low since you're the valedictorian of your school... anyways, i'd just like to say that you have a fairly good shot at tufts, what do you plan on majoring in? Tufts puts a huge emphasis on globalization and being a global community. If you're really set on going there, you should definitely visit, try to do the telescope overnight thing in october, take a tour, and DEFINITElY schedule an interview. they love to see potential candidates research and visit their school. i also recommend some more community service type things, espeically the kind that helps the community (ie not just volunteering working at a hospital as a receptionist or something). tufts also really likes it when you get involved and make a difference. (ps i just reread that and i realized it doesn't really flow, but i'm too lazy to make it coheren0t.. hopefully you understand what i'm trying to say?)

i also think you'd have a chance, esp if you did early decision 1 or 2, because i got in doing ED1 and i definitely did not have as many extracurrics as you. i had 3 or 4 things i really devoted my time to instead. don't worry about not being good at a sport; i dont do sports and i've never bothered trying lol. Also my sat scores were on the lower side of their range, possibly even a bit lower (i posted my stats in the ED thread and possibly another one lol so check there if ur curious) but hey i still got in. also they deny it, but i've heard from some people that ED at tufts is easier toget in than reg decision, simply because during reg decision, you're competing against all the kids who got rejected from ivies or are still applying to ivies, which makes it more difficult to get in.

ummi hope i covered most of it, if you have any questions, i'll be happy to answer =D

[Lucystar]

Sorry. I was being unclear. Those were my PSAT scores. I am taking the SATS on May 5th. Which is the day of prom. Yup, our school is bad at planning.

hahaha i had to take my sats on the day of prom too. it was supppper lame.

[chimneytoplove]

ure definately NOT going to make it in

nothin about u stands out, u just don;t have the PIZAZZZ that people need to hook colleges.

too plain, too mediocre, depsite ur good gradess

[alicimoo]

ure definately NOT going to make it in

nothin about u stands out, u just don;t have the PIZAZZZ that people need to hook colleges.

too plain, too mediocre, depsite ur good gradess

What are you talking about?!
She has A LOT of things that make her stand out.

I think overall, everything you have is very good.
But you definitely need a good solid SAT score to get in.
Otherwise, I think you've done everything possible and have a very high chance of getting in.

[flyaway]

hey our hc was on a SAT day too!
although people say SAT isn't everything, if your SAT scores actually come out that low, it will just show how much grade inflation there is in your school. You've GOT to have good SAT scores and GPA to convince them that it's not grade inflation.
your extra currics are nice. just improve SAT, and you're in

[chimneytoplove]

What are you talking about?!
She has A LOT of things that make her stand out.

I think overall, everything you have is very good.
But you definitely need a good solid SAT score to get in.
Otherwise, I think you've done everything possible and have a very high chance of getting in.

she has some awards and stuff, but none of them realli matters much....

and her SAT score is too low --- u cant bring it up THAT much. either u got the skillz or u dont.

the best thing she has going is her GPA. its realli impressive.

she shuld play that up in her application, really empahsize her really amazin GPA.

and not to menshion that her volunteer hrs are realli a bit skimpy... how about a couple hundred more hours, and that will realli improve her chances greatly.

[ypark]

woaah.. id say you're well qualified.
looking at your PSAT scores, you'll probably do well on the regular SATs too. i wouldn't worry so much if i were you. good luck!

[Elysia]

umm, how do her PSAT scores reflect a good SAT score? lol

tufts is NOT easy to get into. it's harder than all the other potential schools on your list (acceptance%rate-wise)... with your current scores, you have a slim chance of getting in, despite your stellar ECs/grades. their median scores range in the 700+s? and while doing practice tests are good, they are VERY VERY different from the actual, lol. (3-time SAT veteran here! luckily i'm all done with them FOREVER. hahahaha)

take an sat prep class - do the problems in that giantic blue book collegeboard offers. what are your weak points? i'm very surprised you're valedictorian actually... our valedictorian has a 2380, lol. is it just because you have super grade inflation, or your high school curriculum isn't very good? i'm kinda iffy because you say your school doesn't send many to top-notch schools, but yeah... work REALLY HARD on those sat scores... and everything else will come through. i went up 200 points (~2050 to a 2250) just from studying from the blue book and using barrons 2400.

good luck! i'm glad you're not applying to tufts THIS year or you would've been competition for me

[xosweetie]

The thing is. Sat scores do matter because they really reflect how much you know most of the time. Your school might be an average or bad school so you might be able to do better (gradewise) than those students who are say 10 out of 200 students in a well known school. But in fact, your knowledge lacks compared to students who are in better schools. Inprove your sat, but your stats are pretty good so far.

[abc123__]

umm, how do her PSAT scores reflect a good SAT score? lol

tufts is NOT easy to get into. it's harder than all the other potential schools on your list (acceptance%rate-wise)... with your current scores, you have a slim chance of getting in, despite your stellar ECs/grades. their median scores range in the 700+s? and while doing practice tests are good, they are VERY VERY different from the actual, lol. (3-time SAT veteran here! luckily i'm all done with them FOREVER. hahahaha)

take an sat prep class - do the problems in that giantic blue book collegeboard offers. what are your weak points? i'm very surprised you're valedictorian actually... our valedictorian has a 2380, lol. is it just because you have super grade inflation, or your high school curriculum isn't very good? i'm kinda iffy because you say your school doesn't send many to top-notch schools, but yeah... work REALLY HARD on those sat scores... and everything else will come through. i went up 200 points (~2050 to a 2250) just from studying from the blue book and using barrons 2400.

good luck! i'm glad you're not applying to tufts THIS year or you would've been competition for me

I'm not sure why I did so terribly. I'm not dumb by any means. Our high school isn't terribly bad. We just live in a small town with very few opportunities to do anything. We might just have a valedictorian who happens to score low on the SATS. The girl who is second in our class scored in the 99th percentile. Third in class scored around there as well. 4th in class is a different story, but 5th in class does extremely well too.

[litoxshortaii]

the SAT is partially knowledge, partially strategy dont worry, you still have one more year so if you get SAT prep books/use the strategies they give you or get a tutor, and improve ur SAT scores, im pretty sure you'd be alright. although SAT's are important, they arent they only things admissions look at.