(Reposing bc I didn't get enough answers the first time) (also I made it a discussion instead of a question lol)
Hi, I am an South Asian student in California coming from a semi-high income neighborhood, I moved around a lot before 7th grade and then COVID hit where I fell behind on Science & ELA due to bad teachers. I am going into senior year with a 3.83/4 UW/4.44W. It may go up due to 2 college courses which will be articulated.
SAT 1530(750ELRW/780Math) taken once. I will take the SAT a few more times if I can and try the ACT.
POTENTIALLY national semifinalist for NMSQT, I got 217 or smth as my SI but Cali is normally 218-220.
Academics: 14 community college courses(All As but only some articulated to HS), Bs in both semesters of Honors Bio, HChem, and HPhysics, HEng9, and B 1st semester of AP Lang. 9 total APs, with 5 in APHUG in 10th. 11th I was super sick during exams and got 3 AB (Prereq for BC at our school), 3 Lang, 3 CSA, and 4 Stats.
For some ECs, I have 600+ Volunteer Hours, with PVSA Gold and 2 years at a COVID vaccine drive. CommonApp about the drive.
I work for a nonprofit providing middle schoolers with the opportunity to learn and compete at math comps. 3rd place at Stanford Math Tournament as a sophomore, no other math comp bc of access issues.
Led my community's first 3 5K runs, free for the first 2 and raised 2000+ dollars on the third, 500+ participants total. The club (SMAP Youth Club) also raised 300 lbs of food per year for 3 years.
Self study on 4 languages not including English.
Water Polo (JV,JV,JV,Var). and Swim 4 years (JV,JV,Var,Var) and got top 3 finishes at every final tournament for swim. Did lifeguarding partitme and taught kids how to swim for about 8 months, was lead lifeguard for my city's public swim program for a total time of about 30 hours (It was only a week long)
Went to CA State and National Spech and Debate Tournament, won straight 1st and 2nd at League level in my events.
Looking to publish math research.
Hooks/Adtl. Info: I am a first-generation immigrant and the first in my family to attend college in the US.
Preceding freshman year I broke my arm in a car crash and struggled to write for that year. Despite recovering in 10th, I had another wrist injury from swimming and a subsequent accident where I was the primary victim in junior year, both of which impacted my 1st semester English grades. Both cars were totaled during the debilitating crashes; I still experience pain and weakness but I’ve been using swim and water polo practices to recoup my arm strength. However, the mental impact left me struggling to keep up in school, especially for long periods of time. Combined with extreme sickness during junior year AP Exam season, I was unable to perform to my best ability.
The lack of a car during most of freshman and junior year meant I had to bike to wherever I wanted to go. Combined with my parents’ intermittent journeys to India due to several family deaths, time management and caretaking for my sister has been a struggle. I discovered my passion for cooking through occasionally needing to cook for her (and, at times, my whole family, due to my parents’ long hours). I also learned time management while helping at home and juggling my own work.
I missed two weeks near the start of junior year due to extreme sickness. Keeping up in Physics felt impossible no matter how much I tried, but I was still able to get Bs. My initial setback along with my passion for avionics has influenced my decision to take AP Physics in hopes to properly learn what I previously didn’t understand.
I have taken several courses at my local community college because my school doesn't offer them or I didn’t have enough slots in my regular schedule. Some were articulated to my HS transcript while others were not.
My school does not give “plus” or “minus” grades. Most of my B’s were borderline A’s and would have been B+’s.
Dream School: HSM + Columbia
Poll: What schools should I apply to realistically? Keep in mind I am in-state for UCs.
1. T10/Ivy
2. T20/UCLA/Berkeley
3. T30-50
4. You're 100% cooked
a) How cooked am I?
b) If I do good on ACT Science (34-36) can that make up for my bad science?
c) Do I work on GPA (Not much I can do), SAT (Will probably go up 20-30 pts.), or ECs (And what if so)?
Thank you!!!
Listen, I'm not an expert or anything, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But if you can explain your situation clearly, I don't think you need to worry too much.
Hi! I think I may have reviewed your essay if you submitted it recently about the COVID-19 drive. It looks like you have excellent participation with your volunteer hours/initiatives, sports, and SAT. Since you're so dedicated to volunteer work, this is something colleges will value. Academic setbacks happen, and especially after moving so much, admissions officers will be empathetic (provided they have this info). Life Experiences is an area colleges consider. It depends on the strength of your essay whether you could get into Top 10, but I'd say you have a fair chance. I'm not an expert, but you have a LOT of accolades that will matter to top colleges. Good luck with your application!
Hi! I think you did just review it, lol. Tysm for the feedback btw!
I'm hoping my essays will be strong enough (that's why I've gotten them reviewed so much), but it really is up to chance; I think I will havegood success at the 20 range and hopefully something in the 10s. Best of luck to you as well!
Thank you! Your covid essay was awesome, and in combination with your other extra curriculars, I have no doubt that you’ll get accepted to top tier colleges.
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