i obviously know that i need to lock in on math, but i don’t know how! i’m in algebra 2 and struggling tremendously, and i don’t have the money to do test prep over $300 :( my standardized test scores weigh me down so much but i genuinely don’t know what to do. i also dropped 2 points in reading + science but gained 5 in english
hi!! i just got into CPS but questioned if it was worth applying to the NCM because my stats are lower than average ☹️ i wanted to check over here because i couldn’t find good info on QB
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Jamaican / Mexican
Home State: IL
Type of School: Public
Hooks: Low income
Intended major(s): English, Journalism, or Public Policy
Academics:
ACT: 27 on Pre-ACT, waiting on real ACT scores. (17 Math, 30 English, 35 Reading, 27 Sci.)
SAT: PSAT 1110
Class rank: Not considered
UW/W GPA: 3.84UW/4.48W
APS: AP Sem (Via Frosh. gifted program) (4), AP Psych (5), taking APUSH/ Lang, WILL TAKE APES, APLIT, AP GOV, + AP Macro
Coursework: Honors English + Science Frosh/Soph, Regular math, AP English Junior + Senior year, Regular physics junior year, Dual Credit Spanish, Art, + English electives
Awards: QuestBridge CPS, IJEA Best Audio Journalism Honorable Mention
Extracurriculars:
Competitive Speech: Chapter president, top point scorer on team, varsity since freshman year, will be captain for 2yrs, IHSA Sectionals finalist x2, IHSA Sectionals qualifier x5, IHSA Regionals finalist x6, Conference Champion x2, Conference top 6 x6
Journalism: Sports + radio, IHSA state qualifier x3, IHSA sectionals top 2 x3, a few statewide awards, broadcast editor — will be 2yrs senior year
Niche national organization— Event category champion, “Most Honorable Member of The Supreme Court”, Regional leader for a H.S. chapter of the program, will be attending junior year program (students are drafted into a team of college admissions counselors— vandy, rice, + dartmouth will be there, and i usually sweep this program b/c of my comp. speech background :))
Girl’s Swim & Dive, Water Polo
“MVP”— Frosh
“Most Spirited”— x3
“Most Improved”— Sophomore year
JV Swim— Soph/ Junior yr
Varsity Polo— Frosh—Senior yr
Varsity swim — maaaayyyybe senior yr?
Starting WOPO goalie— Junior—Senior yr
Honors Society
Art, Foreign Language, NHS, trying to go for Rho Kappa next year
HOSA
State Qualifier x2
Running for secretary / social media manager next fall
Musical— Literally just joined this year 😭 got one of the best support roles, though!! Doing Senior year
Service Club— Top 3 service hour earners
-DePaul High School J-Day Summer Camp
-Applying to EIU journalism camp
- Volunteering as a staff member for niche summer program (100+ hours)
LETTERS OF REC: the head coach of the speech team / dept. chair for english, or my APUSH teacher :)
ESSAY: About my grandmother always telling me “time is against us” in the middle of my hysterics when i was a toddler, but never listening to her lesson and hating the phrase. I didn’t realize how important it was until she passed when i was fourteen and i was just a few minutes away to say my final goodbyes, but i saw the watch on her wrist and knew it was a dying message. it encouraged me to do broadcast journalism + competitive speech (particularly radio speaking, where time is your major basis of ranking— must be 5min on the dot), and i allow every sign off to become the goodbyes i never got to give her, and she was my best teacher even in passing, etc.
QUESTIONS/ COMMENTS
EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES: Alcoholic father experiencing homelessness on + off, unsupportive mom who literally doesn’t gaf about college and is taking care of me on her own , and severe undiagnosed health complications related to a tumor that was discovered a few months ago.