My Journey Through College Admissions: Successes and Setbacks in 2021

My Journey Through College Admissions: Successes and Setbacks in 2021

Introduction

Admissions to colleges and universities can be an overwhelming process, filled with anxiety and uncertainty. This article shares my experiences, including the schools I applied to, the decisions I received, and the outcomes, with the hope of guiding other students through their own college application journeys. If you have questions or need advice, feel free to reach out!

College Application Overview 2021

In 2021, I applied to a diverse range of institutions, balancing my application list with a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. My intended major was Political Science, and I passionately pursued applications for programs that aligned with my career goals.

Reach Schools

tHarvard tAmherst tWilliams

These schools were my reach targets, and it was a relief when early decision acceptance at Harvard came my way. Promptly, I withdrew my applications to other schools to maintain an exclusive relationship with Harvard, as is common practice in early decision decisions.

Target Schools

tUF (University of Florida) tVillanova tUCI (University of California, Irvine) tUCSD (University of California, San Diego) tUCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara)

Target schools included institutions with more competitive but still achievable admissions rates. I successfully secured early admissions to several of these, which was a testament to my academic and extracurricular achievements.

Safety Schools

tGW (George Washington University) tUC Davis tAmerican University tPepperdine tFurman tRollins

I applied to safety schools to ensure a degree of security in my plans. My acceptance to multiple schools, especially with scholarships, further reinforced my confidence and readiness for the next step.

Academic Background

My academic background was strong, with a significant emphasis on challenging courses and advanced placement (AP) studies. Here’s a breakdown of my academic profile:

High School and College Background

My father is a half-Asian from Georgetown University, and my mother did not pursue higher education. I attended a private school for grades 1 through 12. Growing up in Florida, I developed a well-rounded educational foundation.

Academic Performance

These are my key academic achievements:

tGPA: 3.75 unweighted / 4.24 weighted tComposite ACT score: 29 tAP Course Credits: AP Biology, AP US Government, Psychology, APUSH (AP U.S. History) tHonors level courses: AP Calculus Honors, AP Economics Honors, Honors Intro to Social Justice, Legal Justice Fellowship (counts as AP credit) tAwards: AP Scholar Award, National Honors Society, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, Deans List 9th-12th grade

Extracurricular Activities

My extracurricular activities reflect my diverse interests and commitment to community service and social justice:

Athletics

tVarsity Girls Lacrosse: Team Captain and starter for 9th grade and the first half of 10th grade due to the impact of the pandemic tClub/Competitive Lacrosse: Team Captain and starter tMember of the School Tour Guide team

Social Justice

tMember of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Board tHistorian at the Diversity Club tVolunteer Youth Soccer Coach with over 75 hours of service

School Spirit

tVice President of the Student Council tVice President of Kakes 4 Kids tVolunteer for Babysitting during my 9th grade year

Each of these activities is crucial to my personal and professional growth, enhancing my leadership skills, teamwork, and social awareness.

The College Decision Process

The admissions decisions I received were a mix of acceptance, rejection, and waitlisting. Here’s a summary of the outcomes:

Accepted

tRollins College with a Deans Scholarship tFurman University with a Deans Scholarship tAmerican University with a scholarship in the AU Politics, Policy, and Law Scholars program tUniversity of California, Davis (UCD) tUC San Diego (UCSD) - I plan to commit here tUC Santa Barbara (UCSB) tPepperdine University tHamilton College for the Spring 2023 semester tNortheastern University (as part of the NU Bound Program) tUniversity of California, Irvine (UCI) tGeorge Washington University tBoston College for the Spring 2023 semester

Waitlisted

tWake Forest University tUniversity of Miami (UM) tMiddlebury College tUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) tVillanova University

Conclusion

My college application journey was challenging but rewarding. I hope that sharing my story can provide inspiration and valuable insights for other students navigating similar paths. For more information on specific schools or advice on the admissions process, feel free to reach out or share your experiences!