My College Experience
GPA: 3.4
SAT SCORES: 1560
MATH: 590 READING: 480 WRITING: 490 Applying to College was by far the most stressful experience I've ever taken part of. From the anxiousness of waiting for a school's decisions, to trying to even figure yourself out. When applying to school, you're supposed to know which schools you would like to attend, which schools you would most likely get accepted to, as well as schools that are good for you preferred major. Then again, there are tons of students who aren't aware of what they want to pursue in school, which is a very tough decision. I had such a short amount of time to find myself, find out who I truly was. While applying to colleges, you get the opportunity to look back at what you could've done better. I realized that, in my earlier years of high school I could've done a lot of things differently. The schools that I applied to include:
Merrimack College (Accepted) Umass Dartmouth (Accepted) Skidmore College (Accepted) Wentworth Institute of Tech (Attending) |
College EssayRecount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
After anxiously waiting three weeks, it was finally here! My heart sped up, and my breaths began to shorten. I began to reflect on all the studying I did for this test. Was it enough? Should I have answered every question? These results would determine where I'd end up for the next four years. Then, bam, as the page started to load slowly, I looked at the scores in disbelief. I felt defeated! Having always been considered to be a very studious student, I have high expectations for myself; however, my test scores made me feel let down, as if I were a stupid child who had his head inflated by his peers. I've learned that the SATs do not define who I am or necessarily make me "smart." I soon started to contemplate whether I would get accepted into the schools that I've always dreamed of attending because, when my father found out how poorly I did on my SAT, he told me that I'd be a failure and that I would not get accepted by the majority of the schools to which I am applying. Once I heard those heartbreaking words, I made it my goal to strive to stay passionate about my involvement in out-of-school activities. My scores may show that I could not master certain academic concepts, but they do not show the full person. They cannot show how I demonstrated leadership and initiative in organizing a fundraiser for our school's trip to Europe. They cannot show how I have contributed to my community by helping to build my neighborhood's playground, which is a few blocks from my house. My mom is not in my life; as a result, my dad raises me. Some people may say that is fine because a father teaches his son to be a "man," but, with no inspiration or support, it has seemed like the BPS system has raised me. I've found my inspiration at school when viewing the smiles on students' faces when I tutor them and give them the support I did not receive. My school gave no SAT prep to me or my pupils; throughout the whole year, all we did was to go to UMass Boston, taking Saturday classes for 11 weeks. The classes were 2 hours long; there was no way this was going to help prepare students for the SAT. My dad did not go to college or care about how well he did in high school; how could I have expected him to care about how well I did? He also wouldn't support the idea of paying for me to get extra help. Even with such scores, during my senior year, I was selected out of all Boston Public Schools to speak at the NEASC event about my experience in the BPS system. I was chosen to speak because, throughout my years at Tech Boston Academy, I have continuously shown growth as an individual, and my grades show strong effort and an upward trend. In my speech, I argued the same issue, that schools are too dependent upon test scores, and it is depriving students' self-esteem when applying to colleges. Even without my father's support, I still continue to push myself. I cannot let a test score put my life on hold. The SAT seems to be holding a lot of us back from attending an institution that can offer opportunities we were not able to obtain in high school. Even with my SAT scores not being up to par, I will still continue to go on and study the rigorous concepts that bring me joy. I will still demonstrate leadership in my community and advocate for those who are at a disadvantage. I will still continue to strive in the areas that the SAT did not measure. I will still continue to be myself. |