Applicant 1: Xavier Johnson

Biographical Sketch: Xavier Johnson is an African-American applicant from an upper-middle class background who graduated from an academically demanding parochial high school. Both his grades and his test scores fall somewhat below regular Texas State University admission standards, but he has demonstrated unusual talent in art and computers. His portfolio reveals a substantive body of work, including school publications, online projects, and paid projects. He argues that given a chance to specialize in his areas of interest, he will excel in college. He wishes to study computer science and art, with a goal of starting his own graphics firm after college. Although he could attend a local junior college or a less prestigious university, Texas State has more facilities, courses, and faculty appropriate to his abilities and interests.

Name: Xavier Henry Johnson Social Security Number: 000-12-9312 Address/Phone: 462 Iowa Court  Houston, TX 78921 (912) 555-2365 Ethnicity: African-American

High School:  Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, 244 E. Northridge Blvd. Houston, TX 78924 High School GPA: 2.54 Class Rank: 54 in a class of 125 ACT Composite: 19 SAT Scores: 490 (verbal),  460 (quantitative)

I. Personal Essay: Please explain in 250-500 words why you wish to attend Texas State University and how you think you could contribute to the university community here.
 

In the society of the future, it will be essential for citizens to know how to navigate the resources of the information highway. People will have to know how to surf the World Wide Web when they need to find information about a topic of their interest, and they will need to use computers to communicate and create professional documents that in past years were done on typewriters and in printshops. I want to be part of the electronic revolution that is sweeping our nation. Admission to Texas State University will help me pursue my dream. For the past three years I have been chief editor of the yearbook at Sacred Heart Academy. I had to prepare a full manuscript of the publication, including photos, layout and text, on our school computers to submit to the publisher. Last year our yearbook won third prize in a national contest. I also helped my journalism teacher, Mrs. Jeanna Barrett, create a website for the school that included calendars, upcoming events and the student handbook. I also have created my own personal webpage and worked part time in my father's law firm last summer in the graphics lab. In college, I want to study computer science and art to help me pursue my interests so that I can someday start my own advertising or graphics business.  I believe that my expertise and experience with computers and graphics would make me a deserving candidate for admission to Texas State University, and I hope that you will consider me for this fall.

 
 

Ms. Jeanna Barrett Journalism Division Sacred Heart Academy 244 E. Northridge Blvd. Houston, TX 78924 Dear Admissions Committee: I strongly recommend Xavier Johnson for admission to Texas State University in the fall. Mr. Johnson has been my student since he was in seventh grade and I know his abilities well. He is an exceptionally talented artist and has more expertise with computers than most people twice his age. He has been invaluable to my student publications staff, often working long hours after school and on weekends to fine-tune a project. He was editor of our yearbook for the past three years in addition to serving on the newspaper and literary magazine staffs and a special team charged with creating a school web site. I realize that Mr. Johnson's grades and course selections have been uneven, but Sacred Heart is a selective and academically challenging school. I believe that in college, where he can concentrate on subjects that reflect his interests and talents, he will excel. He wants very much to pursue a career in computer arts, and he certainly has the talent and energy to be a success. Please consider his immense talent and potential and make a place for him in your new freshman class. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, Ms. Jeanna Barrett

Harley Abbott  Director, Publications Lab Wesner, Smithson and Mill, Attorneys at Law  4600 Exposition Houston, TX 78798 Dear Admissions Staff: I would like to recommend Xavier Johnson for admission to your university. Xavier worked under me as a computer graphics intern during last summer, and I was impressed by his creativity and dedication. He was eager to learn from more experienced artists and designers, yet by the end of the summer he was producing work that matched the quality of even my best professional employees. We placed him in charge of our new client directory, one of our major in-house publications, and he completed the project beautifully and on schedule. I would hire him full time, except that I know he is determined to go to college.  He would be a fine addition to your freshman class. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Harley Abbott

 

Sacred Heart Academy  244 East Northridge Boulevard Houston, Texas 78924  "Building character as well as intellect in a Catholic environment"   Official Transcript Freshman Year  Algebra I: C English I: C P.E.: C Journalism: A Art I: A U.S. History: D Latin I: D Sophomore Year Geometry: D English II: C P.E.: C Journalism: A Yearbook: A Art II: B Biology I: C Junior Year Algebra II: D World Lit.: D P.E.: C Journalism: A Yearbook: A Texas History: D Chemistry I: D Senior Year Amer. Lit.: C P.E.: C Journalism: A Yearbook: A Biology II: D Extracurricular Activities: Gifted/Talented Enrichment Program/Arts (I), Newspaper (I-IV),Art Club (I-II), Yearbook (II-IV), Computer Club (II-IV), Literary Magazine (III-IV),Web Design Team (IV), School Play (III), Career Fair (IV).