Nice honor: Cole was a commended student in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship competition. That means he placed in the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students in the country based on scores from the preliminary Scholastic Aptitiude Test.
Impressive scores: He had taken seven college-level advanced placement exams going into his senior year. He scored the maximum of 5 on the national exams in U.S. history, European history, biology, chemistry, art history and English literature, and scored a 4 on the AP calculus exam.
No let up: His schedule this year includes AP classes in psychology, statistics and government, as well as college-level classes in English and third-year Spanish that earn University of Washington credit. “I like challenges,” he said.
Keeping the books: His sixth class is leadership. He is the student government secretary-treasurer.
Top choice: Cole has been accepted to the University of Chicago, which he will attend if he can work out the financing. “I wanted to go to someplace different,” he said.
In shape: His sports activities include tennis and swimming. Tennis is his favorite.
Hammer time: As the son of a contractor, Cole has learned to work with tools. He helped his family build the home they live in now.
Favorite subject: Art history. “I didn’t really know I liked art in the first place. It was something completely new to me. I actually like the humanities more than math and science.”
College plans: He is considering majors in economics or political science but said that could change.
Favorite author: David Foster Wallace. He particularly enjoyed “Infinite Jest.”
Musical tastes: Cole has about 7,000 songs on his iPod, representing a wide variety of styles. He still likes grunge from his early childhood.
In the swim: Cole fits 10 hours a week as a lifeguard at the high school pool into his busy schedule.
Holding off: The high-achieving senior confesses to one bad habit that surprises people who know him: “I procrastinate a lot.”
Burly visitor: Cole’s family recently had a surprise visit from a furry trespasser. “We had a bear eating out of our garbage a couple of months ago. It ran away, and I don’t think anyone has seen it since.”
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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