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Metro girl’s perfect SAT score is no surprise

Senior pushes self, teachers, students in the classroom

Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 9, 2007 at midnight

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Getting an A-minus is simply unacceptable for 17-year-old Caitlin Gillespie.

So it's no surprise she got a perfect score of 2400 on her Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Last year, just 269 of 1.5 million test takers earned such a score on the college entrance exam.

"I'm really excited. There are moments when I don't quite believe it," said Gillespie between advanced placement classes at St. Mary's Academy in Englewood on Thursday.

Gillespie, a senior, said she took the test three times in an attempt to bring her scores up after the first try.

"It's hard to say what can prepare you for a good score," she said. "It's not like I devoted my life to studying for the SAT. I did things like taking algebra and geometry in middle school. I got math tutoring. I took a short essay workshop in the summer, and got a practice workbook.

"I've always tried to do well in school," she said.

St. Mary's Academy English teacher Brett James can attest to that.

"I think she was born gifted," said James. "The thing Caitlin has going for her is that when she doesn't get it, she's not afraid to ask questions."

She's also not afraid to challenge her teachers.

"Just the other day, she said in her usual humble way, 'I don't want to be offensive, but I don't know why we're reading this book.' It was One Hundred Years of Solitude. So I posed the question to the students, and we ended up having an hour-and-a-half- long discussion. That's what education is about."

James also recalled Gillespie asking about the A-minus grade on one of her tests.

"She told me, 'Can you tell me what I did wrong and how I could improve?' That's something you just don't expect from most students. They'd be happy to get an A-minus."

Gillespie is quick to point out she's not a geek. She makes time for her friends and clubs at school, including Model UN and the school's literary magazine.

Her favorite pastime: hip-hop dancing.

"I love it," she said. "It's a lot of fun."

Gillespie said fellow students have been supportive of her academic achievement and were just as excited as she was about the perfect SAT score.

Kathryn McNamee, principal at St. Mary's Academy, is pleased about the recognition that Gillespie's achievement has brought to the school.

"There's no doubt Caitlin is an incredibly intelligent girl. But I think it's also the curriculum and the kind of supportive environment we have here at St. Mary's Academy."

Looking ahead, Gillespie is trying to narrow down her choices for college. She's applied to places like Yale, Princeton and Stanford. But she's also interested in smaller, lesser-known schools. She has yet to decide her major.

"I want to do something with my life. I don't want to sound cliché, but I want to change the world.

"I want to alleviate some of the suffering in the world and address some of the injustices. I'm passionate about the environment."

For now, Gillespie just has to worry about getting through Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

"It's good. I like the writing style," she said. "It really stretches your mind."

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