National Merit semifinalist: Lea Cohen | Coronado High School

■ What college do you plan on attending and for what major?

I hope to be able to attend Yale University and major in pre-medicine or psychology because I want to become a pediatrician.

■ What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

I am treasurer of the National Honor Society and also volunteer at Dream Therapies, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with mental and physical disabilities. In addition, I am part of the youth group for Congregation Ner Tamid. I played on the varsity tennis team all four years and was recognized as a Scholar Athlete and a member of the Nevada All-State Academic Team. While in high school, I have been a member of Animal Advocates, Mu Alpha Theta, French Club, Key Club, Students for Soldiers and Multicultural Club.

■ What do you do for fun?

I like to ride horseback, play tennis, snowboard and go boating on Lake Mead.

■ In detail, how did you prepare for the PSAT?

I took practice tests online and reviewed the score reports sent in from taking the PSAT my sophomore year to improve on my weak points.

■ Why are grades so important to you?

My background is French. Academics and grades have always been strongly pushed in my family because they are the biggest focal point in French education.

■ What's your favorite movie and book?

My favorite book is "Gone With the Wind," by Margaret Mitchell, which is also my grandmother's and my mother's favorite book. I like genres of movies, but my favorite is "The Social Network."

■ What's a guilty pleasure of yours -- such as a TV show, movie or hobby -- and why are you ashamed of liking it?

Having two little brothers, I'm often bribed into playing on the Xbox with them. Thus, playing "Call of Duty" has become my guilty pleasure that I am ashamed of admitting because beating a 9-year-old and 13-year-old in "Modern Warfare" is not necessarily something to brag about.