A somewhat "different" applicant chance???

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
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<p>Hey guys,
I just wanted to know what my chances are at University of Notre Dame (Early Action). Feel free to post any advice and stuff like that, I could really use the help. If you could chance with things like "match" "reach" etc, I'd also appreciate that. Thanks! </p>

<p>Also, how about Cornell? Just to see...
:/ Anyway...</p>

<p>Im interested in Business. I will be needing some financial aid, and I will be applying Early Action.</p>

<p>Stats/Info:
-Upcoming Senior, Black/African-American male, underdeveloped country but US Citizen-New York Resident</p>

<p>-GPA: 3.85 UW (no weighted at my school)
-PSAT:191
-SAT: 2030 (CR: 660, Math: 630, Writing 740---Essay:8)
(Composite-2040; CR 670, Math 630, Writing 740)</p>

<p>-Honors Geometry, Honors English 9, Honors Global History, Honors Biology
Next year: AP Bio, APCalc, AP Eng Lit</p>

<p>EC's:
-Chess Club
-Excellence Awards in French, Physics, English
-Varsity Soccer--Captain (3 years)and also on a Nationally ranked and globally recognized soccer team
-Future Business Leaders--(Treasurer 2 years)
-Model UN
-National Achievement Scholar Award
-National Junior Honor Society (does this count?)
-Volunteered at an African village of Azope in Ivory Coast to help reconstruct homes and other community services (around 30-50 volunteer hours)
-Made a Tutoring business and made an organization out of it
-Honor Roll for all years
-Emory precollege program in Experimental Economics
-I work on my father's rubber tree plantation and will soon take complete ownership of it
-Won First Place award and a second place award in the schoolwide science fairs
-Schoolwide History Fair
-I taught myself to speak fluent French in about a year
-Taught myself to play cello, clarinet, xylophone and african djembe, member of the Advanced Orchestra</p>

<p>Background: Well I'm a US citizen from NY, but when I was 15 (10th grade) we moved to the Ivory Coast in West Africa and that's where I live now; it's one of the poorest countries in the world, but it's our families home. (I'm planning on writing my essay on this experience.) At my old school I did honors classes and stuff but here at my new school they don't offer such courses. There's also a lack of clubs and activities here. I also coached myself to take the AP English exam, since there are no AP classes here. It is also my goal to be the first student my school has sent to a Top 50 or Ivy League Institution (no one has been accepted from here or has even applied in about 10 years, I want to make my school proud!)
Thanks for reading this, and any of your messages/advice will be appreciated!</p>

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<p>Also, is it a good idea to apply early action with this resume? I’ve heard early action can actually be more competitive than regular decision at Notre Dame…</p>

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<p>Don’t worry about the lack of APs. Just remember to mention your situation in the “Additional Information” section of the application. As for the actual “chance,” I think for Notre Dame you should for the most part be fine. I would call it a low reach. As for Cornell, it’s a high reach. If you can, take the tests again. Your ECs are just awesome! </p>

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<p>Thanks @mlpwas100‌ , very helpful! Anyone else…?</p>

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<p>I’m blown away by your ECs and life experience in your country, and coupled with the fact that your are a URM, have a good GPA and SAT score, I think Notre Dame would definitely be around a match. If you’re able to uniquely express yourself and your experiences (becoming the owner of a rubber tree plantation? how many people with your stats can say that?) through the essays/interviews, you have a great chance at pretty much any school.
Cornell is a reach for everyone, but you can do it! I believe SATII scores are required though, so take that into consideration (correct me if I’m wrong)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot @the27thletter‌ ! :slight_smile: I thought these schools would be high reaches to be honest. I guess it’s worth it to at least apply. And at Cornell I would apply to CALS, which does not require SATIIs.</p>

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<p>I think the Math score on SAT1 is a bit too low…otherwise your stats are great!</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>You can see how worthless ‘chances’ are when someone calls ND a match.</p>

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<p>Thanks @humblefool‌ ! </p>

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<p>Bump…I could really use the help…</p>

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<p>I am not really familiar with Notre Dame but Cornell would probably be a reach as long as you describe your situation in your apps. You have pretty good ECs! I guess you should focus on your test scores and maintaining those ECs. Otherwise, you’ll do fine and make your school proud!</p>

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<p>thanks @academickid15‌ . anyone else</p>

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<p>We know a number of ND students, and they report that, for those students who were not unbelievable applicants, their admissions rep advised them not to apply Early Action as that round is, indeed, more difficult than regular. I would suggest contacting the admissions rep assigned to you geographically. Although uncommon and discouraged, from what I can tell, at other schools, at ND, the admissions reps want to hear from you and will communicate with applicants about their app before it is submitted. Good luck.</p>