Advice/Chances Please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm a rising senior and was wondering If you could help evaluate my position.
I would like to do a psych major and pre med.</p>

<p>Schools I really like (as of right now):</p>

<p>Duke
UPenn
Boston College
Northwestern</p>

<p>Schools that I am also considering (I could see myself here, but will not be my first choice/ED):</p>

<p>Brown
Notre Dame
Rochester
Lehigh
Cornell
Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon
Emory</p>

<p>Our school uses a 100 point scale.
It is a decent public school in upstate New York, but nothing exceptional...Typically, we have about 5 kids a year go to Cornell, 2 or 3 go to other Ivies, and the rest of the class goes to a SUNY school or community college.</p>

<p>Currently, I am safely in the top 10 of my class (probably 5 or so out of 275)
I have around a 96/97 unweighted.</p>

<p>Our school only offers a handful of AP's, and I've taken every one that I have been able to. I have taken three so far (Physics, World, US), but will be taking four senior year (Macro, English, Biology, Calc). Again, I have taken all the ones that would fit into my schedule. </p>

<p>I have done extremely well in all of my classes (at least a 90) except for AP Physics where I finished with a 75 (This is a notoriously hard class with an awful teacher...and this was not a terrible grade relative to my classmates...)</p>

<p>My SAT is decent...just about a 2100...and I'm hoping that this will at least get me considered by some of the good schools. I am also taking the ACT in the fall..and think I can do fairly well on that (again, hopefully good enough to maybe be considered).</p>

<p>My AP's really aren't great...I get three's (except for a 2 in physics!). However, history has never really interested me and is not my strong point...and I'm not great at physics. I would say though, that I am very strong in english, language, biology, chem, math ect.</p>

<p>I don't have many EC's...I am a member of the Science Club, and I have done Science Bowl (jeopardy style science questions...). I am also a year round varsity athlete (rowing).</p>

<p>However, I hope that I will really stand out to colleges due to some of my other activities...
I am a junior camp counselor for a couple of weeks every summer. I spend a lot of time volunteering at nursing homes around my area, and occasionally work at the local soup kitchen. I am very active in my church community...volunteering is something that I really enjoy.</p>

<p>From these volunteering experiences and from my teachers, I know that I can get some great recommendations, and I can write a great essay...</p>

<p>Also, I have invented these really cool bracelets and created the machinery used to make them...I guess my hope is that this will portray some sort of ingenuity... </p>

<p>I also have some unusual hobbies...
I am interested, and licensed in Ham Radio
Although I row, I am passionate about cycling. I love the sport and collect bicycle magazines. (I don't want to row in college, but I do hold a world distance record for my age group...)
I enjoy metal detecting.</p>

<p>In summary, I feel that I have decent grades (except for Physics; my grade in that class drives me up the wall!)...I am just hoping that my volunteering and interesting activities/hobbies/being well rounded will get me considered somewhere. Thank you for taking the time to read this. </p>

<p>So...long story short...here are some of my chances/requests (I will be more than happy to do the same for you...)</p>

<ul>
<li>What should I do about Physics/will that affect me greatly?</li>
<li>Most importantly, how are my chances for some of the colleges I listed above? (Early Decision and Regular Decision for the top category, and Regular Decision for the rest)</li>
<li>I know that it's extremely late, but whatever 'level' you think I'm at (whether it be Duke or community college ;)...it would be great if you could throw some other names at me - schools I could potentially get into (I am looking for something midsized and suburban...)</li>
</ul>

<p>Really, thank you for your time. Please keep in mind that I will be happy to return the favor</p>

2

<p>Considering you said “Schools I really like” for all of the elites, you should retake the SATs as painful as that is. These schools are really selective and as great as a 2100 is, it might hinder your application’s shine. But for the other schools on your list that aren’t ivies or extremely selective, such as BC, you seem like a direct match! Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>My recommendation would be to apply ED at BC for your best shot at one of your top schools.</p>

4

<p>^Agreed–or perhaps Cornell, given your school’s historic relationship.</p>

5

<p>For Boston College, I feel like you will definitely have what it takes to get in. With the Ivies, tons of over-qualified people apply each year and don’t get in. I guess, whatever someone’s situation is, an Ivy is always going to be a reach.</p>

<p>I’d also say that you are on track for Notre Dame, Lehigh, and Vanderbilt. I personally think your SAT is fine, unless you are set on going to an Ivy and won’t settle for less; I encourage you to take the ACT though (I found it a lot less stressful and ended up doing a tad bit better than my SAT)</p>

<p>As for Physics, you can’t really do much now. Try to let it go. It didn’t appear to affect your percentage all that much. And if your transcript is tarnished by just one grade, I don’t think that most colleges will care (unless it is incredibly selective). However, I feel that you make up for that one grade in other qualities.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>