Am I on the right track?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I just wanted to check if I am on the right track for schools like UNC Chapel Hill, Tufts, Brandeis, UVA, Umichigan, Emory maybe as a reach. I am a Sophomore, my school is a quite good suburban Public school.

GPA: UW/4.00 W/ 4.8 Class rank 2 out of 741 ( note though: I am likely to get a B this semester, which likely will cause my class rank and GPA to drop)
standardized test scores: 1300 PSAT (I forgot to answer the whole free response math section, didn’t realize it was there…lol), no prep though. I haven’t taken the real SAT yet.

I have taken all honors except two required standard (Spanish 2 and PE), and am taking two AP’s currently (AP Gov US and AP Human Geo)

extracurricular: Competitive chess tournaments all over the country (ranked in top 10 for kids my age in the US, multiple placing in top 5 of national grade chess championship, dozens of minor wins)
Captain of high school chess Team (9th, 10th, the team won the state championship last year and placed in the top 25 of nationals)
Lincoln Douglas debate (1 year) (had to quit, although I wasnt bad and really enjoyed it I constantly missed events for chess)
Kiva (1 year) (microloan club in school, on a committee deciding who to loan money to)
History Olympiad (Just starting this as a way of diversifying a bit away from chess, but am working on starting a History club at school for next year, I love social studies but dont know how to show this in extracurricular, so far though Ive taken 6 social studies classes in 2 years in school)
Basketball 1 year (Just a rec league, nothing special)

Volunteer:
Co founder ( and sole president, 9th and 10th) of largest chess organization in my state (teach chess to over 300 students, mostly low income, students include multiple National champions for their age group), we also do various non-chess educational events (weve raised over 10000$ for other charities, and all of our services are free, some of our members choose to donate money but most come for free).

work experience:
Teach chess both privately and for Local school district ( youngest chess instructor in my county’s history) earn several times minimum wage (dont know if that helps).

Intended major: History or Government maybe?

Income bracket: 250000$ (although I do have a highly disabled brother who uses up a lot of my family’s money)

Other: I dont really know, I do have major visual spatial issues (I have it as a diagnosed disability and have had to work through it), but I highly doubt that will count as a hook or anything.

Just wondering if I am on the right track, I dont know much about College admissions, does anyone have any advice?

2

I’d say if your SAT goes well you would have a good shot at those schools and maybe even more selective ones. Shoot for a 1450+ for those schools and a 1500+ for more selective ones. Study a lot and get to know the test and you’ll do fine.

3

Thank you! Any other advice?

4

Also do you have any other advice about possibl things I could do to improve my chances?

5

I would think about EA or ED if you can afford it. I’m not sure about those schools but at some they double the acceptance rate. I would also take the ACT also this year and see which one you like more then focus on that junior year. I know it did for me, I got a 1830 on the SAT and 33 on the ACT, big difference. I’m not sure how much of a necessity it is but the SAT subject test can’t hurt if you do well.

6

I dont know if I can afford ED except maybe at Chapel Hill, although that is a tactical decision for senior year. I dont know about the ACT vs SAT, I took the SAT vs ACT diagnostic test, and they were almost exactly equal, but I did far better on the PSAT than the PLAN (1300 to 27, in addition I didn’t answer a whole part of the math section on the PSAT like I said), I will take a look at that for sure though. I have started to practice for the World and US History subject tests, but decided to wait, as I will probably take IB hota and AP world next year. Also, I forgot to mention I am in my school’s IB diploma program, most of my honors have been pre IB courses, does this help at all with my chances?

7

Anyone else have any advice?

8

Since you’re a sophomore, this summer try and take an SAT class and try for National Merit in the fall of junior year. Also, try to do some more history and government things like interning at a law office or tutoring. With your extracurriculars and grades, Emory is more of a match than a reach. You’re undercutting yourself; those schools are not insanely competitive.

9

Thank you for the advice, tutoring and interning at a law office are certainly good ideas, although I dont know when I will have time to do this. Although with regards to my grades, do note that I am likely to get at least 1 B this semester (IB spanish 3), which is part of the reason that I am trying to be conservative, my class rank, which is so far probably my best selling point, will likely plummet, which is why I thinks schools like Chapel Hill may still be tough.

10

Any other chances/advice/suggestions?

11

AAlso, do colleges look down on SAT program’s as a summer activity? Especially as Im trying not to seem one dimensional of just chess and studying.

12

Colleges would definitely not think of you as one dimensional with chess and studying. They would be very impressed. I am in a similar situation - high ranked chess player with strong leadership positions and coaching, and not much other strong ECs- but really, colleges like seeing students who have focus rather than a bunch of ECs that they do just for college purposes. We should keep in touch and help each other out :slight_smile: Msg me

13

Thank you! Anything else?

14

Quick recent update: I also played 3rd in my states history Olympiad championship, and by an exam process qualified for the international geography Olympiad and US history Olympiad. Does that help my chances at all?

15

Any other advice/suggestions? I really appreciate the help.

16

I would try EA for UVa. You seem to be doing very well. It might be interesting to write your essay about your brother.

Best of luck!

17

I think I could write an essay about my brother or myself or even both, I thought about writing about my vision problems (I was the last in my kindergarten class to learn to read and I only do well in school because I learned to type almost everything), but that wont be a problem for a while. Any other advice/suggestions or anything?

18

Any other chances/advice/suggestions?

19

Colleges like to see dedication to things you’re passionate about (in this case chess) and won’t view such commitment to it as a negative. If you spend most of your time playing chess and doing well they won’t fault you for it. Agreed that you could, given a strong SAT/ACT score, apply to some more competitive schools. Need-based financial aid at the most competitive schools is generally pretty generous although given a 250k income unless they factor in your brothers needs it may be not quite generous enough.

Be careful about writing an essay about someone else. The important part of the essay isn’t to tell them about your brother, it’s to tell them about YOU. You can use your brother as a means to convey something about yourself, but all too often people write essays about another person that don’t reveal much at all about themselves. Your other essay idea is an option but just be aware that the topic itself (disability, overcome injury xyz, etc.) is a somewhat common one. You could of course write a stellar essay about it but it might come off like you’re making excuses for any grades that aren’t As.

Finally, I’d like to second what others have said about apply EA/ED. If finances are a concern apply EA (which is non-binding). Generally a higher chance of acceptance and it can help you take other schools off your list (that are less desirable and less affordable).

20

I’d definitely say you are on the right track for those colleges. I would just make sure to get higher test scores, and you should definitely at least get accepted to some of those colleges. Good luck!