<p>I'm not sure if I'm being overly optimistic with my school choices, I'd like some opinions.</p>
<p>Georgetown
WashU
UPenn (I know that ones a HUGE reach)
USC
GW
Northwestern
Pomona
Brandeis</p>
<p>Class of 2008
Arizona resident
Jewish (yeah, since every school is lacking Jews... psh)</p>
<p>Academic:
Rank: 30/650 (5%)
SAT: 700 on CR, M and W, will retake and take SAT IIs
W GPA: 4.6
UW GPA: 3.86
8 APs by end of senior year
Most rigorous schedule available at school
Taking a Hebrew class outside of school
Did a semester abroad as a junior (in Israel)</p>
<p>ECs:
Semester Abroad in Israel 11-Spring Semester
Temple Youth Group (TYG) 9 10 11 12
Communications Vice President of TYG 11
Programming Vice President of TYG 12
Historian of the Southwest Region for TYGs 12
Leadership Camp Summer 2006
Day Camp Counselor Summer 2007
Hebrew High 10 11 12
100+ Hours of Community Service at School and Camp of Underpriveleged Children
NHS
Spanish Honor Society
Had jobs since sophomore year</p>
<p>Note: Because I did a semester abroad, it was difficult to expand my ECs because I was away from all of them. My TYG ECs take up most of my time in the year, and I was able to continue with those while in Israel.</p>
<p>Your unique experiences in Israel and dedication to your Youth Group may pay off as original EC's, it's unfortunate that you don't have one other solid EC, but that shouldn't hurt you.</p>
<p>Brandeis - match
Northwestern - low reach/high match
GW - low match
USC - match
Penn - reach
Pomona - reach
WashU - reach
Georgetown - reach</p>
<p>looks good from here. if you write great essays, and boost your test scores a bit, I would be slightly surprised if you didn't get into those schools. I mean, you seem like a capable and interesting candidate. best of luck!</p>
<p>Even though every school isn't lacking Jews, every school is lacking people from Arizona. Your grades and test scores don't strike me as great or lacking, they are about average for high caliber institutions. I'd retake the SAT or even try the ACT to nail a 2200+ or 32+. Most of your ECs center around Judiasm, I don't know if that'll be a plus or not. Still though, they are strong in and of themselves. As for each school:</p>
<p>Georgetown-Low Reach
WashU-Low Reach
UPenn (I know that ones a HUGE reach)-Reach
USC-High Match
GW-Match
Northwestern-Low Reach
Pomona-Reach
Brandeis-Match</p>
<p>Brandeis - match
Northwestern - low reach/high match
GW - match
USC - high match/low reach (oos)
Penn - reach
Pomona - reach
WashU - low reach
Georgetown - low reach</p>
<p>get those sat grades up and that would be awesome im sure
also i think if your recs are good and if you focus a lot of your essay power to your dogma i think that might boost your app more
good luck</p>
<p>thanks, seems like everyone is agreeing. I'm very happy that WashU and Georgetown are low reaches instead of super reaches (I wasn't sure), because those are my top two.</p>
<p>So it won't let me edit it, but I just found out that I'm a National Merit Semi-Finalist :) How much does that affect my chances?</p>
<p>Also, another EC that might help is I'm starting this year to help tutor underprivileged Spanish-speaking kids in English about 10 hours a week. I know its only as a senior, but I'm really passionate about it and doing it more for me than for anything else. Thoughts?</p>