Anyone want to chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>I took a risk by not applying ED, cause I wanted to try my luck at Columbia as well, and now I’m regretting it. I wish it was just already April… I’m a legacy by the way. My parents have donated, but not substantially, just a few thousand dollars every few years. Also, I’m white and from a pretty big Southern city.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9 (uw)
Rank: N/A, top 10% though
SAT: 2320 (750 Critical Reading, 790 Math, 780 Writing, 10 Essay, took it once)
PSAT: 234 (80 Critical Reading, 74 Math, 80 Writing)
SATIIs: 800 Chemistry, 800 Math II, 800 US History, all 1st attempt
AP Tests: AP Calculus BC (5), AP Chemistry (5), AP English Language & Composition
(5), AP US History (5), AP Physics B (5), AP European History (5), AP Comparative
Politics (5), AP Human Geography (5)
This year’s schedule: AP Statistics, AP US Government & Politics, AP Micro Economics,
AP World History, AP Biology, AP English Literature and Composition, PE</p>

<p>School Activities (Grades 9-12)
Quiz Bowl (9-12)
National Honor Society (10-12)
Model UN (9-12)
State Governor’s School thing over the summer (11)
World Quest Competition Team Member (11) - Team placed in top 10 nationally
Math Team Participant (10-12)
Ping Pong Club Founding Member (11-12)
Biology Club, (12)</p>

<p>Honors and Awards
National AP Scholar
National Merit Finalist
Life Scout
Won some science Olympiad medals last year</p>

<p>Community Activities
Volunteer at Science Museum (400+ hours)
Volunteer at State Geography Bee, 9, 10
Boy Scouts</p>

<p>Employment
Student Researcher, Top 20 National University, Summer 2009</p>

<p>Essays:
Common app essay was about rock climbing, everyone who I had read it thought it was great. Brown essay was about not knowing stuff and biology, everyone seemed to like it, but some people said it came off as a little pretentious.
Recs: One should be excellent, the other should be very good. Guidance councilor rec is questionable, she’s new and sort of overloaded.</p>

<p>Basically what I fear is being seen as a pretty boring kid who doesn’t really have any awards or significant accomplishments, just high test scores and grades. I’ve heard legacy can help though.</p>

2

<p>If it matters, I go to a public school.</p>

3

<p>I applied ED with very similar stats and ECs (yours are a bit higher) and got in. I also go to Public school, but my school is 4000+ and sends a lot of kids to Brown. I’m not a legacy though, and legacy does really help at Brown. Excluding BIG BIG donations, they don’t measure how much your parents have given so much as how active your parents have been. I’d say you have a strong chance.</p>

4

<p>I’d say your stats def put you in that “strongly considered” range but your EC’s are a little weak. Legacy DEFINITELY helps though. I’d say you have a pretty good shot… you’re kind of at that point where its a crap-shoot. It’s really at this point if you have that “thing” they’re looking for because you definitely have the stats.</p>

5

<p>Bamp 10char</p>