<p>Hi mathlete1106!</p>
<p>Your credentials caught my eye, and I’d be more happy to chance you. I’ve chanced a couple hundreds of people over the summer, but I come back once in a while to help out with the admissions process. </p>
<p>Anyways, let’s start with your GPA. Every school has a different GPA scale, but I’ll tell you that a 5.3 is not usually impressive, but given the fact that the highest GPA in your school is a 5.6, I’d say that your school is pretty difficult. Have your GC mention the difficulty of the curriculum in your HS and how competitive it is there (it must be!). According to your stats, you have listed 11 APs. That is slightly above average for the schools you are applying to, based on the CCers I have chanced in the past few months – most usually have 7-9 APs, but keep in mind that the average CCer is an overachiever and not everyone applying to the Ivies is one. </p>
<p>Now let’s look at your test scores. Your SAT total of 2290 is excellent and is in the Top .5% of the US (99.5 percentile). You do not need to retake this test, because it will send a bad message to admission officers (your life = test taking). Let go! You’re a senior – and admission officers aren’t very fond of senior-year test takers, because you have an unfair advantage over those who take it as a junior. Remember that the admissions process is holistic … not one single factor is grounds for rejection … and 50 dollars is so not worth the extra 50 points. On the other hand, your SAT Subjects look fine, and they demonstrate your aptitiude in math. Most of your AP scores are excellent and will merit college credit; however, admissions officers will notice those 3s (3s aren’t highly regarded at the top privates). </p>
<p>Your ECs are excellent, because they demonstrate strong interest in the math/sciences. (That’s why you’re so good at it, huh?) What stands out in your app is that you’ve qualified for AIME for the past 4 years and USAMO for the past 2. That’s HIGHLY impressive — being in the USAMO for 2 years means that you are consistently one of the best 250 HS math students in this country! I’m personally still trying to get past the AMC 12. I feel like a loser … (can you PM me? I’m interested in how you do math!!! … not kidding!) </p>
<p>Anyways, enough about me. Overall, you’re an impressive applicant who obviously is very talented in the sciences and especially, in math. You should be proud of your achievements in high school (but not to the point that you’re egotistical or arrogant), because you are definitely among the best. Boost your chances of admission by writing strong essays — possibly about your passion for math if that is indeed what you truly enjoy doing. </p>
<p>Chances:
HYPMS: Slight reach (yes, you’re excellent at math … but your reading scores won’t kill your chances of admission … because the app process is holistic … i’m giving you a slight reach because even USAMOs are rejected by these schools … admissions here is such a crapshoot) </p>
<p>Caltech: Slight reach </p>
<p>UPenn: Slight reach (Still an Ivy!) </p>
<p>Duke: Match </p>
<p>WUSTL: Match</p>
<p>Rice: Safety match + slight reach for merit money </p>
<p>UT Austin: Definitely in + match for merit money </p>
<p>Another piece of advice: Just as the previous posters have stated, don’t apply to these schools just based on prestige. Just because they’re presitigious does not mean that they’re the perfect schools for you. Apply anywhere you feel you will fit the best. Do a campus tour or learn more about the programs you’re interested at each school’s website – find out if you can stand being at the school for 4 years, because getting in isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about. Can you see yourself being happy there? That’s what counts the most.</p>
<p>You should also consider some specialty schools. Have you heard of the Olin School of Engineering or Cooper Union? They seek out for talented math/science students like you and … tuition is $0!</p>
<p>Good luck, and Happy Thanksgiving!
-ab2013</p>