[Appyling to top colleges] I don't fit the mold of the typical Asian. Will this hurt?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm applying (actually, I have already applied, now I'm just waiting for decisions in April) to top colleges, which include Duke, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, and Vanderbilt; however, I don't fit the mold of the typical Asian. I don't know how I'm going to fair in the admissions process.</p>

<p>I'm on the wrong side of a 2100 SAT Score. I'm on the wrong side of 4.0 GPA. I don't have any math or science competitions on my resume. I don't have an internship at Intel or anything of that prestige. I didn't immerse myself into books and studying.</p>

<p>I feel weird and out of place sometimes that I'm just so different from the people that I tend to associate myself with -- which just happen to be people of Asian descent. I'm so different. I spent the majority of my childhood playing outside in the cul-de-sac with friends in the neighborhood. I didn't play the piano. I didn't get coached up for the SAT's. Sports were my life, as were friends. </p>

<p>I wasn't apart of United Nations, nor was I apart of the Academic Team. Instead, I played football for three years, and practiced tae-kwon-doe for another six years. I was a letterman in football, and a 1st degree blackbelt in karate. I didn't volunteer for a hospital. Instead, I volunteered for two years at a youth football, and I collected and raised money for soccer equipment to be sent to underprivileged children in South America. In my free time, I was a journalist. I have some more extracurriculars, but for the sake of brevity, let's just leave it at that.</p>

<p>My academic record speaks for itself for the most part. I have just under a 4.0 GPA, and I'm ranked within the top 20% of my senior class out of 280 students. I took 10 AP Classes during the past four years. I have the hardest course load in the history of my school. My teacher recommendations are top-notch.</p>

<p>AP Physics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus
AP Statistics
AP US Government
AP US History
AP World History
AP English Language
AP Psychology </p>

<p>My statistics and credentials put me in the mix for these schools. I'm well over the average for SAT Scores and GPA's; however, I'm really worried. I've worked hard, but I don't know how that's going to show considering how I'm only ranked in the top 20% (~ ranked 40-50 range). I played football my senior year and took 6 AP Classes, and I still managed to get 6 A's and 1 B during the first semester.</p>

<p>There are a lot of Asian American students with 2200+ SAT Scores, and a number of 750+ SAT II Scores. There are also a lot who have 4.2+ GPA's and are ranked #1 or within the top 5% in their class. The gap between those students and me is wide to say the least.</p>

<p>I don't know how I'm going to fair in the admission process. Is there any reason why they would select me (someone with a sub 4.0 GPA, and a sub 2100 SAT Score and sub 700 SAT II Scores) over someone with a 4.2+ GPA and a 2200+ SAT Score, along with a couple of 750+ SAT II Scores?</p>

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<p>you’ll be fine…everyone has their unique qualities, and you’ll find a college that appreciates you for who you are</p>

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<p>Ughh… I hate how CC doesn’t let you edit. I had a typo… youth football league***</p>

<p>I really want to go to these schools though. I am a really hard worker, whether or not it shows because of my rank (~50th or so out of 280 students isn’t really good). I didn’t work this hard so I could settle for a college that I didn’t have on my radar.</p>

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<p>Your radar seems to be a bit off…</p>

<p>If you played football and it was that important to you, why didn’t you try getting recruited? Duke and Vanderbilt recruit for football, I believe</p>

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<p>Um, guess it is a bit late, but are you good enough to play at the DIII Schools? If you fill out the recruit form and contact the coach, that could significantly increase your chances! It is not too late now and if you are good enough to be playing at a DIII school and have a marginal interest in playing, contact the coaches NOW. (Even if you don’t really want to play you can still use it to help you get admitted and decide not to play, since it is DIII, though this would be somewhat bad form).</p>

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<p>

That’s like asking someone why they aren’t trying out for the Olympics if a sport is important to them. D1 FBS = you have to be pretty damn good. Even Duke and Vandy, which are weaker programs.</p>

<p>OP, what’s your exact GPA? A slightly-below-4 should put you near the top unless it is an unweighted scale.</p>

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<p>I have a 3.97 GPA. Our schools don’t calculate non-weighted. </p>

<p>That would put me around 40-50 out of 280 students.</p>

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<p>Also, I think you guys are kind of missing the point of the thread. My academic credentials is well over the average of these schools. Yes, I am qualified to go to these schools. </p>

<p>What I’m saying is that there are also a lot of Asians that are applying, I don’t know how everything is going to pan out.</p>

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<p>OP, empty your PM box.</p>

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<p>Ok, I did!</p>

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<p>Sorry, for some reason I thought it was mentioned that the OP was D-I material but he totally didn’t say that. Anyway, if you have less than a 2100 on the SAT then you’re not above average.</p>

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<p>I think you need to take a hard look at the common data sets for the schools on your list. They will give you all the data you need to assess your chances. Look at percentage in top 10% of class, look at average scores. You need some safety schools.</p>

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<p>Im Asian too and I hate how most Asians are so smart. I have normal scores. I got a 31 on my ACT and a 1980 on SAT and Im applying to the same places you are. The only way to make you sound different is through your extras and essay. </p>

<p>Like I wrote about how I am a cheerleader at a predominately white high school and was the first Asian ever be a cheerleader at my school. I tried to make myself sound different as possible. Like most of my extra were non academic. Im not in the Math Club or anything and I focused so much on sports too. You did football and that will make you stand out amongst the rest of the asian population. And its also pretty hard to get recruited for football because theres so many people who are good. But yeah Im like having the same problem as you!</p>