Are my scores good for HYP? Any red flags?

Applying to College
1

<p>SAT I (Super Scored): 2300 (800 Math, 750 Writing, 750 Reading, took 5 times)
SAT II: 720 and 750 on Math II, 660 and 630 on Literature, 780 on Chemistry, 760 on Spanish
Reading.
ACT w/ Writing - 34 Composite (35 English, 33 Math, 34 Reading, 35 Science)
APs: Human Geography (3), Spanish Language (4), Chemistry (5), AP Calc BC (3), AP Calc AB (4), AP Physics B (5), AP Psych (3), AP Enviro (5), AP USH (5), AP Euro (5), AP Micro (2), AP Macro (3), English Lang (5), and AP Comp Sci (5). </p>

<p>I took HG, Micro, Macro, Psych, and Enviro in 9th. I took Calc AB, USH, Chemistry, and Comp Sci in 10th. I took Spanish Lang, English Lang, Calc BC, Euro, and Physics B in 11th.</p>

2

<p>Yes, your scores are good for HYP. They won’t guarantee you will get in, of course. But they won’t keep you out.</p>

<p>Your unweighted GPA, class rank, teacher recs, ECs, and essays will be determining factors now that you’ve earned good scores. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>My GPA is a 3.75.
My rank is 2/97.
I am from Tennessee.
I’m an African American.
My parents both went to college.
I have no legacies.</p>

<p>I am captain of the chess team. Part of Key Club for 4 years. Captain of the basketball team and baseball team. I also am part of the spanish club.</p>

<p>I am applying to:
Howard
Franklin and Marshall
Georgetown
Penn State
UPenn
Columbia
Yale
Princeton
Harvard
Stanford
MIT
University of Tennessee
University of Mississippi
Emory
Cornell</p>

<p>I have one teacher who really likes me. I do not know what second teacher likes me as much. I have 3 younger sisters, 2 younger brothers, and 1 older brother. We don’t make too much so I need financial aid. I have a single mom, my dad passed away a couple of years ago when I was a freshman in May.</p>

4

<p>URM with your test scores is certainly a good combination</p>

5

<p>I took the tests a lot because I got a lot of fee waivers and I coudln’t do sat prep so i took the tests a lot. however i rain out of them so now we have to pay but it’s okay.</p>

6

<p>As a URM with high scores (excluding Lit, but that third subject test isn’t required), I might consider applying to Yale or Stanford SCEA, since an early acceptance would mean no time wasted on safety school apps.</p>

7

<p>URM–you have a good chance everywhere except MIT.</p>

8

<p>Why not MIT?</p>

9

<p>^MIT tends to look for more math and science based people. None of his EC’s portray any kind of dedication or passion for either. His math II score is in the 25% of MIT applicants. His Chem SAT II score is in the middle 50%. His math SAT I score is great :). In my opinion, though, because of the lack of math/science focus in EC’s, he’s an easy reject at MIT. I’m not even sure why the OP wants to apply there? It’s probably the prestige. But then again, I could be wrong and MIT accepts him…</p>

10

<p>What happened with Micro and Macro?</p>

11

<p>“In my opinion, though, because of the lack of math/science focus in EC’s, he’s an easy reject at MIT. I’m not even sure why the OP wants to apply there? It’s probably the prestige.”</p>

<p>This is simply not true. True, MIT tends to look for math and science people, but a lack of math or science ECs is not an absolute indication of being “non-science”. MIT looks for a diverse class. For some applicants, that’s a focus in math and science extracurriculars, for others that’s other stuff. The very fact that ajohnson is applying to MIT is a better indication of his interest in math and science than his lack of math or science ECs. For MIT’s application, you should definitely try to emphasize your interests in math and science areas through essays, etc., but the lack of ECs is NOT an indication of rejection.</p>

<p>Here’s a quote from an MIT admissions officer:</p>

<p>"You don’t need to do math/sci ECAs in high school. Just demonstrate some sort of interest in math or sci, which can also be accomplished through your coursework or teacher support. "</p>

<p>Reference: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/989103-oddball-extracurriculars.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/989103-oddball-extracurriculars.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>^Ok i was wrong. To the OP, if you like MIT, then go for it. Good Luck.</p>

13

<p>You’re an attractive applicant. Apply non-binding early to Yale or Stanford, and then apply RD to all the rest. You’ll have a lot of acceptances. Then compare aid offers and make the best choice for you. Good luck.</p>

14

<p>OP–You write:

</p>

<p>I just want to be sure you understand–in the college context, if your parents both went to college, you would be considered a legacy at their colleges. Some colleges treat legacy status differently from the way others do, and perhaps their colleges aren’t on your current list, but you are still a legacy at their colleges.</p>

15

<p>^I think he meant at the school he was applying to.</p>

16

<p>What happened with Micro and Macro?</p>

<hr>

<p>My father passed away in early May and the funeral was the week of APs and whatnot… it was terrible. I didn’t do well on any of the the exams, except psych…</p>

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<p>Both my parents went to community college.</p>

18

<p>With the news that you’re an URM, I will happily adjust my prediction that your chances at HYP schools are very good to excellent. 2300 and African-American is a winning combination in this era. Good luck with the app process.</p>

<p>I would also add that you do not need so many schools on your list. Consider SCEA or EA at your top reach school (Yale?, Stanford?), then, if you here a yes on Dec. 15th, you can just do a few other choice apps, and toss out the rest.</p>

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<p>^With all that new info, then your chances just went up everywhere. Good chance at all schools mentioned. Don’t go into binding agreement, you’ll get into at least 4 of those colleges so then you’ll have your choice of college.</p>

20

<p>I heard applying Early isn’t good if you need financial aid?</p>