Asian w/ Crappy ECs, Mediocre Grades, and Nice SAT...Rip Me to Shreds!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok, so this is basically a condensed repost cus a few things have changed and I'm still worried. I've you've already replied to one of my previous threads, just ignore this. Thanks!</p>

<p>Information:</p>

<p>Grade: Junior
Eth: Asian
Sex: Male
State: NJ
Grade: Junior
Major: Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology; possibly economics (as a minor)
School: Very Competitive
Courseload: Mostly Honors w/ 5 APs; Counselor will select 'Most rigorous'</p>

<p>Estimated Frosh/Soph/Junior GPA:</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.83; W - 4.18</li>
</ul>

<p>Estimated Soph/Junior GPA:</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.87; W - 4.31</li>
</ul>

<p>Rank:</p>

<p>School doesn't rank, probably top 5% of class of ~700.</p>

<p>AP's (Total of 11):</p>

<ul>
<li>Physics B (4)</li>
<li>Chemistry (Taking, Expecting 5)</li>
<li>Calculus BC (Taking, Expecting 5)</li>
<li>English Language and Composition (Taking, Expecting 4)</li>
<li>Computer Science A (Taking, Expecting 4)</li>
<li>Biology (next year)</li>
<li>Art History (next year, required aka being forced into it)</li>
<li>Economics (next year)</li>
<li>Computer Science AB (next year)</li>
<li>Statistics (next year)</li>
<li>English Literature (next year)</li>
</ul>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>PSAT: 226
SAT: (After 2 Administrations) T - 2330; M - 800; CR - 730; W - 800
SAT IIs: Taking: Chem, Math II, and possibly Bio or Lit</p>

<p>Recs:
Counselor - Awesome: she knows me well.
Teachers - One good from Eng, more about personality (not the highest eng grade in class unfortunately, running a low A-). One awesome from AP Chem teacher.
Supplemental - Either another teacher very familiar with me or JSA advisor (who is very fond of me). Also research mentor (which should be awesome).</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>NJ Science League (Test Each Month)</p>

<p>NJ Chemistry Olympics (~ 3-5 hrs/wk from late Feb to early May</p>

<p>Medical Careers Club (Running for Officer) (~ 1.5 hrs/wk for meetings)</p>

<p>Science Competitor's Club (Officer, will run VP) (~1.5 hrs/wk for meetings)</p>

<p>Junior Statesmen of America (Chapter and Regional Officer, will run VP or Prez) (~3-4 hrs/wk for meetings, debate writing, and political compositions)</p>

<p>March of Dimes (Running for Officer) (~ 2 hrs meetings once a month; lots of additional time committed outside of that)</p>

<p>Genetics Research (~ 40 hrs/wk for 8 wks over the summer 10th & 11th)</p>

<p>Piano (not school; played 4.5 yrs; ~ 2 hrs/wk with lessons and practice)</p>

<p>Tennis (not school; played 8 yrs; ~ 3 hrs/wk club practice on Saturdays; more like a hobby) </p>

<p>Community Service (~300 hrs by application time; ~5 hrs/wk)</p>

<p>Robert Wood Johnson Mini-Medical Program (Wednesdays now thru April for ~2.5 hrs, nothing huge, just a part of my interest in the medical field)</p>

<p>Honors, Recognitions, Awards, Programs (Kinda weak right now):</p>

<p>NJ Science League (Participant 10th Grade)</p>

<p>National Latin Exam (Silver Medal in 9th; Gold Medal in 10th; test for 11th approaching)</p>

<p>Commendation from Governor/NJ State Legislature (For our chapter setting up a March of Dimes fundraiser that raised thousands of $'s)</p>

<p>JSA Best Speaker Awards (Several in recognition of debate performance)</p>

<p>National Honors Society/National Latin Honors Society (11-12)</p>

<p>Predicted National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>Pending (Other Competitions Planned/Participating: USNCO (need to study hard for this one, coming up on the 19th), Chemistry Olympics, Siemen's Westinghouse/Intel (with additional research conducted over next summer))</p>

<p>Ok that's about it. I have a feeling a lot will depend on my results with Intel/Siemen's and USNCO. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Colleges:</p>

<ul>
<li>UPenn (ED and RD plz)</li>
<li>JHU (ED and RD plz)</li>
<li>Cornell </li>
<li>Duke</li>
<li>WUSTL</li>
<li>U Chicago</li>
<li>UMich</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>Rutgers (Safety)</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Wow, this is soooo mediocre. I will give you my take:
UPenn, Columbia, Duke, Chicago - Low reaches
Cornell, JHU, Northwestern, NYU, WUSTL - Decent matches
UMich - Safety</p>

3

<p>you need to focus your interests. it seems really general right now. great SATs tho!</p>

4

<p>@chronic: It's my ECs really; not necessarily my grades/GPA...I guess I should've adjusted that title...it's really b/c I feel inferior to all the perfect 4.00 GPA people on this forum. I think you may have given me slight inflated chances (I hope by not too much of course!), but thanks so much for posting!</p>

<p>@ drurylane5: I agree. I'm more of a multifaceted person (or a scholar I guess...agh...I hate that term) than I would like to be. My main interest is science, followed by public speaking and community service. I will try to stress that on applications.</p>

5

<p>i agree with the other posters. i think you have a shot at all the schools. and i would considere UMich and Ritgers safties.</p>

6

<p>Nothing particularly sticks out. I agree with chronic's evaluations, although I'd just generally lower the probability of each category slightly. I don't think Cornell is a "decent match," for example. It's pretty difficult to get into as it is, to be a match you really have to be incredible.</p>

<p>But don't get discouraged by the overachievers here, the evaluations you get are usually pretty conservative estimates I think.</p>

7

<p>Don't even get me started, if you are mediocre, I shudder to think what I would be. </p>

<p>You'd probably get in everywhere except Columbia</p>

8

<p>upenn is tough for anyone</p>

9

<p>wow, I can't believe you guys think I stand a chance lol. Anyway thx for the advice, keep it coming!</p>

10

<p>Oh, and don't worry about awards, colleges recognize that students who receive them are often the beneficiaries of a situation in addition to being achievers. They're nice but not make or break when it comes down to it.</p>

<p>Also, being an Asian male from NJ is not going to help your chances, unfortunately.</p>

11

<p>^^^I'm very much aware of the Asian Male in NJ thing, that's why I'm not setting my expectations too high.</p>

12

<p>ok bump....</p>

13

<p>How am I supposed to rip you to shreds?</p>

<p>Oh yeah, you're EC's are so horrible! Why don't you just jump off a bridge? :)</p>

14

<p>I'm guessing ur a junior. Nice that u got 2300+ barely halfway into ur junior year! I'm one too and I just took my 2nd testing in March, hoping for the same results.</p>

<p>I say for UPENN it's a no go for ED, but depends which school too. Arts and Sciences more likely</p>

<p>If you apply ED to JHU you'll get in with a 80% chance at least.</p>

<p>Duke, Columbia, WUSTL, and Cornell are questionable but I'd say strong chance.</p>

<p>Rest are very high chances.</p>

15

<p>@butterbattle: .................</p>

<p>@Infinite_Truth: Thanks! I'm definitely applying CAS (i.e. even if I decide to be an economics major/minor it will be at CAS).</p>

16

<p>Here I am wondering why you aren't applying to HPY.</p>

17

<p>I don't stand a chance...maybe I'll put in an app to Princeton just for the hell of it...but I'm not fooling myself...compared to HYP I think I have relatively humble expectations (JHU) and I'm not really expecting to even get there. It is encouraging to hear that people think I have good chances though! Thanks for all the comments!</p>

18

<p>Top 5% of class.
A Presidency, VP, 2 officerships.
2330 SAT.
Strong course-load next year.
Siemen's/Intel.</p>

<p>Good writer?</p>

<p>Isn't that what strong HPY applicants have? I think you're...
- set at JHU. (EDIT: this is medical, and I was thinking engineering. I'll change this to a reach.)
- set at Cornell<a href="although%20I%20only%20have%20experience%20with%20Arts&Sci%20and%20Ag">/b</a> (if it's engineering, put it next to HPY).
- low to mid reach for **Upenn.
- possibility for HPY.</p>

<p>Others from your list:
- low to mid reach for Duke.
- low to mid reach for U Chicago.
- reach for Columbia.
- set at Northwestern.
- set at NYU.
- full ride at **Rutgers <a href="Safety">/B</a>.</p>

<hr>

<p>**EDIT: **Eh, I was thinking engineering-wise, so this might not be applicable for you.</p>

19

<p>It's good enough, I'll take it! Thanks!</p>

20

<p>You'll be lucky if you get accepted into a state school with those stats. Looks like you'll be spending your years in a community college! What are you going to do with your sparkly certificate or associates degree?</p>