I have a great GPA and course rigor. I have fantastic test scores. I have a decent amount of extracurricular activities involving some leadership (two clubs I’ve started). I have had employment: at a tutoring center, a Quaker summer camp, and a summer tennis camp for inner city children. I have a bit of a minority edge (Quaker, technically German citizen but born and raised in US and don’t speak German). I have a tiny but existent amount of community service: tutoring at the local elementary school. I will hopefully join NHS as a senior but can’t count on it. I got all 5s on AP tests and got AP scholar with honor as well as (I think) commencement for National Merit. I will have decent recs and (hopefully) very good essays.
However, as I’m looking on the threads for admitted and waitlisted students at U-Chicago and Wash-U, all the admitted kids seem to have done something special and extraordinary. They have hundreds of hours of community service, write novels, do research, interview politicians and raise awareness of different things. Some are captains of school teams, some were born in another country and fought their way up the socioeconomic ladder.
My question is do you have to have some kind of special story or have done something awesome like that or does a “normal” kid like me have a chance?
BTW I’m looking at Duke, Wash-U, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Ivies, Chicago.
I believe you have a chance!!! A friend of mine at Harvard sounds a lot like you in almost every regard! He has no crazy thing working for him but overall he is a great applicant and he threw himself into the pool and well he was chosen! Don’t let someone else’s greatness make you feel inadequate, then again all of those schools you listed are amazing and no one is ever guaranteed acceptance so don’t feel down if you aren’t taken at some of them!
I wouldn’t be anxious over it. Yes, you can get admitted. Will an Intel Prize winner be more likely to be admitted? Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be admitted.
Look into colleges that interest you, and like everyone says, don’t just focus on HYPSM, get some mid-level and safety schools in the mix, especially if finances are an issue.
You have a shot but those top schools are pretty much crapshoots for anyone. Be sure to apply with a broad range of schools. There are tons of great colleges and universities out there.
Sure you have a chance, especially if you apply binding Early Decision to some of the “Yield Protect” schools on your list like Wash-U, Vanderbilt, Northwestern
Not sure what you mean by fantastic test scores, though. If you’re talking ACT of 35+, SAT of 2350+ and a couple of 780 or 800 SAT IIs, then those are pretty fantastic. Lower than that are good, but not in the 75th percentile for a lot of the schools you’re talking about.
I have 2 normal kids like you get into NU, one was RD and one was ED. And BTW - One of my kids did this too - but getting all 5s on AP Tests is not “normal”! And neither of my kids was captain of their sports teams, or President of their class. They did get good grades and take lots of AP tests. Good Luck!
Can anyone suggest some nice matches? I was thinking U of Rochester, U of Michigan, Case Western, Northeastern. I want to major in CS. I am willing to consider LACs.
You may have dual citizenship but you are not solely a German citizen since you were born in the US. What is your home state and what can your family afford?
And neither of my kids was captain of their sports teams, or President of their class. They did get good grades and take lots of AP tests. Good Luck!