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?
For what it’s worth, I do study computer science related things on my own: teaching myself java, web development, PHP.
BTW I’m looking at Duke, Wash-U, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Chicago, Ivies.
LOL, “normal”! Good luck. 
My relatively normal kid got into U of Chicago a couple of years ago (only one on your list she applied to, though). But are you an international because of your citizenship? The admissions bar is higher if you are.
Everyone can be interesting if portrayed in the right light. Pick out the parts of your life that stands out and highlight these in your application.
Thanks everyone. Intparent, how similar is your kid? UChicago is my top choice. Also, I do not consider myself international. I just assumed that would help a bit. I really have no idea how that works. I’m a US citizen by the way.
Okay, you said in your post that you are a German citizen. Whether you consider yourself to be international or not is not the issue. I take it then that you either have dual citizenship, or you have renounced your German citizenship. Doesn’t really matter as long as you are a U.S. citizen legally.
I can’t speak to the similarity, as I don’t know your GPA or test scores. She had a 2380 super scored SAT, and 800 subject tests in Math II and Lit. Plus great essays and strong recommendations.
You have a chance, but don’t put all your eggs into any of these baskets. Pick really nice match and safety schools, and you should have plenty of good options, maybe some merit aid at your flagship… If those 5% chances at your dream schools don’t add up to an offer from any of them, you can just ignore that information and go on with your life.
Those schools have disappointed many excellent candidates, and just applying to 10 of them doesn’t make you a rock star at any one of them.
Also make sure your finances actually mean that if you get that acceptance from one of these and only the FA that is suggested in the net price calculator, that you can actually pay and go. If your finances don’t support that, again look at merit likely matches and safeties and cheap in-state options (few OOS giveaways, UAlabama is one of the few with generous OOS scholarships).
Merit scholarships at these schools are either wildly competitive or non-existent (Ivies don’t give them).
You’ve gotten excellent advise here. I would definitely pay attention to it. The problem is that no one really knows what your chances are OP. It’s a guess.
You are a strong candidate but please have a list of safeties, matches and reaches.
Also, sit down with your parents to work out the financials. I read that you are counting on a grandparent to pay your college costs but TBH, I would make sure that this was a sure thing or have backup plans. An elderly person can have a need for their money when health deteriorates.
Also, being German or of German descent is not a minority edge in admissions. I’m not sure how you got that idea.
Cover all your bases. Especially the financial. If you don’t qualify for need based aid, a lot of the schools will cost $60,000+ yearly. Can your parents afford that or be willing to pay?
No I am a dual citizen US and German. I’ll look at the financial. Can anyone suggest any good match schools? I have some already.
Notably U of Rochester, U of Michigan, Case Western, Northeastern. I want to major in CS. Any nice universities or LACs that are good?
Be careful with Northeastern. They do not like to be considered as a safety. Show lots of interest.
I would try to dig up some threads that cover the LAC’s with strong CS programs. Good luck!
A match school will have at least 30-35% acceptance rate. What about your flagship’s honors program?
How much your parents can pay ( without borrowing, only from savings and income) is essential. Get an actual number now.
Are you a likely nmf?
Few ‘normal’ as defined by you get into top schools but obviously some . Essays are then crucial.
I think Penn State’s honors program requires a lot of community service so not sure. Not a likely national merit finalist. I think my essays for UChicago are well above average. I guess I should really focus on the other schools too.
Do you mean that you think Schreyer requires Community Service for you to have a shot, or once you’ve been admitted?
It’s not true but Schreyer is VERY hard to get into - about 9-10% admission rate for applicants (300/4,000) themselves already selected and admitted to Penn State (top 8,000 from 66,000 applicants).
If you like in PA, you have Schreyer, but also Pitt Honors (admission is mostly based on a high SAT/ACT score), and Temple (combination or GPA, rigor, and scores).
I kind of doubt this. They attract students who enjoy their essay prompts, and pretty much every applicant knows the essays are quite important there. And to be blunt, students are usually poor at judging the quality of their own essays.