Can good GPA and test scores make up for lackluster EC's?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>After seeing some of the people on these forums, I'm starting to get worried about my chances at these universities:</p>

<p>Cornell
Drexel
MIT
Northwestern
Princeton
Rice
Tulane
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UIUC
University of Michigan
UT Austin
Washington University in St. Louis</p>

<p>Sex: Male
Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
School: Small Private in Texas
Income: $100,000+
Intended Major: Engineering
Possible Hooks: Born in Pakistan, Muslim</p>

<p>GPA: 3.98 UW
Rank: None
ACT: 34 (32E 36M 32R 34S 10W)
SAT II: Haven't taken, expecting 700+ in Math II and Physics
AP Tests:
Junior Year: Calculus AB, Physics B, APUSH, Spanish Language, English Language
Senior Year: Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry, Biology</p>

<p>Projected Senior Year Schedule:
English 12*
MV Calculus
AP Stats
AP Bio
AP Chem
Economy / Government / Religious Studies*
*required</p>

<p>EC's:
Helping to organize local TEDx youth event (11)
Cross Country (JV 9, Varsity 10-12)
Soccer (JV 9-11 (Captain of JV 11), Varsity 12)
Track (Varsity 10-12)
School Musical (11)
Science Club (10-12; Officer 12)
Math Club (11-12; Officer 12)
Pokemon Club (11-12; Officer 12)
Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
50+ Hours of Community Service in Nepal</p>

<p>Awards:
Department Math Award (9, probably 11 as well)
1st in State TEAMS Test 9-10 Division (10)
All Tournament Team JV Soccer (11)
Probable AP Scholar with Distinction</p>

<p>Essays:
Will probably be excellent</p>

<p>LOR's:
Will probably be above average, but not phenomenal</p>

<p>Oh and I will chance back :)</p>

2

<p>Please help me out! I’m really nervous about not getting in…</p>

3

<p>Honestly, they’re fine. CC students aren’t a regular sample of applicants, most of them planned their high school years specifically to get into Ivies or other top schools. I think you’ve got a great shot, and at this point worrying won’t really change anything. Besides, schools like passion, so a huge list of ECs isn’t always the best way to go when it’s clear the students just want to pad their apps. </p>

<p>And by the way, Pok</p>

4

<p>The Pokemon club makes you quirky. </p>

<p>Nevertheless, some of the colleges you mentioned are reaches for everyone. Your ECs and stats are too standard for admission to MIT, Northwestern, and Pton. Cornell, WUSTL, and Rice represent the next tier in selectivity and also want to see strong ECs. You have a chance at all these schools, however.</p>

<p>The other schools are safeties to matches, in which your ECs are certainly adequate.</p>

5

<p>Start a club or something and you’ll be fine. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>I was planning on applying to a summer research program at UT Austin. Would that demonstrate passion?</p>

7

<p>Can someone answer my question please?</p>

8

<p>Internships are generally very good ECs.</p>

9

<p>with your GPA and ACT + average ECs, you shouldn’t have any problem get in to
all the schools that you listed except
Cornell
MIT
Northwestern
Princeton
Rice
UC Berkeley
UIUC
University of Michigan
UT Austin
Washington University in St. Louis</p>

<p>schools listed above are very selective especially for certain majors.</p>

10

<p>So basically all of them lol</p>

11

<p>???
Drexel, Tulane and UCLA weren’t on my list.</p>

12

<p>Bumpity bump</p>

13

<p>You don’t have lackluster ECs. I have one fifth of your activities and I have been accepted to U of Michigan EA with similar GPA/standardized test scores. I have not been rejected at anywhere yet. Worse yet, I have never visited Michigan, never showed any interest and also received free application.</p>

14

<p>Bumppppppppp</p>

15

<p>BUmppppppppppp</p>

16

<p>Some of the schools you listed are honestly just impossible to chance. The rates are unpredictable and a student they accepted last year, they might not have expected this year. That’s the crappy thing about college admissions to the crazy selective schools - it’s kind of hard to know what they’re looking for. </p>

<p>Buuuuut, I’m like pretty positive that you’ll get into schools like Tulane and Drexel. Just chillax until the decisions come out and enjoy senior year baby!</p>

17

<p>I’m only a junior lol…</p>

18

<p>Bump because why not</p>

19

<p>Not to sound rude, but you’re kidding right?! You have amazing scores, GPA, and ECs! I am not going to jinx it, but you have a wonderful shot of getting into the schools listed!
Chance me back? :slight_smile:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1457047-chances-summer-b-2013-uf.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1457047-chances-summer-b-2013-uf.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;