Can you evaluate my reach/match/safety

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm deliberately overestimating my chances because I have a safety net to fall back on (going to a uni in australia)</p>

<p>SAT:1500/800/800/750
Rank: in class: 1/110, in state: 9/47000</p>

<p>ECs: various leadership positions in musical ensembles. played sport (but not varsity level). modicum of volunteer work</p>

<p>Awards: mostly high distinctions/distinctions in various national awards, but i once got a prize (top 0.3%) for Australian Schools Maths competition. Pleothora of awards inside school.</p>

<p>Recs: Counselor rec is very good, as he knows me well. One teacher rec is kinda generic, while the other is damn good :P</p>

<p>Essays: Ok i guess, can't really judge your own essay
I'm an international student and financial aid WILL be a concern.</p>

<p>now for my choices:
Harvard
Princeton
Boston College
New York University
Columbia
Dartmouth
U of Chicago </p>

<p>(i know top 2 are extreme reaches, but i'd like to know how i'd fare against the others)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>*Edit: Feel free to recommend any other colleges. I'm specifically looking for East coast colleges, with proximity to new york.</p>

2

<p>What do you want to major in? </p>

<p>Why a proximity to New York? There are a half dozen cities that are as happening as NYC.</p>

3

<p>You have a great shot at Harvard and Princeton, and I would say Dartmouth/ Columbia are reach/ matches but you will likely get in to at least one. The rest you are in 100%.</p>

4

<p>what state do you live in that has only 47k high school students??</p>

5

<p>Boston College, NYU, U Chicago, you're def in. Dartmouth, Columbia very likely. Harvard, Princeton are reaches for anybody, lol. I'd say you have a good shot.</p>

6

<p>Nobody is ever "definitely in" at Chicago. He does have a very good chance, but there are no guarantees.</p>

7

<p>Yale is only 1 hour and 15 minutes from New York City. Brown is about 3 hours by train.</p>

8

<p>Judging by the people from my class who applied and got into Chicago, he is in without a doubt</p>

9

<p>Slipper, I have known people who got into MIT, Princeton and Stanford (the same applicants got into all three) with 1320 SATs. It does not mean that any applicant can pull it off. I have known students with 1500+ who were rejected by Chicago. Chicago is unpredictible.</p>

10

<p>But did you read the part with "financial aid WILL be a concern"
I heard that places like NYU and Columbia are pretty stingy with finan aid to internationals
I want proximity to NYC because my relatives are there.
And btw, Victoria in Australia had 47000 seniors graduating this year :P</p>

<p>Lastly, How far is Williams (in MA) from NYC? I might add that to the list.</p>

11

<p>3 hours from New york city. Although Williams is almost exact same caliber with Dartmouth, you will fare much better chance @ williams b/c it's need blind toward internationals. I think you have really good chance (I got in, and you look like a better candidate)</p>

12

<p>Williams is very secluded, I believe...</p>

13

<p>it is secluded. Middle of nowhere. Actually, that appealed to me greatly lol.</p>

14

<p>Ok, thanks everyone!</p>