Chance a Midwesterner at Top Universities! :D Thanks!

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm a rising senior from the heartland (Iowa), and I am looking to go on to a top university. I just got my ACT scores back and received a higher-than-expected score of 34! I am very excited :D For my application, I will focus on my political involvement (which is listed below).</p>

<p>Stats:
-White male
-Rural Iowan (URM, basically)
-Parents income is <60k/year
-Small public school (28 in my class)
-3.93 unweighted GPA (We don't do weighted)
-Valedictorian (Presumptive)</p>

<p>Tests:
-34 ACTs (woohoo! I was NOT expecting this high :D )
-2030 SAT (First time, should I retake?)
Critical Reading - 640
Math - 750
Writing - 640
-202 PSAT (National Merit, will find out more in Sept.)
-.... I know I need to take subject tests for Harvard and Georgetown.. :(</p>

<p>School:
-I have taken the most rigorous schedule possible (many PSEOs & AP classes), have pushed for improvements in T&G education [[Note: I don't have any acc., honors, and only 5 APs, but that's only because it's a small school and that's the most I <em>can</em> take... principal & counselor will vouch for this]]
-I'll have around 30 college credits by HS graduation, not including AP (all taken at CC)</p>

<p>ECs:
Activity / Years / Other
Cross Country / 4 / Varsity runner
Soccer / 4 / JV captain (11th gr.), Varsity captain (next year)
Speech / 4 / State (3 times), All-State (1 time)
Student Council / 3 / Member of 3 committees (possibly President next year)
-1 year of: Mock Trial, Choir, Physics Club
-Other: Editor-in-chief of HS newspaper, Web Administrator of school website</p>

<p>AP:
Macroeconomics (4) (9th gr.)
US Gov't (3) (10th gr.)
US History (4) (11th gr.)
English Language (?) (taking next year)
Spanish Language (?) (taking next year)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
-Volunteer on a local candidate's campaign (1 year, but many hours)
-Co-organized a blood drive, volunteered at two (2 years)
-Reffed youth soccer games (2 years)
-Coached T-Ball (3 years)</p>

<p>Other:
-Republican Junior Delegate at County, District, State conventions (Junior chairman at the district convention)
-National Merit ? (probably commended student)</p>

<p>Colleges:
Harvard
Stanford
UPenn
University of Chicago
Georgetown University
UNC, Chapel Hill
George Washington University
Please chance me for these!! :)</p>

<p>THANKS SO MUCH!!</p>

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<p><em>cough cough</em> please help! :)</p>

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<p>Hola! Love to help --- only if you chance me too: </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538677-please-chance-me-i-d-really-really-appreciate.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/538677-please-chance-me-i-d-really-really-appreciate.html&lt;/a> </p>

<p>(It's good to help others) </p>

<p>I'm posting my comments real soon ...</p>

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<p>DISCLAIMER: I'm also a rising senior NOT an admissions officer, so I'm not entirely accurate on this stuff ... no one is ... </p>

<p>Your ACT score is definitely impressive, so definitely include your ACT in your app. It's good to see that you've taken to initiative to take college classes at your local CC because it shows that you love to learn and challenge yourself. That will do you good in the admissions process. I can see that you've done a few extracurriculars, but you seem to enjoy what you do. Remember to convey your passion for your extracurriculars in your essays. Your GPA of 3.93 is also very good to have. You have a few APs down, but I don't think colleges care that much about the scores that you get on them. </p>

<p>Anywho, down to chances: </p>

<p>UNC Chapel Hill and Georgetown: Match
University of Chicago: Slight reach (do well on essays)
UPenn, Stanford, and Harvard: Huge reaches </p>

<p>If you can, retake the SAT, because it may help for the Ivies a little -- get it over a 2200. Make sure you get above a 650 or 700 on the SAT Subjects as well. </p>

<p>Make sure that you include a few safeties, like Iowa State, and good luck!!!</p>

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<p>Anyone else?</p>

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<p>Wow you have a small class. Nice ACT scores, you should take your SATs again but taking SAT IIs should be more of a priority. I'd say your ECs are good. The Republican Junior Delegate EC is great and definitely your strongest, do you plan on going into politics? </p>

<p>Harvard-high reach
Stanford-high reach
Penn-mid/high reach
University of Chicago- low reach
Georgetown University-high match
UNC, Chapel Hill-high match
George Washington University-easy in</p>

<p>I'm applying to Wharton. Could you chance me?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>hi Neal. Harvard, Stanford and Penn are reaches for almost everyone, except probably for this guy here :)</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/537745-chances-top-schools.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/537745-chances-top-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>but yeah, you have a shot.</p>

<p>Before I might have agreed with the other posters that UofChicago would have been a low reach. But knowing a couple applicants last year with basically the same stats and record as you have, and NMFinalist too in one case, and being waitlisted and rejected, it just seems that UofChicago has become even more and more ompetitive. I'd probably make that a high reach too. I agree with aairzoom with his/her assessment of the other schools. Good luck Neal. If you ever run for office in the future, you should let us here at cc know :)</p>

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<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Note: If you chance me, I'll chance you back! Just post a link to your thread :D</p>

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<p>Anyone? :$</p>

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<p>I think you have a really good shot at every single one on your list just impress them with your essays :D</p>