Chance a Native American for MIT, CMU, Harvey. Yes, that's a command: Chance me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Scandinavian/Native American</p>

<p>Homeschooled K-8
Small high school in Minnesota, no AP or Honors classes offered.
Classes maxed out, taken most rigorous schedule possible for all 4 years.
Done some PSEO at local colleges in Spanish and Computer Science.</p>

<p>3.993 / 4 UWGPA
5 / 146 rank</p>

<p>217 PSAT
2180 SAT (750 CR, 710 M, 720 W) (retake October, expect ~2300)
800 Math, 770 Chem, 750 Lit SAT II
35 ACT (36 R, 35 M, 34 S, 33 E)</p>

<p>ECs</p>

<p>Tennis - Varsity Captain 11th + 12th, section singles semifinalist. Not quite good enough to be recruited anywhere (unfortunately), but still fairly good. Won several USTA Jr. Team awards. Also taught community ed tennis lessons for a summer.</p>

<p>Speech - 10th - 12th, section medalist. Lots of random awards at individual tournaments, but no big ones.</p>

<p>Knowledge Bowl - 9th - 12th, team captain. We won JV Sections two years ago.</p>

<p>Math League 11th-12th, team captain. We took 2nd at sections last year, but are pretty bad overall.</p>

<p>Band - 9th - 12th. I originally played piano for 6+ years, and won several statewide competitions and awards, but quit after 8th grade because it wasn't any fun anymore. Took up trumpet in 9th grade and have played in Wind Ensemble ever since.</p>

<p>National Honor Society 11th - 12th, no leadership positions, but was active in pushing a referendum for a new high school. Not a whole lot of community service (biggest thing I regret).</p>

<p>Tutor 1-2 kids in Math, English</p>

<p>Computer Science Club (11th-12th) - co-founded last year and co-taught a group of nerds</p>

<p>Week-long Cultural Immersion in Oaxaca, Mexico. We volunteered at orphanages and toured some historic sites.</p>

<p>Awards, etc</p>

<p>TRIG-Star Runner-up (trigonometry competition)
Honor Roll 9-12
Several USTA Tennis awards
Really nothing impressive here. My school has almost zero opportunities for FIRST, APs, etc.</p>

<p>Hobbies</p>

<p>Tennis
More tennis
Robotics - bought myself 2 NXT sets almost when they first came out, have built a ton of solidly impressive stuff. Sent a maker portfolio to MIT of a robotic head I built and coded.
More tennis
Programming - took a free online CompSci course ("nand2tetris") last summer, built a computer in the process.
Canoeing in the BWCAW - my family is HUGE into the outdoors, we tap maple syrup, harvest wild rice, grow gallons of berries, hike, go birding, and spend a lot of time in the Boundary Waters. I have several very good essays on my adventures.
More tennis</p>

<p>Essays: I hate saying this (or even typing it), but my writing is very good. It's even good compared to sample essays of people who have been admitted to HYPSM (with no major hooks) in years gone by. I also have a lot of topics at my disposal, from homeschooling to the BWCA. So those are solid.</p>

<p>Recs: Probably excellent, but not sure.</p>

<p>Interviews: I'm extraverted and passionate. I fear nothing. Rawr!</p>

<p>Anticipated Major: Computer Science</p>

<p>Applying to:</p>

<p>MIT (never forgive myself if I didn't try)
Caltech (same. I'm EA-ing this and MIT)
Harvey Mudd (considering ED2 since I' really tempted by it. Is this a good idea?)
Carnegie Mellon (I'm less thrilled about this option... Not even sure why.)
Yale (I get a free application fee, so why not?)
Brown (2nd overall choice after MIT)
Carleton (In-state, I think I have good chances here)</p>

<p>I do need help looking for matches and safeties. I dislike large, public universities, but LACs are rarely good at CompSci (exception being HMC). Are there any smaller, private colleges (that meet 100% need) that have great CompSci programs? Any ones that are more in the match range? Any ones that have really, really bad men's tennis teams?</p>

<p>Thanks for making it this far. How are my chances for the above, given my Native American status and the lack of local opportunities at my school?</p>

2

<p>all of these are really difficult schools so none would be “match”
your ACT is on point - if you can get your sat to 2300 thats even more helpful but w your act being a 35 i dont think u even need the sat…good/ok ecs and a good gpa, awards could be more but oh well - id be interested to see how you fair! good luck - do the one you love most ED if you feel it right. just be careful when you communicate your heritage/lack of opportunites though - you dont want to make it sound like an excuse but im sure you know how to handle it!
if you want chance me back?? id appreciate it: talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1559310-uc-berkeley-chances-happy-chance-other-people-too.html</p>

3

<p>Grinnell has pretty good CS and a pretty fat endowment, so that might be worth a look. Swarthmore, too. You still need a safety or two, though, even with your stats.</p>

<p>You have great GPA and test scores, and have maxed out the opportunities available to you. Obviously you’ll want to flesh out your list with some low-match/safeties. And I hate to suggest another top-ranked school for an already top-heavy list. But. NA heritage is going to be a plus anywhere but it’s going to be a plus at the Ivies more than anywhere else. Making up for, let’s say, certain historical errors. If you want to shoot the moon on MIT, you may as well shoot the moon on the little red-brick school just down Mass. Ave. as well, unless you have a particular reason for not wanting to.</p>

4

<p>How about University of Rochester for a match?</p>

5

<p>MIT (never forgive myself if I didn’t try): High reach</p>

<p>Caltech (same. I’m EA-ing this and MIT): High reach</p>

<p>Harvey Mudd (considering ED2 since I’ really tempted by it. Is this a good idea?): Reach (consider applying to diversity weekend? I think they have one, and that might make your odds sweeter)</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon (I’m less thrilled about this option… Not even sure why.): Low reach/high match. You should get excited about this option…and they’re big on diversity. Go apply to the diversity weekend (they might even pay for your attendance), make a splash here (Registered interest is big over there). </p>

<p>Yale (I get a free application fee, so why not?): Reach (free apps are fun though)
Brown (2nd overall choice after MIT): Low reach</p>

<p>Carleton (In-state, I think I have good chances here): Low reach/high match</p>

<p>I’d look into Gtech, and Purdue for comp sci. You’ll have little issue getting into those…and you’d get paid to go to those, very possibly. </p>

<p>PS: Nice mix; its always cool seeing people come from varied, completely different backgrounds…and just as fun when people try to do the “where are you from?” game :D</p>

<p>Good luck with this! Chance back if you so feel?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1557170-heres-my-numbers-so-chance-me-maybe-cornell-ed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1557170-heres-my-numbers-so-chance-me-maybe-cornell-ed.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thanks for all the responses!</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How would my admissions chances at Harvey fare in RD vs ED2? Their website says that 25% of their admit pool is reserved for EDs.</p></li>
<li><p>CMU’s overall acceptance rate is 30%, but since I’d apply directly to the School of Computer Science, wouldn’t their applicant pool there be much more competitive? I’ve heard mixed reports about this.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also, to the chance-me-back-ers, it’s not because in don’t care, it’s because I feel dangerously ignorant in my evaluations, and therefore don’t want to give false hopes or lower your spirits. Sorry!</p>

7

<p>CMU’s school of computer science is really selective and hard to get into. It’s definitely considered one of the best CS schools (in fact, THE best CS school according to US News report). You should be psyched about it. CMU’s engineering school is one of my top choices! Like you, I’m applying to MIT EA. If you’re serious about CMU, I’d try and visit, they’re big on interest.</p>

8

<p>MIT: Reach
Caltech: Reach
Harvey Mudd: High Match
Carnegie Mellon: Match
Yale: Low Reach
Brown: High Match
Carleton: Match</p>

<p>Chance Me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1559607-chances-getting-into-bu.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1559607-chances-getting-into-bu.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Don’t apply ED anywhere. You have a good shot at MIT, Yale, etc. High scores (35), high grades, and native american will help you. Plus you say you write well. Don’t settle for ED at a lower school…you will get in in RD round. Make sure to spread your net wide, try a few more reach schools - Harvard, Princeton, perhaps. You will get into a very very good school come Decembe/March</p>

10

<p>Just took the SAT this morning. It felt awesome and confident. I’d be very surprised if I got less than 2250.</p>

11

<p>Bumpitybump. Grinnel, Swarthmore, any other LACs good for CompSci? I really like the looks of HMC, are there any others similar?</p>

12

<p>Wow. I believe that you’ll definitely get in. Especially since you’re Native American. Congratulations on all of your achievements. Enjoy your years at these schools since you’re pretty much getting into them.</p>

13

<p>Native American- If you have a tribal enrollment number you will get into a lot, if not all, of your schools.</p>

14

<p>MIT: High Reach with a 710 Math score. Aim for a 760-800 and that should go down to a Low Reach.</p>

15

<p>MIT: Reach
Caltech: Reach
Harvey Mudd: High Match (Low match/match ED)
Carnegie Mellon CS: Reach
Yale: Reach
Brown: Low Reach
Carleton: low Match</p>