Chance a new guy?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Some of you may have seen me lurking around the forums last few weeks. I'm not that good with big forums heh..</p>

<p>But anyway, I figure I should see what the cc community has to say about me.</p>

<p>Caucasian male
GPA: 3.87 UW, 4.17 W
School: Competitive public school, nationally rated
Rank: top 15% after first semester junior year (Last time they published it. Yeah, it's awful.)
AP's (Only offered junior/senior year for whatever reason..: AP US History (4), AP Music Theory (Senior year: AP Calculus AB, AP Economics, AP European History)
SAT: 2050 superscored (M: 720, CR: 720, W: 610) I plan on retaking it in October. Actually studying this time...
SAT II: None (Yes, I know I need to take them. November.)
ACT:32 (31, 32, 33, 30, no writing)</p>

<p>EC's:
Freshman year:
Freshman Soccer Team
North Allegheny Recreational Soccer (fall & spring)
Talent Show
Class Council
Sts. John and Paul Duquesne Food Bank (volunteered)
Sts. John and Paul Confirmation prep classes (3 sessions) (volunteered)
Performed at NAI Battle of the Bands (Placed first)
Worked on weekends at Blueberry Park Concession Stand (fall)
Competed in the Ayn Rand essay contest (Anthem)</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
North Allegheny Recreational Soccer (fall & spring)
FBLA – 1st in district (Intro to Business), competed at states
Guitar Club
NJHS
Tutored (NJHS)
Helped with Santa Stocking (NJHS)
Helped set up a babysitting program for teachers (NJHS)
Worked on weekends at Blueberry Park Concession Stand (fall)</p>

<p>Junior Year:
North Allegheny Recreational Soccer (fall)
Sts. John and Paul Rummage Sale (volunteered)
Worked with NATV (Performed live)
FBLA – competed in Business Communications
DECA – Competed in Financial Services Team Event, Placed 1st in Regionals, Placed 4th in States, Competed internationally
Worked at Kuhn’s Quality Foods (December 2011 – present)
Amnesty International
-Helped set up and run various fundraisers, including “Jamnesty” (Performed as well)
Published in NA’s Variations</p>

<p>Senior year (Thus far):
Set up and organized a soccer camp for children in the neighborhood
Assisted Playtime Events
Amnesty International Treasurer
Competing in Ayn Rand Essay contest (Atlas Shrugged)</p>

<p>Involved with GOAL, district's gifted program:
Freshman year:</p>

<p>Mock Trial
Music Industry Seminar
Cyber Surgery
Holocaust Seminar</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:</p>

<p>Mock Trial
Music Industry Seminar (At WYEP Studios)
Pitt Law Seminar
Mr. Surma (CEO of U.S. Steel) Presentation at Duquesne Club(1 of 4 to go)
Faraday Lecture</p>

<p>Senior Year:
J.A. Titan Challenge (business contest)
BNY Mellon Shadow Study (Mentored by accountant)
Bayer Shadow Study (Mentored by business intelligence employee)
Model U.N. Africa</p>

<p>As you can see, there's nothing that really stands out. My parents and I have come up with a list of 5 schools that I shall be applying to. Yeah, I know I don't really have any shot at the top two. The middle one is that 50/50 shot I guess, and the bottom two are my "Safeties" in a sense...</p>

<p>Near impossible reaches: Columbia University (ED) (It's my dream.. wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't apply. CC, specifically), University of Chicago (EA) (Love Chicago, love the campus. My "backup" dream... dang it.)</p>

<p>50/50 (I guess?): University of Notre Dame (EA?...)</p>

<p>"safeties": Purdue University (EA), University of Pittsburgh (Rolling)</p>

<p>Ending remarks: Yeah, I know the odds that I get rejected from my top two are basically 100%. But hey, why live life with regrets?
University of Notre Dame is iffy for me in terms of EA. I really want to, but I'm not sure if I'd be very competitive in EA. However, I don't see myself standing much better of a chance in RD.. So I think it'll depend on my SAT's come October... Any advice?
Purdue University: I'm still perfectly happy going to this school, so I guess it's a good safety school. Both of my parents graduated from there, so I guess I'm a legacy there.
University of Pittsburgh: It's kind of that last resort school where I would go if something happened in the case I would need to stay with my family. I like the campus, but I'd much prefer any of the other four schools...</p>

<p>So. Uh. yeah. Hope you read all of that (^^^^^^) so that no one flames me for thinking I'll get into my top schools, along with my own overall opinions on all of them.</p>

<p>Columbia University (CC), University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, University of Pittsburgh. Go!</p>

<p>Thank you all! :)</p>

2

<p>your ACT is on the lower side (go with the ACT score, it’s better than your SAT score) and GPA is pretty good. I think for your ECs, there is a definite focus towards the business side. However, I caution you because it looks like you were involved in a WHOLE lot of things: remember always quality over quantity. However, you seem to have a focus and you did pretty well academically as well.
Columbia (CC) ED: medium-high reach (but still very possible with great essay!)
U of chicago: medium reach
u of notre dame: low-medium reach
purdue university: you’re in!
u of pitts: you’re in! (I would imagine)- i think they have an honors program so you should apply to that as well.
Good luck</p>

3

<p>Should I try and retake the ACT again with the writing so I’d be able to use it for all my colleges, not just Notre Dame? I’m considering it, but not sure yet at all; all these tests will still cost quite a bit of money, so I’ll probably end up paying for them. xD</p>

<p>And both Purdue and Pitt have honors programs. They’ll be the absolute first two I apply to, so I’ll be looking into those if I’m invited into them.</p>

<p>Thank you for your input! Immensely appreciated :)</p>

4

<p>I guess I shall bump this real quick and see if I can get one or two more opinions/pieces of advice/criticism.</p>