Chance a rising senior for non-HYPSM schools and suggest matches/safeties?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I promised myself I’d make one of these threads before app season, for the sake of my sanity.
Vitals:[ul]
I’m an Asian female in Las Vegas, NV.
Class rank: 6/553
GPA: unweighted 3.9, weighted 4.7 (out of 4.0 and 5.0 respectively)
Subject(s) of interest: Physics/Engineering
Income bracket: Lower middle (<60k but not uncomfortable)
Scores:[list]
[<em>]SAT: 2250 [one sitting as sophomore] CR 780, M 740, W 730
[li]ACT: 36 [see SAT] English 35, Math 36, Reading 36, Science 36 and combined Eng/Writing 30 w/ subscore of 6/12)[/li][li]PSAT: 231 (CR 80, M 76, W 75)[/li][li]SAT II: Math II 800, Physics 760, Biology E 740 (took for giggles, not a good idea)[/li][li]AP's: Biology (5), World Hist. (4), Calculus BC (5), LangComp (5), US History (5)[/ul][/list][/li]EC’s:[ul]
[li]ROBOTICS. Continuing from middle school, joined high school FIRST Robotics team in 9th. I also spent freshman year mentoring the middle school team and helped them place 1st in the regional competition and get an invite to the international competition. In 11th, I became a grunt officer, and this year, I’m the team build leader.[/li]Every summer, I’m a student teacher at the LEGO robotics camp at my middle school.
[li]Orchestra throughout high school. Have made All-State orchestra since 10th and also participate in school chamber orchestra (which is audition-only and comprised of 30 players out of the 300 in the entire program). Because the program’s so huge, it warrants its own orchestra council that functions like a student body govt, which I’m a member of.[/li][</em>]Member of NASA Online Learning Community
[<em>]Mu Alpha Theta, a math tutoring club
[li]Chinese folk dance since I was five, no awards. I’m not expecting this to really help me, but it’s important to a description of me.[/li][</em>]Summer course at local university (public speaking)
[<em>]Cross country running (11th)
[</em>]And the usual, unremarkable NHS, Varsity Quiz, etc.[/ul]
Awards:[ul]
[<em>]3rd in county AlgII/Trig math contest in 9th
[</em>]Won Nevada Prize math contest twice[/ul]</p>

<p>Colleges: I’m considering the Ivies and Caltech and MIT as the usual dreamer should, but those are reaches for sure. Though if you’re feeling extra nice, chancing me for those schools would further alleviate my nerves. The list below isn’t final at all, and I need safeties and matches. Suggestions, please?
[ul][<em>]Harvey Mudd
[</em>]Reed College
[<em>]Purdue
[</em>]UChicago
[<em>]U of Rochester
[</em>]Washington Univ. of St. Louis
[<em>]Tulane
[</em>]Rose-Hulman[/ul]</p>

<p>So what can I improve? I know my EC’s aren’t anything special. Things like internships and jobs haven't been available to me because of my age (I skipped a grade). Also, since I took the SAT and ACT at the end of my sophomore year, I’m not proud of my writing scores on either. In junior year, I had an awesome teacher who immensely improved my writing, so I know I can do much better now. Would this affect anything?</p>

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<p>good stats - especially when you are a girl interested in engineering it helps.</p>

<p>Read Kurzweil’s “Singularity is near” I suggest it to anyone applying for engineering. It’s necessary (at least for me although I am not at all into sciences)</p>

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<p>Thanks! I’m actually more interested in physics than engineering, but I still need to know more about the individual fields to make my decision. </p>

<p>I haven’t read Kurzweil’s book, but I meant to this year since I did a research paper on transhumanism. The book couldn’t ship in time. Bah. I have read Vinge’s “On the Singularity” essay, though.</p>

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<p>Excellent match for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech.</p>

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<p>Thanks! Though I just noticed a lot of schools on my list and in your suggestions are in the East. My parents are uncomfortable with me going so far away, so are there any good schools on the West coast/Midwest?</p>

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<p>Harvey Mudd- Reach
Reed College- Reach
Purdue- Backup
UChicago- High Reach
U of Rochester- Match
Washington Univ. of St. Louis- High Reach
Tulane- Reach
Cornell- Super High Reach
I don’t think you should get set on the Ivies/MIT Caltech. Your current list is very strong. </p>

<p>HYPS</p>

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<p>Purdue’s a safety? I thought they were pretty selective. And could you elaborate on some of the reaches? I know that Mudd and Reed are small schools and hard to get into; are the rest of the reach schools similar? </p>

<p>And I’m not trying to be rude, but Cornell’s not on my list. Rose-Hulman was the last item on the list. </p>

<p>Thanks! I will apply to Caltech, however, since it’s my super dream school.</p>

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<p>Wow, okay. Disregard my first statement there. TIL that Purdue has an admission rate >70%.</p>

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<p>My class rank is now 13/548. But none of that matters because this is a bump.</p>

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<p>You may also want to look at UIUC.</p>

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<p>What sets them apart from other state flagships?</p>

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<p>Got my senior schedule.</p>

<p>AP Statistics
AP Lit/Comp
Calculus III H
Orchestra
AP Physics B (wanted C, will self study)
AP U.S. Govt</p>

<p>No disguising the fact that this is a bump.</p>

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<p>I’ve run out of things to say in a bump. Any chance for Rose-Hulman?</p>

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<p>What about Rice? I think you are qualified for any college in the country, but it’s a numbers game at the top. You might consider adding Northwestern, and some honors programs at state universities in West and Midwest.</p>

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<p>As a safety? Or a match?
I’m looking into the honors program at my local university, UNLV, but that’s a last resort because I really want to get away from home and experience something new. Would it be worth it to attend a state univ. as an out of state student? I know a lot of them put preference for financial aid on in state students.</p>

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<p>I would strongly recommend that you apply to one of the ivies and reaches as an early decision candidate. However, make sure you research the whole ED/financial aid fiasco a lot of schools put a student through. I applied to the college I go to (NYU) as an early decision candidate, and I’m sure it had a lot to do with my acceptance as my GPA was simply not as strong as it should have been. Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me back? Thanks! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1197739-transferring-nyu-need-opinions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1197739-transferring-nyu-need-opinions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>This is a really solid app.</p>

<p>I would think schools like Caltech would drool over you since you’re so qualified and a girl (I don’t want to sound sexist but a lot of engineering programs are looking for girls to balance the sex ratio)</p>

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<p>Portmanteau@ Thanks! I’m thinking of either applying to Caltech EA or Harvey Mudd ED. Financial aid is also a huge priority to my parents, so I’ll keep this in mind. Is it wise to apply EA/ED, though, if I need aid?</p>

<p>I’d love to chance you back, but I really don’t know a thing about transfers. Sorry, and best of luck to you, too!</p>

<p>umiminvisible@ The sex ratio is getting better nowadays, so I’ll work the trend in my favor while it lasts, haha. Thanks!</p>

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<p>If you did that well on the SAT’s in sophmore year why not retake them and be assure a 2300+ although im not sure about the selectivity of some of the schools, but you have a good chance at getting into at least 2 or 3 of what you want. I think WashU and UChicago are your best bets and maybe 1 hypsm</p>

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<p>I’m going to retake the SAT’s in October because of that. They don’t reflect my abilities (especially in writing) anymore. Thanks!</p>