Chance an unspectacular asian

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi all.
College process is ramping up and I have a fairly realistic notion that I'm not competitive for Ivies. </p>

<p>I'm an upper-middle class, no "hook", Asian American Male (worst thing to be haha)</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT: 700 reading, 790 math, 730 writing, 2220 overall
ACT: 35 English, 34 Reading, 31 Math, 32 Science, 33 overall
I'm definitely retaking the ACT in september, I know I can get that Math and Science up!
SAT II<em>: Physics 700, Chem 750, Math 1 760 (not submitting), Will take math 2 and physics in the fall.
AP</em>: Chinese 5 (am Chinese, so don't know how much that will help), English Language and Comp 4, Microeconomics 4</p>

<p>*AP/SATII were self-studied because school doesnt offer AP prep courses. Not whining, just informing.</p>

<p>GPA unweighted: 3.3
Easily the biggest weakness of my application, I had straight B's freshman and sophomore year. I came back and averaged A- my junior year, so maybe the upward trend will kind of make up for it? Also test scores aren't bad.</p>

<p>I'm pursuing hardest courses offered my senior year, so no "senioritis" here. </p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Sports: I play first singles on JV for 3 year and played in several regional tournaments, Varsity Swimming. Head of Chess Club (which I consider a sport) </p>

<p>I do Model UN (some awards at regional tournaments, I'm head of Yello (Asian cultural group, largest club on campus), also attended a national conference for Cultural and diversity, Officer at international club. I have over 500 hours of service at different ethnic singleparent shelters. Also did daily visits to a disabled shelter during the summer. I've been drawing for 7 years, will send samples to any college that accepts. I've also been playing piano for 8 years, I hold a grade 2 certificate in Music Theory and grade 8 certificate (honors with distinction) for Piano repretoire, technical skill, and ear training recognized by Royal Conserve of Music. </p>

<p>Jobs/Work Experience: I held internships (Didn't do much, they were more like shadows) at a factory and an investment bank. I worked at a Hotel in the Customer Service department for a month. Also lifeguarded for a month. </p>

<p>EC's are varied and plentiful but nothing WOW (no big international million dollar grant). But I do my EC's for me and not for college (except maybe MUN which I heard colleges liked). </p>

<p>Essay should be average (never been a spectacular writer) and Recs should be good (teachers volunteered to write themselves)</p>

<p>I'm making a trip across the country to visit and (if offered) interview at some of the following schools (finance/business):
NYU stern (dream school but early decision is statistically harder to get in than RD what?)
Wash U St Louis
U michigan
Northwestern
Uchicago
USC
Swarthmore</p>

<p>Are these all long shots? Am I just wasting my time? Please chance me will chance back</p>

2

<p>bump</p>

3

<p>I would say you have reasonable chance at all those schools with your ACT. I would add more safeties to to that list though. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Really? I thought 33 was only “in the ballpark” for most of my schools. I think I need to be around 75th percentile to at least kind of make up for low GPA. I’m retaking in August to boost math and science, which I’m confident I’ll be able to. Thanks for the comment!</p>

5

<p>NYU stern - reach
Wash U St Louis - reach
U michigan - high match
Northwestern - high match
Uchicago - high reach
USC - high match
Swarthmore - match</p>

<p>Your GPA is gonna hurt you a little, but considering that you have an upward trend+taking hardest classes senior year+high test scores, it’s not going to kill you. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>I agree that your GPA might hold you back a bit, but your test scores are competitive (including SAT II, I would even send Math I and take Math II as well because a 760 still shows definite ability in math). Your ECs don’t show anything very unique and spectacular, but they show that you have multiple interests and are well rounded. I’d say you have a decent shot at these schools, but definitely add a couple more safeties. Best of luck!!</p>

7

<p>@Anastasia10, Swarthmore is definitely not a match, haha. </p>

8

<p>3.3. is basically going to kill all of your chances, sorry buddy. I don’t want to hurt your feelings but you’ll have better luck as a transfer or looking at some lower-ranked schools, which there are plenty of good ones so don’t despair. Your best chances are at Michigan and if you are out-of-state, that will not even happen. </p>

9

<p>@PSC2IVY‌ does the gpa matter that much?! i go to a hades boarding school, so average grades are really low :frowning: oh man maybe i should reconsider my list?</p>

10

<p>Honestly, keep the schools you have because your ACT is insanely high and you never know what is going to happen in these admissions processes. But also, add some safety schools. For instance, you’d be an automatic “IN” at New York University, which most people who apply to USC would also apply to, with your test scores and your current GPA, although I would advise that you try to bump it up to at least 3.4. I really hope that you get into one of your top choices though. But still, have some safeties because you never know what is going to happen.</p>

11

<p>GPA is very important. I have the opposite problem. I have an extremely high GPA, 3.97 unweighted, in 20 college courses during high school but only a 90th percentile ACT which would put me in a school far below my academic skill set. I’d rob three banks and steal a school bus for your test scores haha. Fortunately, I am now looking at test-optional schools such as Bowdoin, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, and Brandeis, and some top schools outside of the U.S… Unfortunately, they don’t have top GPA-optional schools so you are really going to have to focus on your essay and recommendations.</p>

12

<p>Kid, you gotta increase your confidence! You shouldn’t view yourself as an “unspectacular Asian”. </p>

13

<p>A great way to boost someone’s confidence is to call them “kid”, AnnieBeats.</p>

14

<p>OP, does your school has Naviance? You could find out the GPA scattergram of past applicants to those schools.</p>

15

<p>I think your best chance is U Michigan, your gpa is low for all of these schools but your ACT definitely helps</p>

16

<p>Alden is on the mark.</p>

17

<p>Assuming you’re in-state.</p>

18

<p>@PSC2IVY‌ The OP is a student and a minor and I am an adult. I’m not sure what’s wrong with calling the OP “Kid”.</p>

19

<p>Are you going to declare your race on your app? (Just curious)</p>

20

<p>It was just a suggestion. If you want to over-rationalize it. Logically, yes, that is true but minors don’t like to be called “kid”. So just avoid that if the future if you can, K?</p>