Chance an URM for Top Schools? CC Newbie asking for a little help!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I KNOW THIS IS LONG, BUT PLEASE READ.</p>

<p>I am a girl going into my junior year in high school. My top two dream colleges are Stanford and Columbia, but I will apply to all Ivies and a lot of Ivy like schools.</p>

<p>Top Schools:
Stanford
Columbia
John Hopkins
U Penn</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.93
Rank: 9 out of 380
(I probably would be higher, but my freshman year was a little shaky. But since I’m doing better, I’ll probably rise)
I haven’t taken the SAT yet, but I hope to get over a 2200, though my actual goal is a 2400. My first unprepared practice this summer was a 1960.</p>

<p>I took AP World History and got a 3, unfortunately. </p>

<p>Throughout high school, I plan to take AP: Calculus, US History, French, Biology or Chemistry, English 3, English 4, Government, Economics, Psychology, and Music Theory.</p>

<p>I take Honors/Pre-AP classes whenever available.</p>

<p>EC’s:
President of French Club
French National Honor Society
National Honor Society
Student Council
A program where upperclassmen go to underclassmen dens and take a “leadership” role there
Varsity Tennis
Played piano for eleven years (But only taken lessons for eight of those)
Taken drum lessons for three years
Have a part-time job at my church as a child-care worker
Am shadowing a doctor (40 hours)
<em>I plan to join HOSA, as I decided I would like to be a doctor, Key Club, and the Academic Team. I realize I should have joined these earlier, but I recently revised my priorities.</em></p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
A camp where we fix houses for those in need
Bible School
A mission group at my church
A program for kids, in my church (for part of freshman year)
<em>I’ll try to get more.</em></p>

<p>Awards: (I don’t have many)
Tennis Freshman Girls Singles District Champ (I might have been JV this year, but I tore my ACL)
I have had perfect attendance nine years of my life.
I was also nominated for the Chemistry Pre-AP Award, but I didn’t win.
<em>I’m going to try for NMS</em>
<em>I compete in French Symposium every year, and hope to win an award this year.</em></p>

<p>I don’t know if this makes a difference but I am a black female. I was born in England and moved here when I was about five. My dad says that it might hurt me, because I wasn’t born in the US, but I don’t know.</p>

<p>I know this is quite long, but if you could give me advice on how to stand out and better my application, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.</p>

<p>P.S. Could you tell me what you think of my chances for other Ivies as well?</p>

2

<p>Oh, I’m also in GT (Gifted and Talented program) if that makes a difference.</p>

3

<p>Apply to all ivies/ ivy like schools? Are you crazy? The Ivies are all very different. It sounds like you’re just applying to schools because of their prestige. That’s not a wise plan.</p>

4

<p>Well, actually, I’m looking to go into medicine, so I’m not applying to Princeton. But I will apply to most of the Ivies, and Ivy-like ones that are good for pre-med. Don’t worry. Could you chance me though?</p>

5

<p>Have you taken an actual SAT?</p>

6

<p>I have taken a practice one and gotten a 1960. But I have not taken an official one yet, as I am going into my junior year.</p>

7

<p>Bump…</p>

8

<p>yeah, i agree with lagging. anyways, other than your URM status, u don’t really have anything that screams “take me” in a sense of what the ivies are looking for. also, nothing among ur stats or ec’s relates to your major. find a passion, thts important.</p>

9

<p>As of now, all of these schools look like reaches for you. But keep in mind, as of now! Your ECs look good, and your GPA looks okay. Get your GPA up to about a 3.96+, and you’ll be much better off. HYPS look for extremely high to perfect GPAs foremost, so don’t under weigh the importance of a near-perfect GPA. Also, it is quite hard to gauge your chances for top schools without a solid test score in- either PSAT or PLAN (for SAT and ACT, respectively). So do plan on taking one, or both, of these tests soon. I took the PSAT as a sophomore, and although I didn’t do that great and went in without any preparation whatsoever, I got an 1800, and more importantly, got a good indication of what the SAT environment will be like. So look into those! However, all else on your app looks good, and if you continue to improve your numbers, you will definitely pull the top schools into lower reach. Good luck!</p>