<p>So, yeah. Like every other ambitious college-bound student out there, I definitely wouldn't mind going to the big ones, especially Yale or Stanford. But I don't know how they would see my application, so I'm hoping that you guys would be willing to help me out. I made a thread before last year, asking what it takes to get into Yale. Well, I believe I've matured my resumee to some degree, and I'm hoping you guys would be willing to give me some feedback.</p>
<p>For starters, I'm Indian. That's immediately a wound in my application.
-25th out of a class of 720
-GPA: 4.625
-Current Classes and my standing
AP Chem: A
AP Eng: A
AP US:A
AP Psych: B
Precalc Spec: A
Italian III: A(they don't go any higher)
SAT: 2160(I took it yesterday again, so I think it will be better)</p>
<p>Classes Next Year:
AP Gov/Ec
AP Physics
AP Calc BC
AP Lit
AP Human Geo
Drama(returning after skipping this year)</p>
<p>ECs
-Founder and President of school's Capoeira/Salsa Club
-President of Blues Jammers(Local school rock band)
-Secretary of Drama Club
-Lead in three high school theatre productions
-Two during freshman year, one during sophomore year
-Skipped junior year to take more APs
-Competed at district level three times and state twice, earning really high ratings for Thespian competition in Musical categories
-Competed at NATS(Big singing thing): Won districts twice, and competing at regionals this year
-Composer: Composed a total of 5 songs, sent to two competitions against college students
-Taken martial arts for a total of 9 years; Shotokan Karate, Mantis Kung Fu, and Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, along with self taught Capoeira, hence the club.</p>
<p>Well, thanks guys. Feedback is appreciated, and have a good one!</p>
<p>Did I say yesterday? My bad! I meant Saturday.</p>
<p>Will someone please help me out?</p>
<p>First off I just want to say that getting into a top-tier school is at times very random.</p>
<p>Okay well after getting that out of the way I think you have a chance at some of the easier ivies…not that any of them are easier to get into, but those that are easier than say Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>If you want a better shot at Stanford and Top-Top-tier schools here is what I would improve upon.</p>
<p>Your SAT score should be 2200+ so that you match the many other applicants
Correct me if I am wrong but I do not see many Academic extracurriculars which you need</p>
<p>If you do that then your chances may increase 10% or so…Ivy Acceptance is extremely hard to obtain. 
There is no way to know what they want on your application…I’m guessing a nobel prize would help, you could shoot for that, no?</p>
<p>Nice GPA- I can definitely see you at one of these, provided you bring up your SAT scores. At least a 2200 is definitely necessary; preferably more towards a 2300 or higher. But what, exactly, did you skip junior year so you could take more APs? Was it the plays? All your extracurriculars? Or did you skip junior year altogether (though I suppose that then the placing of that line wouldn’t make so much sense…)?</p>
<p>[Please</a> chance me back!](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/886683-please-chance-me-will-chance-back.html]Please”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/886683-please-chance-me-will-chance-back.html)</p>
<p>It was Drama. My bad</p>
<p>@phxfire: Do you not consider school productions and Drama academic extracurriculars? Because based on what my school tells me, that counts, because it is tied to an academic department(ie Drama). Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m also involved in NHS if that counts for anything.</p>
<p>Yes NHS helps…</p>
<p>I meant Academic Competitions that many other kids are that could be a hook for you
For Example:
Academic Decathlon
If in Texas UIL or whatever you have at other states 
Science Olympiads, AMC</p>
<p>You have a good chance I am just giving suggestions</p>
<p>I understand what you’re saying. It’s just that I don’t like putting myself in those clubs because I’m not passionate about them, nor do I enjoy them. You understand me? I’ve been told that colleges don’t like seeing an applicant spread thin as much as they like one who is focused and passionate in one area. Not to say that it isn’t required to be well rounded, which I am, but when it comes to extracurriculars, I’d rather enjoy them then partake in them for the sole sake of making it look good on an application. Just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>You should try the ACT. They look at them the same and some people tend to to better on it.</p>
<p>“It was Drama. My bad”</p>
<p>In that case, yeah, I can definitely see you getting into at least some of them. Although you never know with Ivies…</p>
<p>I think they are trying to say that it would be highly advisable to have academic awards, not necessarily that you like them or not. Clubs are different than academic awards</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It does nothing to distinguish you from similar applicants. </p>
<p>I think your best bet is to accentuate your performing ECs rather than supplement them with academic competitions like the above poster mentioned. Is camp an option? Interlochen has great theater and musical theater.</p>
<p>@glassesarechic: Thank you for understanding what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to show how I’m different from the tens of thousands of other applicants who want exactly what I want. As for what I’m planning on doing this summer theater related, I don’t have the time to do a camp, but I’m planning on doing a lot of community theater(fun + community service hours), being involved in the fall school play, and come senior year, I’m the music director for Little Shop of Horrors and most likely a supporting lead(Plant), since I’ve done this show before. Just some extra EC stuff to tack on.</p>
<p>And one last thing. I won a really big talent competition in my county, with Nikki Blonsky(the lead in the movie Hairspray) as one of the judges. How would that help me? And also, how would it help me if I was able to get her and her manager’s supplemental recommendations? I do have the means to get them, just so you all know. Not to sound narcissistic or anything.</p>
<p>wait what’s your GPA out of? b/c my school does 4.5 (weighted max) GPA system</p>
<p>Let’s see. AP is out of 5, Honors and PreCalc are out of 4.5, and regulars are 4.</p>
<p>Community service definitely does help and NHS DOES MATTER. It may not seem like much but this is one minute detail that only takes a few hours of your time and can really help your application. Definitely do/keep doing community theater this will help and show you actually care about the community.</p>
<p>I know one of the smartest kids from our school a couple of years back who was rejected to a few Ivy League schools and MIT. If he had volunteer work this really would have helped his application and he might have gotten in. The counslers even told me one of the reasons he did not get in was because of not having any community service. (However I have no idea how they know this :()</p>
<p>What exactly do you want to major in? I see what you are doing by sticking to your passions and I think that that may also help you in writing your essays seeing as you have alot to write about. I was suggesting some academic things because I thought you might like them but if not by no means do them. I know if I didn’t like something I would never sign up to do it.</p>
<p>Oh…Ok…
I misread what someone said earlier and totally agree that NHS does not differentiate you but it still gives you that extra leg up. (No matter how short that leg may be)</p>
<p>I think you are doing a good job differentiating yourself from others, keep it up!</p>
<p>I already have about 80 hours accumulated, but I want to improve that. As for what I want to major in, possibly Anthropology and Music(I want to double major), but that may be subject to change. I may switch out Anthropology with Biochemistry(I want to be a doctor), but I’ll worry about getting into college first before any of that stuff.</p>