Chance at Wash U, Johns Hopkins...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm applying as an undecided major (2nd and 3rd choice Biochemistry and Premed) at the following schools:
Wash U
Johns Hopkins
Cornell U
NYU
Carnegie Mellon
Emory
Northwestern
U Penn
Columbia
Princeton
Caltech</p>

<p>Asian Female</p>

<p>School: Competitive Large Public
Location: California</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.8/5.0
Unweighted GPA: school didn't really calculate
Rank: 10/902
APs: Bio (5) World History (5) Spanish Lang (5) Eng Lang (4) Chemistry (4) US History (4)
Senior Courses (all AP): Calc BC, Art History, Physics B, Gov, Eng literature, Spanish Literature, Stats
SAT I: 2320 - 770 CR 800 M 750 W
SAT II: 770 Bio M 800 Math II 760 Chemistry</p>

<p>Awards:
US Biology Olympiad Semifinalist
Various Cello awards (1 national, 1 state, placed at many local competitions)
Silver medalist for Music Analysis (regional level)
3 Local Science awards
National Spanish Exam Gold Medalist </p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
Cello (soloist..not in orchestra)</p>

<p>Clubs-
Live Music Club (3 years) (Volunteer Coordinator for one year)
Go and Shougi Club (2 years) (Treasurer for one year)
Photography Club (1 year) (one of the photography editors that help the yearbook)
NHS (3 years)</p>

<p>Other School Activities-
Academic Science Team (2 years) - team does well at district and regionals
Debate Team (1 year) - placed 3rd at a local tournament
JV Tennis Team (1 year) - team placed 3rd at district</p>

<p>Volunteer (during summers)-
Natural park assistant (9th)
Science Museum (9th, 10th)
Hospital (10th, 11th)</p>

<p>Work-
Community Center tutor for kids (12th during school)</p>

<p>*no internships/science research</p>

<p>Essays: can't say they're outstanding, but they were earnest.
Teacher recs: pretty good-great
Counselor rec: generic-good b/c I got switched from my previous counselor who knew me better.
Other recs: got one from my coordinator at the hospital I volunteered at, pretty good-great</p>

<p>Income bracket: $100k-150k
hooks: none</p>

<p>I'm mostly concerned about my lack of leadership positions..does anyone see this as a glaring flaw in my application?
Also, is it possible for me to qualify for some aid with my financial bracket? I'm not very clear about how the financial aid system works.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>bump…will chance back</p>

3

<p>honestly, you’re stats are nothing special, but apply anyways, you never know!!</p>

4

<p>You have really good test score, some impressive awards, and good GPA/rank. ORM that plays a stringed instrument might seem cliche, but you have the awards to back up your talent (musician buddies :smiley: ). Some ECs seem like you’re not really dedicated, but that’s just cuz of duration that you participated. USBO is really awesome imo! Lots of these schools are random, but you have as good a shot as anybody to get in. I’m being slightly harsh in my chances just because some of the ED threads have honestly shocked me at how so many really qualified people got straight-up rejected. Best wishes :)</p>

<p>Wash U-low reach
Johns Hopkins-low reach
Cornell U-low/mid reach
NYU-high match
Carnegie Mellon-high match/low reach
Emory-high match/low reach
Northwestern-low reach
U Penn-low/mid reach
Columbia-low/mid reach
Princeton-mid reach
Caltech-mid reach</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys for the comments!
@bigdreamer: you are not being harsh at all :slight_smile: When I posted my stats up here, I was ready for criticism</p>

<p>I forgot to add that I have volunteered 100+ hrs/year 9th-11th grade summers and SNHS (3 years) (if that helps)</p>

<p>and also,
how much do you guys think my lack of leadership would impact me? =/</p>

6

<p>I have to totally back up Big Dreamers chances, as they were exactly what I was going to say. Awesome test scores, good awards and honors, but a little more commitment to your EC’s may help. Other than that, I would say the only reasons many of those schools are a reach is because they are Ivy’s and other top rated schools, which no one can really be sure of getting into.</p>

7

<p>Anyone else?</p>

8

<p>Ok, suppose that I’m a two time USA Biology Olympiad Semifinalist…</p>

<p>What do you think my chances are now?</p>

9

<p>your academics are pretty impressive - not particularly outstanding, but definitely impressive - 4.8! its probably safe to assume that you’re also going to turn in a music supplement and that your cello is definitely competent. if you volunteer with your music (or something of the sort) i think the most important thing is to have talked about it in your essays (probably too late now), but that type of giving-back-to-community should be able to substitute for your leadership.</p>

<p>for most of your schools (johns, northwestern, etc) id say between high match and low reach, but closer to low reach. princeton, columbia, caltech - mid reach.
im not quite sure about how each of those schools accept their students, but i hope my opinion helps!</p>

10

<p>your academics are pretty impressive - not particularly outstanding, but definitely impressive - 4.8! its probably safe to assume that you’re also going to turn in a music supplement and that your cello is definitely competent. if you volunteer with your music (or something of the sort) i think the most important thing is to have talked about it in your essays (probably too late now), but that type of giving-back-to-community should be able to substitute for your leadership.</p>

<p>for most of your schools (johns, northwestern, etc) id say between high match and low reach, but closer to low reach. princeton, columbia, caltech - mid reach.
im not quite sure about how each of those schools accept their students, but i hope my opinion helps!</p>