<p>Chance me please</p>
<p>....... Bump</p>
<p>guys stop claiming that top ivies are reaches for "everyone" and its "random" if you get in or not. It's really not like that. It depends a lot on if your school is respectable, your ethnicity, and your essays. Of course, aside from these, you need to have at least the average of what it takes to get in (scores, ECs). But you have a decent shot at all these schools. Don't think about it like: wow, HYS are all reaches, but rather: if I apply to all these schools, one of them will most definitely select me.</p>
<p>@classof08: I would argue that for the vast majority of candidates, those who haven't cured cancer or found evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, that most of the "elite" colleges <em>are</em> reaches. Certainly most CCers are "qualified" to handle the courseload, but the selectivity of these schools is without doubt. I agree with you that it isn't "random", but I would still insist that it is very rare for there to be a "clear in" at let's say, Harvard. This is because at the upper spectrums, colleges have practically free rein in selecting applicants. They are motivated to select candidates that they feel will succeed and contribute to a better class. For example, harvard, with its 70ish% yield rate (or is 80?) could fill its class with people who got 2400s on their SATs and triple 800s on their SAT IIs, and have taken 12 APs all 5s, and such, but they don't. All the factors you mentioned obviously do play a part in their decision, but with the current overabundance of extraordinary candidates, it isn't enough just to compare your SAT score and their SAT median. There are undoubtedly singular students that get in everywhere, but those are few and far between. Simply put, nobody really knows what's going on in the minds of adcoms sometimes in the highest tier schools. If one applies to the top 10 best schools and can only expect acceptances from one, then I would consider that it is a reach. When one talks about something as a reach, they are referring to the percentage chance they have of getting in to that specific institution, not the chances of getting into one of them. By that logic, the UC system would be a match/safety for nearly all CCers in California (since you only need to be top 12.5% of high schoolers in CA). It's just unpredictable at this level. A guy can be accepted by Harvard but rejected by Brown (and no, I'm not talking about yield protection). Anyway, sorry for the lengthy post, lol.</p>
<p>@OP: how competitive would you say your school is? Like how many go to Ivies (percentage)? Is it middle class? Upper-middle? How many people get 5s on AP tests? I know you said the top private in your area, but just concerned with the only 7 APs your school offers (compared to some schools that offer 11+). Your SAT II Lit <em>is</em> weak, but it is supposed to be a hard test (i've never taken it), so if you retake it and get 750+ you should be fine. You seem to be more math/sci anyway. It is great that you are really pushing yourself to the limits your school offers. That will be viewed very favorably by adcoms. I also like the 5s for APs. Too often I see what seems like perfect applicants on CC with like rank 2/344 or something but then 3s and 4s on APs...as a top 25% student I got 5s and 800s for my subject tests. Though one test doesn't exactly prove your mastery, it is nice to see that that they match your other info. I'm concerned by the amount of schools you are applying to (10+HYS, etc?!). I think you are very strong and can just apply to two safeties (watch out for yield protection, show desire for that specific uni), around three matches. That should be better than 10 and plenty for the worst-case scenario of you not getting into any of these higher tier schools. I have basically no knowledge of the full-ride programs, so I won't comment on it much but I will say that you will probably get in. You seem strong enough for the respective colleges. As for Harvard...hard to say, but probably not (though you have a significantly better chance than others). I would classify it as a reach, but not an especially high one. I think if you spent a lot of time on the app, it would help. YPS is probably the same thing. Now Brown...this is my personal opinion of Brown's adcoms. They are trying to manufacture selectivity (they started a few decades ago, see Bill Someone's College Admissions Mystique or something for more info). They started as one of the "lower" Ivies, but now are considered in the upper tier of the Ivies. I would consider it a reach, but with more of a chance than HYPS but less than the others. The others I would classify as low reaches, definitely go for it. I think you would be really happy if you pursue engineering at either Stanford, Caltech, or Berkeley (i kno u are OOS, so maybe not). I am biased as a native Californian, but those three schools have really, really, really, good engineering programs. MIT obviously does too. Those four schools are really the pinnacle of engineering schools. Though it should be said that none of those are LACs (u mentioned liking the liberal arts thing). In fact your list is devoid of LACs, so I would include some as your safeties/matches. Anyway, this was very possibly my longest post ever on CC, so I hope this helps a bit. This was all written in one long jumbling post with no proofreading or editing, so forgive the likely repetitions and poor structure.</p>
<p>@PBailey. THANKS! lol. Anyway, um my school sent no one to Ivies last year, and one before that, but 3 years ago, we sent 6 to Harvard and more to upper tier schools. The reason for this lies in the motivation of the top students themselves: they did not try or care at all. We consist of mostly middle-upper middle class kids. Again these past 2 years, not too many kids got 5s either on APs, but they didnt care or try (they just want to go to UF or FSU). And Lit was so low because I had never taken the course before. I will take that and Chem again, and might self study Physics to take that too (I took physics junior year, but I was horrified mid year when I learned that we would only cover motion :( I was so mad that I was jipped). I'm applying to so many schools because I want to get out of Florida, but I need money obviously. I just wanna go to either a top tier school and pay my efc, or go to a 2nd tier school almost or completely free... And yes, I think the key to HYPS lies in my essay. My resume (on paper) is pretty damn solid, but I fear writing essays. I am going to write on my trip to Haiti and the whole fundraising project experience. Hopefully thatll show my passion and what I have to contribute to the college.</p>
<p>Also, is there anything PBailey or other CCers that I could do to improve my chances to Harvard?</p>
<p>One last thing: I wouldve ran for some state or intl position in key club if it werent for politics and corruption. I felt I could make a better direct impact on my club and others by filling in the largest hole in the club: vice president.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on that?</p>
<p>I feel that most top tier colleges don't care about "leadership positions" if they don't show initiative or the club is largely inactive. Trust me, they get a lot of applicants that are club presidents and stuff. If I were you I would go for the second tier and save the money. Not only is it a lot more predictable and therefore a lot less stressful, it may save you upwards of 150,000 after four years (what if you took 6 years to graduate at 45,000 a year? That's almost a third of a million dollars!). The only things I can think of to improve your chances at this stage of the process is for you to work really hard on your essays and do some research on individual schools.</p>
<p>First off thanks for chancing me. Maybe Im not too expierienced with this but I would say that BU is a reach to low reach. MIT I truly have no idea, I know someone with a 4.3 GPA and perfect SATs who got rejected but I think youre really well rounded so I would Its a reach along with Stanford. Im not too sure about harvard and yale though, sorry</p>
<p>I really dont wanna go to a small rural or suburb school though. I really like urban settings. So I guess why I got those schools on there, bar a few exceptions. </p>
<p>@Degen, your friend had no ECs or something?</p>
<p>Anyone else wanna chance the MillerL1te?</p>
<p>Bump bumps</p>
<p>I really like the fact that you've taken or are going to take the hardest courseload in your school --colleges love it and eat it up like pancakes with syrup. Your EC's look great, AMAZING ACT!! GPA looks good overall. I'd say no problem with all the schools except maybe for Harvard (because they're funky like that). Great job with all you've done in high school so far. </p>
<p>Try not to stress too much with the overloaded workload your senior year. it's your senior year, enjoy it! :)</p>
<p>Ha yeah thanks. But I love learning. I live to overextend myself :) Im kinda weird like that</p>
<p>Bumps bump</p>
<p>bump bump #18</p>
<p>I like bumping. Just read the first post and respond please!</p>
<p>lol I'm just going to say that AP chem with four other AP classes is going to suck for you. I had to study about six hours a week for that class junior year just to keep up... and I only had 1 other AP class and an advanced math class to worry about (in terms of heavy workload), though I did have a heavy EC schedule. Chem just about kicked my butt (I barely scraped by with A's all three quarters, and SOMEHOW got a four on the test). It's the hardest AP class, I've heard, and I believe it now. Prepare to slave yourself into oblivion.</p>
<p>Remember, colleges like seeing heavy academics on your schedule, but a dropped class is worse than a lighter courseload. Make sure you know what you're getting into.</p>
<p>As for AP Calc..... Well, yeah. Let me know how all of that works for you, lol.</p>
<p>Though you could be a genius, I don't know. Best of luck, anyway.</p>
<p>Actually, Im not worry about Calc and Chem. It's more Lit because my teacher gives out like 2 As a semester (bastard...) So we'll see how that goes. As for Chem, I think I can handle it. Both science and math come naturally to me. Literature I have to try hard for.... </p>
<p>@theredsmileyface and others: So you think I can get in?</p>
<p>Bump.......!</p>
<p>Your scores are great, but your EC's look a little weak. You NEED to run for a national level Key Club position. On paper your Key club is just going to look like another pretty good club. Your community service is strong though and if you find some way to distinguish yourself from other candidates you should have an extremely good chance. The perfect ACT amongst the GPA and URM is a big freaking hook though. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks man. It's too late to run for anything else.</p>
<p>Also add lieutenant governor to my list this year. Im in charge of one the greatest divisions if my state. Kinda a big deal. And cant run for anything higher. The elections and campaigning process was rigged and corrupt</p>
<p>"I really love the liberal arts experience. Prob will end up engineering, math, pre-med, or just a BA"</p>
<p>Out of everything you told us, this worried me the most simply because it makes very little sense. You say you love liberal arts and then jump to the conclusion that you will be an engineer? Just make sure your internal disorder (as I will call it) does not show up on your application. As the others have said, you have a great chance to get into all of your schools and get those scholarships. Harvard will not pass up a URM w/ a perfect ACT and incredible GPA. Chance me back? <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/539705-yo-chance-dis-indian-kid.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/539705-yo-chance-dis-indian-kid.html</a> Good Luck!</p>