Chance for High Tier Schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi guys I am an incoming senior and I would like to know my chances at getting into schools ranging from UCLA to Harvard. I don’t really know my chances right now and I would like to know what schools I should really be looking at with my current qualifications

So far I have a total unweighted GPA of 4.00 throughout all of high school with a weighted 4.75 in 10-11th grade. As I have gotten all A’s I will just list out the honors and AP classes I have taken so far:

Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Honors Precalculus, Honors Literature (Freshman and Sophmore year), Honors Computer Science (Freshman-Junior year), AP European History, AP Language/Composition, AP United States History, AP Physics 1, AP Calculus AB

In my senior year I plan to take (and hopefully get all A’s in): AP Econ Macro/Micro, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science

Ok… now for my test scores:

SAT Super score (I know that very few universities consider this score): 2290
M:770
CR:720
W:800

My Best Individual SAT Test: 2230
M:710
CR:720
W: 800

SAT Math 2: 770 (I plan to retake this and hopefully get 800 but consider the score as it is when considering my chances)
SAT Unites States History: 770
I plan to take SAT Physics in October and hope to get a score around 700

AP Scores:
AP Euro: 5
AP World: 4
APUSH: 4
AP Physics 1: 4
AP Calc AB: 5
AP Lang/Comp: 4

Volunteer Work/Club Activites/Leadership/Extracurriculars:
I have volunteered around 100 hours.
I am club president of Surf Riders at my school since sophomore year (we clean up beaches)
I am a member of a program called Link Crew (we guide freshman to a good school experience)
I am a member of National Honors Society
I participated in Track and Field for freshman and sophomore year but i don’t know how much that matters
I have recently finished an internship with Boeing over the summer (I can’t go into detail on what i did but its Boeing so you can guess)

That’s about it. I honestly feel that I haven’t done enough and that I’m lacking qualifications whether it be in test scores or in other activities.

I would really appreciate some feedback on whether I have a solid chance at schools like UCLA, USC, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford (lol… I wish), MIT, and so on.

2

I forgot to mention my PSAT scores:
1450 total
690 reading and writing
760 math

3

This is a great score. Do not retake it.

I don’t understand how you could think your test scores are lacking. It’s clear from your grades and test scores that you have the academic qualifications to get you into these schools.

With super competitive schools, it really comes down to the subjective parts of the application (essays, letters of rec, etc.), so no one here is going to be able to give you an accurate view of how your application will be viewed at each of these schools. Adding a bunch of new activities won’t necessarily increase your chances. Admissions officers would rather see dedication and leadership in a few activities that you enjoy, rather than membership in a bunch of random things.

Remember to apply to matches and safeties that you like and are affordable. Good luck!

4

@sophie9999 thanks for the reassurance

5

Harvar, Stanford and MIT are reaches for everyone. I do not see anything that makes you stand out for those schools.

6

@TomSrOfBoston but how do you think i fit for schools around UCLA’s ranking and criteria for admission. I sorta knew that its was gonna be a long shot for me to get into the schools like harvard.

7

Match for UCLA. Are you a CA resident? If not there is no financial aid for OOS students. Match for USC.

8

@TomSrOfBoston I am a California resident and i have a relatively low family income regardless of whether I am counting both my parents together or not (both my parents together make <100k)

9

I mean extracurriculars are lacking, but a killer essay or amazing recs can help offset this. Apply, you’ll regret it if you go without knowing (like my brother). I can see someone like you getting into Harvard with amazing essays/recs

10

Oh by the way, it’s hard to determine your chances if we don’t know possible hooks (income, race, where you live, legacy, etc). It’s the sad reality of our situation

11

^Either way those elite schools are still reaches for everyone.

@TomSrOfBoston What happened to the post about advice giving Harvard a 5% acceptance rate? :confused:

12

@ScaredBoi Im white, my total family income is <100k and i live in the suburbs; i mean i guess that makes me average… My family income isn’t high but I’m not super poor…and i’m white so i guess i don’t get an easier selection because of race…

13

Yep, you’re the most average applicant ever, just like me! Best of luck to you in this sad lottery we are forced to play. Also, all acceptance rates for top schools are lower than you think. Look instead at the specific WAY your applying’s acceptance rate. Harvard has something like ,20% ED and 3% RD