Chance for some ivies and top schools...Chancebacks

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm aiming for Brown, Penn, Cornell, JHU, Duke, Wash. U in St. Louis...other top schools.</p>

<p>Somewhat competitive public school </p>

<p>SAT I (breakdown): 2370 (770W)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 770 Chem, 790 Bio
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4/290
Course Load: Most rigorous course load possible (14 APs by the end of senior year, mostly 5s and a few 4s). </p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars:
Marching Band (Section Leader), Math Club (Co-Founder and President), Debate Club (Treasurer), Interact Club (Board Member), Science Olympiad (Treasurer), Envirothon (placed regionally), Academic Challenge Team (Varsity) NHS, JV Tennis, Play Indian Percussion Instrument.</p>

<p>Summer:
10-11 Research Internship at Biochem department of Drexel, U.S. Congressional Internship
11-12 EMT Certification Training/Volunteering, Research Internship (w/ possible co-publishing opportunity). Was selected for UPHSCA (former Gov school) but declined the invitation.</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service: Over 400 hours combined volunteering at 2 hospitals. Over 100 hours at Congressional District office and 40 hours at Hindu temple. Plan to do EMT volunteering.</p>

<p>Major Awards: FBLA State Finalist, President Scholar Candidate, AMC 12 School Winner, President's Service Bronze/Gold (Gold twice), NMSF, Some AP Scholar award, Local/Regional Science Fair Awards.</p>

<p>Essays and Recs should be OK.</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): PA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: South Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: High</p>

<p>So that's basically all I can think of. I'm not too hopeful of anything b/c top schools are getting tougher these days, but maybe you guys could shed some light on how I could improve. Thanks. Will chance back (links would help).</p>

2

<p>people like you make me feel stupid…</p>

3

<p>I would say that you have a decent shot, with good grades, test scores, and ECs - the only thing you seem to lack is major awards in big, classic academic competitions. Apply ED to Penn or Brown and I think you should do just fine.</p>

4

<p>I’ll try to do something a little different on this thread.</p>

<p>Congratulations! Your statistics will allow you to get through the first round of “cuts” with ease. :-)</p>

<p>Strengths: high school grades, SAT score, SAT IIs (bonus), GPA, rank (bonus), course load (quasi-bonus)</p>

<p>(Hence the “with ease” part.)</p>

<p>Now on to the subjective part.</p>

<p>What activities / awards / honors I like:

  • Marching Band (Section leader)
  • Math Club (Co-Founder and President) - nice! I would love to know what the Math Club does. Does it participate in competitions?
  • Envirothon (placed regionally)
  • AMC 12 school winner</p>

<p>What activities / awards / honors I’m indifferent to (and why):

  • Debate Club (Treasurer)
  • Interact Club (Board Member)
  • Science Olympiad (Treasurer)
  • Academic Challenge Team
  • NHS
  • JV Tennis
  • Indian percussion instrument
  • 10-11 Research Internship at Biochem department of Drexel
  • U.S. Congressional Internship
  • 11-12 EMT Certification Training/Volunteering, Research Internship (w/ possible co-publishing opportunity)
  • UPHSCA (declining the invitation)
  • Presidential Scholar Candidate
  • FBLA State finalist
  • NMSF
  • “Some” (?) AP scholar award
  • Science awards</p>

<p>Do not take this as a personal blow. College admissions decisions are not meant to be personal blows (unless you manage to peeve the admissions officer, whether intentionally or accidentally), though it may feel as if it is at times. </p>

<p>My sole reason for feeling indifferent for these activities is that I simply do not know enough about them to care. What is UPHSCA? What did you do during your congressional internship? Okay, so you have a co-publishing opportunity. Tell me if and when you’re published. You have 400 hours; great. What did you do during those 400 hours? So you play an Indian percussion instrument. That’s exotic, but what purpose does that serve you in the long run? (in other words, elaborate. Why mention these? They don’t stand out in any particular way. This laundry list only tells me that you are diligent and multi-faceted, which these colleges might like IF you represent yourself well. It’s hard to do that on CC, where anyone can stalk you :-T).</p>

<p>I hope your essays and recommendations will be stellar, not just OK! OK isn’t enough. :-)</p>

<p>I am not factoring in your ethnicity or income bracket (or even your state of residence) when I provide these comments:</p>

<p>Brown:
Academically, one of the stronger applicants. In other areas, you’ll be playing on the same field as other applicants.</p>

<p>UPenn:
Same as Brown.</p>

<p>Cornell:
It’s a reach, but it’s possible. The door is not shut on you. :-)</p>

<p>JHU:
Possible, though still a reach. Academics: strong. Other areas: I’ll probably lump you in the “stronger” category.</p>

<p>Duke:
Possible (reach). Same as JHU.</p>

<p>Wash. U in St. Louis:
Possible to likely, though don’t quote me on this next April. :-)</p>

5

<p>@OP, you’ve got a very good shot at these cools. But don’t laundry list; write a description for some of your EC’s, and maybe cut out the ones that are more insignificant.</p>

<p>Overall, I think you’re a very strong candidate for Cornell, JHU, WUSTL, and Duke.</p>

<p>And at the above poster, I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not…so I’ll just assume you are.</p>

6

<p>@loldanielol: What makes you think I’m sarcastic? A little too cheerful, I would say, but certainly not sarcastic.</p>

7

<p>I’ll do the same as violistchan.</p>

<p>What activities / awards / honors I like:

  • Marching Band (Section leader)
  • Math Club (Co-Founder and President)
  • Presidential Scholar Candidate
  • Debate Club (Treasurer)
  • Interact Club (Board Member)
  • Science Olympiad (Treasurer)
  • FBLA State finalist
  • 10-11 Research Internship at Biochem department of Drexel
  • U.S. Congressional Internship
  • 11-12 EMT Certification Training/Volunteering, Research Internship (w/ possible co-publishing opportunity)</p>

<p>These are all here because they show drive and/or ability.</p>

<p>What activities / awards / honors I’m indifferent to (and why):</p>

<ul>
<li>Academic Challenge Team - no way to know your involvement without eadeship/awards</li>
<li>NHS - generic at this level</li>
<li>JV Tennis</li>
<li>Indian percussion instrument</li>
<li>UPHSCA (declining the invitation) - too local, and you didn’t attend</li>
<li>NMSF - with the Presidential candidacy, it’s assumed you’re NMSF</li>
<li>“Some” (?) AP scholar award - your transcript and self-reported scores will show this</li>
<li>Science awards - sounds like a school thing</li>
<li>AMC 12 school winner - w/o qualifying for AIME means your school is weak (no offense to the school winner of course)</li>
<li>Envirothon (placed regionally) - lesser known</li>
</ul>

<p>Your application is solid for Duke. That’s all I’m qualified (and not even, really) to say.</p>

8

<p>I think you have a really good chance for top schools! Obviously nobody can predict, but you are certainly academically qualified. You do a lot of stuff, which is great! Just be sure to show your passion for something.
Chance back? :slight_smile:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/1162622-i-love-brown-3-chances-some-scattered-ecs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/1162622-i-love-brown-3-chances-some-scattered-ecs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Thanks for the in-depth feedback! Yeah, I probably did not describe each of the activities enough, but I’m thinking science -related major under pre-med. Hence I tried expose myself to medical field via hospital volunteering, research, EMT, and I also did some shadowing which I didn’t mention.</p>

10

<p>I think u have an excellent shot at all of those schools. You have some good EC’s and a great SAT score. Good luck!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1162646-not-really-chance-thread-where-should-i-applying.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1162646-not-really-chance-thread-where-should-i-applying.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>bump…any more? Thanks.</p>

12

<p>You have pretty good chances at all of the schools just make sure the medical interest stands out as your focus. You have strong numbers, so good luck to you.</p>

13

<p>you’re asian… so no community college for you</p>

14

<p>Your stats automatically make you a competitive applicant and you certainly have some impressive ECs with leadership…but… there are so many. While you may feel passionate about all of them, I don’t think adcoms will feel the same way. You have some very cool things to highlight in your app but I too recommend cutting out some of the things that just add to your long list. I wouldn’t worry to much about the lack of awards but I don’t know much yet…I’ve seen people on results threads get into really competitive schools without major awards so…I think you’re looking good. Best of luck and thanks for chancing me!</p>

15

<p>I got waitlisted at WashU with practically none of you qualifications, so I’d say you’re looking pretty good.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for chancing my thread, dblazer.</p>

<p>Academically, you’re set. You have an excellent SAT score, a near perfect GPA, and a lot of APs. Your summers are productive and relate to your desire to practice medicine. In addition, you have other activities that can serve as reinforcement in your essay. </p>

<p>Brown, Penn - Reach. (Ivies, you know how they do <_<)
Cornell - Low reach
Duke, JHU, WUSTL - High match (I think you’ll most likely get in to these & Cornell)</p>

<p>You have an excellent shot at Brown and Penn. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

17

<p>You obviously have amazing stats, but I’m still not sure what there is about your application that will make adcoms at brown go “wow, this kid is unlike the other 90% of our applicants with 2200+ and 3.8+”. Try to find something that makes you really stick out and that separates you from others who have amazing stats and good ECs. The ivies+ are crapshoots, but you will have fantastic options for the next level of education.</p>

18

<p>Wash. U-high match/approaching Safety
JHU-high match
Duke, Cornell, Penn and Brown-All matches.
I wouldn’t send your Chem subject test score btw, even though it still is very good, most schools only want 2 tests, and an 800 and a 790 look better than an 800, 790 and 770. It makes it look more like you’re almost perfect on subject tests.</p>

19

<p>

</p>

<p>Where did you get that from?</p>

<p>JHU: Low reach/pretty high match
Wash U, DUke, Cornell: low reach
Brown: reach
Penn: high reach</p>

<p>Great stats, but because those schools are so competitive, it’s difficult to stand out.</p>

20

<p>His stats are BETTER than average at all of those schools. Even at Harvard, the average student has less than a 2370, sorry to tell you. His rigor is as high as can be and his grades are also fantastic. He has been very involved and has specific concentrations as well as national awards. To call all of these matches is ridiculous. You must realize that even out of people applying to the top schools, most are not on CC and the CC stats and standards are usually higher than what the standards actually are because a bunch of intelligent people(who by nature are very critical) are compared to other very intelligent people and our logic tells us that not all of us can get in(which we don’t, nor should) and we seem to forget that a good 50% or more of HYPS applicants aren’t rejected with 2400s and 4.0s, many of them are not academically qualified.</p>