Chance for some ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I posted a few years ago... (or maybe one) but nobody responded. Now, I'm a senior, and as I'm anxiously awaiting my Yale results, I want to see if anyone answers this time. I'm applying as an engineering student on all the apps (some have an extra essay to write).</p>

<p>Applying to: Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Caltech, Wellesley, Duke</p>

<p>SAT's- 2340- 770 math, 770 CR, 800 writing (all in one sitting)
SAT 2's - 800 math II and chemistry
GPA- ~4.22 (partially weighted, regularly 4.0, 5.0 for AP's)
Rank- 10/224 at the beginning of the year, but I have moved up since... not sure how much
AP scores- 5 AP English Lang, 5 AP Calc AB, 4 AP Chemistry
Senior year schedule- AP Computer Science, AP Physics B, AP English Lit, AP Stat, AP Biology, online Stanford AI course, honors jazz band (yes, that is a class)
Junior year was also most challenging courses offered.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars- FIRST robotics (2 yrs business, 1 yr software), Math team (co-captain), NHS, Tri-M (treasurer), Pep band (student run, one of 3 leads. I play trumpet.), pit orchestra, private piano stuff (passed Preparatory D in National Piano Guild auditions with perfect score 9th grade), jazz combo (2), brass ensemble, used to figure skate</p>

<p>Awards- AP Scholar, Wellesley Book Award, "superior" ranking in an AI course I took over the summer, wrote an essay honoring a mentor that won @ Granite state regional (FIRST Robotics), Part of NH state champ math team 2011 (10 people)</p>

<p>Other: Went with 3 others to Harvard MIT Math Tournament (November) and my team took 15th guts, 18th team, and 27th overall (because we had less people and overall score was lower because of that). </p>

<p>My essays are very strong. I went through a lot of editing. Recommendations should be great too- I got one from my AP Calc teacher and my AP English Language teacher.</p>

2

<p>You seriously have a good chance at all of your schools.</p>

3

<p>Academically, you’re not bad, but not stellar either. SAT/SATIIs are fine, but your class rank, unless your school is really good (sent kids of ~ your rank in previous years to High Caliber school), doesn’t look great especially for schools like Princeton or Yale that would like top 1-3%. Again though, look at your school’s previous history, I’m not sure how good being in the top 5% at your school is, but in general, if you come from a public school, it’s not great. Also your course rigor doesn’t look great considering you have thus far only taken 3 AP exams. Unless your school offers more which you opted not to take, i presume it’s ok.</p>

<p>Otherwise ECs don’t look too stellar, at least no like Yale caliber. Scant leadership, no major accomplishments. It seems like the main thing that will be working for you is being a female applying for engineering which serves as a hook in this case. </p>

<p>CMU and Wellsley look to be within range. MIT Caltech you’re a female which helps but it’s tough to say you have great chances. Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, Duke look to be reaches. Mainly i’d say because ECs are pretty weak.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the chances!
I got deferred SCEA to Yale, but here’s further info:</p>

<p>I took all the AP’s possible to fit into my schedule Junior year… I think the guidance counselor covered that in his rec (didn’t read).</p>

<p>My school is the best public school in the state, won lots of national recognition (US Weekly top schools, blue ribbon, etc.), rivals a lot of private schools, and sends 1-2 kids to Dartmouth and MIT a year. Nobody to Yale yet, but I know a girl who is going to Duke (her academic standings were around mine). </p>

<p>EC’s: Yes, I agree that they appear to be the weakest part of my app… along with my lack of awards. However, for those who don’t know, FIRST takes up a lot of time… it’s a major commitment that basically takes up two months of the school year (over 200 hours for those two) as well as several tens of hours a month besides that. I tried to work for a strong science and music center, which I think the EC’s show. Like dblazer said, though, no big national awards.</p>

5

<p>I think I would agree with dblazer.
CMU/Wellsley - Match
MIT/Caltech - Low reach
Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, Duke - High reaches</p>

<p>I’m just curious, what kind of FIRST do you do? This is my first year in FTC and I love it :)</p>

6

<p>Thanks for chancing!</p>

<p>Woo fellow firstie! I’m in FRC… it’s so fun! My build season is starting up this weekend. When did/is yours starting?</p>