Chance me and I'll chance you back!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I posted this before but updated some things. I'm pretty desperate for feedback like a lot of you so hopefully I can get some from some of you and I'll try to do the same for you, just link me :) Some specific questions too, so if anyone could answer them that'd be great.</p>

<p>I am a rising senior and interested in math/computer science. Please chance for as many as the following as you are comfortable!
MIT
Stanford
Caltech
UC Berkeley
UChicago
UIUC (urbana-champaign)
Purdue
Harvey-Mudd
CMU
Northwestern
Brown
Wash U St. Louis</p>

<p>Academic
SAT: 800math/760critical reading/720 writing
SAT II: 800 math IIC, 770 chemistry, 740 physics</p>

<p>GPA - 3.88 unweighted. (warning, rant) This makes me ranked slightly better than top 10% which is not appealing, I know. But before my sophomore year I was at another school where the biology and english classes stomped on a lot of people, which is why I have 5 Bs, 4 from freshman year. Furthermore, my school doesn't weight and many people don't take as many AP classes as I did (I took 5 total, and while that's not much, not many of the high achievers from my school took anything more than APUSH. My weighted GPA would be 4.1 if you count the APs as 5.0, and 4.3 if you count honors as 4.5 (idk how everyone else's is weighted) which would be a lot higher-ranked in my school than right now.</p>

<p>Since I heard most of the students (for example, at MIT this is like 90% or more) at some of the colleges are in the top 5% of their class, this is worrying. My question is if/how I should explain some of these discrepancies on a college app :/ Of course, if freshman grades were not considered nearly as much, my troubles would subside some since if you discounted my freshman year, my unweighted GPA would be 3.95 :D.</p>

<p>If it helps, my classes -
English: honors, 9th through 11th grade
Math: Algebra I (7th), Geometry Honors (8th), Algebra II Honors (9th), Multivar calculus and linear algebra (both 10th). self-studied AP calc BC in 9th grade
Science: honors biology (9th), AP physics C (10th), AP CS/chem/bio (all 11th)
History: AP Us history (11th), required world history (9th)
then some of those required classes like PE</p>

<p>in 12th grade I'm taking AP government, AP english, economics, and 3 college courses in applied math/computer science (not sure of details)</p>

<p>AP test scores: calc BC (5), physics C mech. (5), chemistry (probably a 5), apush (probably a 5), biology (probably a 4)</p>

<p>Extracurricular</p>

<p>junior tennis program for a while (outside of school)
academic super bowl math team (10th, 11th grade)
played piano for 6 years, some local performances along the way</p>

<p>qualified for AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination) in 9th, 10th, 11th grade; my best score is an 8 though I never made USAMO :(
USA Math talent search: bronze, 10th and 11th grade
represented my state's ARML team (A team) in 2011, 2012, 2013
one of 110 people invited to Canada/USA Mathcamp
USA computing olympiad (currently in silver division)
some research in numerical methods and molecular dynamics this summer with a professor</p>

<p>other than those 'official' contests:
algorithmic programming contests online at Topcoder and Codeforces (rating on the former is 1700ish where everyone starts at 1200, on the latter is 1800ish where everyone starts at 1500)
I used to play chess competitively (before 10th grade) but there's few tournaments around my area and we can't go to them easily, but I play chess.com regularly and my blitz and regular ratings are over 2100 nearing 2200
just in case those matter at all :/</p>

<p>would appreciate some feedback on the extracurriculars esp. from some other math/science people :D</p>

<p>anything else... hmm... well I am really passionate about the stuff that I do (lots of meaningful-ish things to say on the math competitions, etc.). I guess that is kind of a plus?</p>

2

<p>I’d put the first 6 and Brown and NWU as reaches. You have a chance, they’re just crazy hard. They’re that way for everyone. </p>

<p>The others, high match to low reach? I’m not sure exactly. Your academic stats are great, really tell a story in your essays. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Your test scores are really impressive and I think colleges will overlook your class ranking because they will be impressed that you actually decided to challenge yourself when it sounds like almost all of your classmates took the easy way out. Your extracurriculars seem to match your interests in math and computer science well which should help. I’m not really familiar with admissions at the schools you listed, but for schools of that caliber it’s hard to ever really be sure. You did show that you pursued your passions though, so if you write good essays, I would say you should have a good shot.</p>

<p>If you are at all familiar with UPenn’s Management and Technology Program, please chance me back: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1514722-upenn-jerome-fisher-m-t-early-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1514722-upenn-jerome-fisher-m-t-early-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>MIT: Reach
Stanford: Reach (as it is for everyone, so don’t despair!)
Caltech: Low Reach
UC Berkeley: Low Reach
UChicago: Low Reach
UIUC (urbana-champaign): Low Reach
Purdue: Match
Harvey-Mudd: Match
CMU: Match
Northwestern: High Match/Low Reach
Brown: High Match/Low Reach
Wash U St. Louis: Realistic/High Match</p>

<p>Your scores are definitely quite impressive, but your class rank may pull you down a bit from some of the most selective colleges on your list. As for EC’s, you are totally fine and they wont detract from your application, BUT nor will they help you. The EC’s are pretty standard for some of your most competitive colleges (which is okay, it’s just because the applicant pool is so overqualified) so you will really need to rely on the essays to make yourself stand out from the pool of other qualified candidates like yourself. One thing to keep in mind though - if those are the only colleges you’re applying to, a note of warning: you do not have any safeties on your list, which you should consider adding so that you have something to fall back upon just in case something else falls through. Other than that, you’re in fine condition. Good luck! </p>

<p>Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1514358-johns-hopkins-out-question-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1514358-johns-hopkins-out-question-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Thanks for chancing me! I don’t know too much about some of the individual colleges you’re looking at. </p>

<p>You’re chances at Berkeley are, in my opinion, good, it’s a match. Berkeley, as a UC, will only look at your sophomore and junior grades, therefore you’ll have 3.95 as far as they’re concerned. Perhaps look at some other UC’s aswell given this?</p>

<p>UChicago is also a good choice for you as your math and reading are exceptional, and it, as you probably know, only looks at your math and reading. Your writing’s great too, but the math and reading are really great. It’s probably still a little bit of a reach because of your class rank. Georgetown U and Cornell also only look at math and reading, just fyi. </p>

<p>Stanford is a reach, again because of your class rank, but is doable. Your SAT should compensate at least in part for your GPA.</p>

<p>I’d like to offer more chancing, but I’d rather not give possibly wrong info on colleges I don’t really know about!</p>

6

<p>Thanks guys for the helpful advice. :D</p>

<p>That class rank trolls ><
are there places to explain circumstances, like much harder classes (as verified by counselor) or changing schools?</p>

7

<p>MIT - High Reach
Stanford - High Reach
Caltech - Low Reach/Reach
UC Berkeley - High Match
UChicago - Reach
UIUC (urbana-champaign) - Safety/Low Match
Purdue - Safety
Harvey-Mudd - High Match
CMU - Match
Northwestern - Low Reach
Brown - Low Reach
Wash U St. Louis - Match</p>

<p>Honestly, I think that you should focus more on math in your essays. It’s pretty hard to explain away class rank, unfortunately. You’re still a strong applicant, but most of these schools are reach for pretty much everyone. And, colleges will usually count honors as a 5 as well, which means your weighted GPA is doing pretty well. I think that you need to show some more passion for your extracurrics in order to increase your chances for these schools, or at least write some 9/10 essays for them</p>

8

<p>bump! more feedback please!!! 111 eleven!!!</p>

<p>again, main concerns are whether some of my extracurriculars are valid (I love programming and do online programming competitions like topcoder) and class rank (read above)</p>

9

<p>Aside from what everyone has stated, I think you should take Differential Equations and Discrete Math, if possible. You would have a ton of high level math classes under your belt, which is great. Aslo, try taking the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism test if possible, and be sure to make a 5 :D. I can’t believe you went straight from Algebra 2 to Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra. No offense, but that’s kind of insane, lol. Anywyas, pursue your passions (which is STEM) and try to make the USAMO :D.</p>

<p>MIT - High Reach
Stanford - High Reach
Caltech - Reach
UC Berkeley - Match
UChicago - Reach
UIUC (urbana-champaign) - Safety
Purdue - Safety
Harvey-Mudd - High Match
CMU - Match
Northwestern - Low Reach
Brown - Low Reach
Wash U St. Louis - Match</p>

10

<p>Sorry for the double post but: What is the score required to make a bronze medal in the USAMTS?</p>

11

<p>Couldn’t get to USAMO. I was “able” to but it is my personal philosophy that it is a crapshoot at some point as I completely messed up AIME this year making 4 stupid mistakes (which I would have made usamo if I had not made 3 of them).</p>

<p>score to make bronze was 57 to 68 out of 75, but I was within a few points of silver cutoff :frowning: it was weird this year</p>

<p>Also I had to take Algebra 2 because my school made me, but I studied calculus the same year and took the ap test and got a 5. That’s why I take multivariate calc/linear algebra the following year.</p>

12

<p>Nice Job then! I’m definitely impressed!</p>

13

<p>Private Schools are all reaches, because the world may never know what stats you need to get in. But I would say UCB=Match, Purdue, UIUC=Safeties.</p>

14

<p>Hey, I appreciated your reply on my thread so I thought I would do the same.
Your application looks solid. I wish I was as good in math as you are haha. The only thing is as you said above, your 5 B’s. However, since they were mostly during your freshman year, it won’t be as detrimental. Your SAT score is fine. Your SAT II’s… Idk. I might just be really uptight about this but that 740 isn’t the best. Then again, you got 8 on the AIME so who cares haha. </p>

<p>Anyways… I’m not particularly sure how to chance people… so I’m just going by my personal opinion on if you will get in or not based on friends who have gotten into these schools.
MIT-Yes (75% sure you will)
Stanford-Nobody knows
Caltech-Yes
UC Berkeley-Yes
UChicago-Yes
UIUC (urbana-champaign)-I don’t know this school well enough
Purdue-Yes
Harvey-Mudd-Yes
CMU-Yes
Northwestern-Yes
Brown-Yes
Wash U St. Louis-Yes</p>

15

<p>I have the same issue with my GPA. I took the highest number of APs in my class, and due to my schools tiny add-ons, my GPA and class rank suffered. With that being said, I believe you are a match for nearly every school on the list. Due to your evident passion for programming, I believe MIT and schools like it will look past your Freshman year. Thank you for chancing me. I updated a few things, and if you could check on it, that would be fantastic. I wish you good luck!</p>

16

<p>I think you have a great resume, and any college would be lucky to have you, but it isn’t my decision. I think you have a strong chance at a bunch of these institutions, but you never know.<br>
Stanford is notorious for not being able to be predicted, but I would say you have a strong chance because of your performance in a special area, from what I have gathered so far, that is what they look for.</p>

<p>All the other schools I think are a like an 80% or higher admission chance for you.</p>

17

<p>you guys are awesome!!! bump still !!!</p>

18

<p>Okay so here are my general thoughts:</p>

<p>MIT - Reach
Stanford - Reach
Caltech - Low Reach/Reach
UC Berkeley - Match
UChicago - Reach
UIUC UC - Safety/Low Match
Purdue - Safety
Harvey-Mudd - High Match
CMU - Match
Northwestern - Low Reach
Brown - Low Reach
Wash U St. Louis - Match</p>

<p>Okay so your GPA is a BIT low for some of those top universities, but your amazing test scores definitely make up for it. You definitely show that you are REALLY good at math, you have gotten perfect scores on all of your math tests, and self-studying AP Calc BC freshman year and getting a 5 and then taking linear algebra and MV Calc in your sophomore year? Damn. So your scores definitely help even out your app and make you more competitive.</p>

<p>One suggestion I have is maybe taking a higher level math course at your local community college/wherever they offer it. I honestly don’t know what class that would be, and I think you’ve already taken the highest math courses available at most CCs. Wouldn’t differential equations be the next class you take? Idk. Just do something that highlights your amazing mathematical ability. Doesn’t have to be a course, do something unique maybe? Like develop your own formula or theory or something like that. :P</p>

19

<p>thanks for the advice :smiley: I am going to take some college classes (CS/math) next year and doing some research this summer</p>

20

<p>You seem very dedicated to math and computer science, which is an excellent booster for any college application. Unfortunately, Ivy Leagues and top-tier schools are reaches for all students. Here’s my best shot:</p>

<p>MIT - Reach
Stanford - Reach
Caltech - High match
UC Berkeley - Match
UChicago - Low match
UIUC (urbana-champaign) - Safety
Purdue - Match
Harvey-Mudd - Match/Low match
CMU - Low match
Northwestern - High match
Brown - Reach
Wash U St. Louis - High match</p>

<p>If you’d chance me here, that would be great:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1509142-updated-nyu-columbia-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1509142-updated-nyu-columbia-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;