Chance Me and I'll Chance You :)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I have applied to:

UC Los Angeles
UC Berkeley
UC San Diego
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
Boston University
Cornell University
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Ohio State University (Columbus)
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) DID EARLY ACTION
University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) >>>> already accepted
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Reed College
University of Washington (Seattle)

For these schools, I applied under three majors (depended on which one they offered)

  • Psychology
  • Biopsychology
  • Neuroscience

UW GPA: 3.868
W GPA: around 4.2

Transcript:
2016 12 S2 AP English Lit & Comp
2016 12 S2 AP Calculus AB
2015 12 S1 AP Environmental Science
2016 12 S2 AP Macroeconomics
2016 12 S2 Spanish III (H)
2016 12 S2 Speech

2015 12 S1 AP English Lit & Comp
2015 12 S1 AP Calculus AB
2015 12 S1 AP Environmental Science
2015 12 S1 AP US Gov & Politics
2015 12 S1 Spanish III (H)
2015 12 S1 Life Skills

2015 11 S1 AP English Lang & Comp Acad: A
2015 11 S1 Spanish II (CP) Acad: A-
2015 11 S1 Math Analysis (CP) Acad: B
2015 11 S1 AP Chemistry Acad: B
2015 11 S1 AP United States History Acad: A
2015 11 S1 Art Draw Paint I/II (CP) Acad: A

2015 11 S2 AP English Lang & Comp Acad: A+
2015 11 S2 Spanish II (CP) Acad: A-
2015 11 S2 Math Analysis (CP) Acad: A-
2015 11 S2 Chemistry (H) Acad: A-
2015 11 S2 AP United States History Acad: A+
2015 11 S2 Art Draw Paint I/II (CP) Acad: A

2014 10 S1 Web Design Acad: A+
2014 10 S1 English II (H) Acad: A
2014 10 S1 Spanish I (CP) Acad: A+
2014 10 S1 AP Biology Acad: A-
2014 10 S1 Algebra II (CP) Acad: A
2014 10 S1 PE Acad: P
2014 10 S1 World History (CP) Acad: A

2014 10 S2 English II (H) Acad: A
2014 10 S2 Spanish I (CP) Acad: A+
2014 10 S2 AP Biology Acad: B+
2014 10 S2 Algebra II (CP) Acad: B+
2014 10 S2 PE Acad: P
2014 10 S2 Wood I/II Acad: A-
2014 10 S2 World History (CP) Acad: A

2013 9 S1 English I (CP) Acad: A
2013 9 S1 Global Science (CP) Acad: A+
2013 9 S1 Geometry 9 (CP) Acad: B+
2013 9 S1 PE PE 9 Fall Acad: A-
2013 9 S1 World Geography (CP) Acad: A
2013 9 S1 Band (CP) Acad: A

2013 9 S2 English I (CP) Acad: A+
2013 9 S2 Health Acad: A
2013 9 S2 Geometry 9 (CP) Acad: A
2013 9 S2 PE Acad: A
2013 9 S2 Global Science (H) Acad: A
2013 9 S2 Band (CP) Acad: A

Overall: I have taken 8.5 AP classes and 3 Honors classes

Rigor of Courses to what I had the option of taking: 8.5/10 to 9/10

My SAT: 2170 (650 for Critical Reading, 740 for Math, 780 for Writing)- not superscored because I increased in every section every time I took the SAT.

Also, I took a subject test in Biology (molecular): 690
I also took 5 other ones, but the scores are all terrible (all are 640) so I am not submitting those to any of the schools, except for Cornell due to their policy against Score Choice.

My essays were deemed pretty amazing, as I ran them all by two english teachers and both of my parents. My personal statement for the Common App was talking of a situation where I showed leadership and was able to take another step further into my recovery. It also showed how the situation was able to change me as a person into a more responsible adult. Other great essays were Cornell supplement, UNC supplement, and UC essays.

Extracurriculars:

  • 4 years of Cross-Country JV
  • 2 years of Track and Field JV
  • 2 years as Secretary of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illnesses)
  • 1 year as Secretary of Green Club
  • 3 years of operation of a Poetry Blog
  • 4 years for trombone (first chair for the majority of it)
  • 6 years of guitar (4 years training, 2 years by myself)

Awards:

  • Honor Role for all four years
  • Most Improved for Cross Country during my Sophomore Year
  • “Ole’ Reliable” for playing trombone in Band during my freshman year (1st chair)

Although my school doesn’t rank, I am almost certain that I am in the top 10% of my class (there are 400-500 people in my grade).
Also, my school is ranked 102 in California and 528 in the US

For most schools, I have two teacher (both English) letters of recommendation and 1 professor (at UCSD course I took in psychology). However, for Cornell, I had a family member write a letter of recommendation on top of all the previous ones listed (she graduated in 2004 summa cum laude and fourth in her class; also, she married into a family, assuming her husband’s last name, that possesses about 5 Cornell graduates).

Important to Note: I had an eating disorder for 3 years, as well as moderate depression, and a lot of my application showcases how I have overcome my struggles. Additionally, I often talk of how I have matured and changed as a person, for the better.

If you give me an estimate on the schools I provided, I will help you back <3

2

Your academic accomplishments are excellent and you should be quite proud of them. They alone should be good enough to get you into any of the schools you listed. Your overcoming of adversity will also benefit you at many of the schools. The big weakness i see is that none of your Extracurricular activities demonstrate any form of leadership and very little in the form of excellence (the trombone being the exception).

I would suspect that this will make your top four schools,

UC Los Angeles
UC Berkeley
Cornell University
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

somewhat of a challenge.

Good luck!

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thanks @moon68 I probably should have mentioned the role of the secretary positions for the NAMI club (National Alliance on Mental Illnesses). We have raised about $10,000 for the nonprofit organization and have done a few events throughout our community in the past year. We are also the first NAMI high school chapter to ever be founded and recognized by NAMI (the president’s aunt is very involved with the NAMI organization and helped in our club’s formation). In my writing on the position, we all basically did the same type of tasks. Thus, while there are different roles, they truly are not indicative of the work.
I also thought that it would possibly be tied to how I desire to research neuroscience in the future (specifically on mental illnesses and their biological derivatives). Do you think this explanation makes my extracurriculars any better? Thank-you so much for your assistance by the way :slight_smile:

5

For me I think that your GPA is decent and the APs are probably enough. I think that on the surface your extra curriculars are enough but you will just need to explain it a bit on the app to explain how they’re important. Your SAT scores are decent but I think you can do better on subject scores. I think you can probably get in most of the schools you’re applying to easily but UC LA and Berkeley and especially Cornell will be the most difficult. For me I think Michigan is possible for you since your GPA and SAT scores match its range and will probably rank in 60+ percentile. The thing about UC schools is that they receive tons of applicants each year. From what I’d heard they mostly look at academics first so your subject scores might pull you down a bit. Your SAT I score is around 50-60 percentile of both UC schools so that’s fine. So now it really comes up to how well you make your app look with the ECs and your essays. Also note that the admissions for UC schools are now more holistic and Berkeley accepts recommendations now so it might be a plus for you. So overall UC schools you have a better chance in my opinion. Cornell on the other hand would be more of a reach school. Although your GPA and SAT fit in it’s range but it’s probably not in the top ranks. Your ECs don’t stand out as much compared to other top students in America(e.g winning a national championship, publishing something…etc). This means it would be up to how well your wrap your essays and your app. It’s good that you have a lot of fit schools for yourself but since these schools are all holistic I think you still have a chance. Good Luck on your application!!!

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Thanks! :slight_smile: @POSH16 Probably most helpful opinion I have ever received on here!

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Hi it’s me!!

I honestly don’t know much about the UCs, but like everyone else said Cornell would be a reach and everything else you should have a good shot at. I think your ECs and course rigor are perfect, you have plenty of leadership positions (quality over quantity) and you’ve taken plenty of APs and done well so your GPA is fantastic. You also have a really good hook with the eating disorder and depression that sets you apart from everyone else (respect for being able to overcome that btw, congrats). If you managed to create a narrative with that in your application (which it sounds like you did) that will really help you. Honestly I think the only thing holding you back from more selective schools is your test scores but there’s not much you can do about that now (or maybe you can, I’m not sure about the timeline but I don’t think it’s worth it to start stressing about standardized tests again). Your awards are also kind of lacking since there are no big name national awards, but I think that’s fine for most of the schools you’re aiming for.

I think you’re perfect for BU btw, I also applied there and you have everything they’re looking for. And I don’t know anything about the University of North Carolina but their acceptance rate is similar to BU’s and you applied early action so that should certainly do you some good.

Hope I helped!! (and thanks for commenting on my thread :slight_smile: )

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Thanks :slight_smile:

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Really focus on UNC. I think you would be a great addition and you could get in.

12

Reach: Cornell University
Match: UC Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, Boston University, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Safety: UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, University of Wisconsin (Madison), Ohio State University (Columbus), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) , Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), Reed College, University of Washington (Seattle)

13

Reach: Cornell University,UC Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Low Reach: UC San Diego
Match: Boston University,UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Safety: University of Wisconsin (Madison), Ohio State University (Columbus), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), Reed College, University of Washington (Seattle)

Chance me back?-http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1843747-chance-me-for-california-schools-privates-will-chance-back.html#latest

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I agree with the others. Your profile would be killer if you had more leadership ECs but that is too late to improve now. I think you have a very good chance at most of the schools you are applying to. For Cornell you might want to try to write a more creative essay.

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@legendarypotato yah I tried to make a really good essay and legit had 40+ drafts xD (all of my Thanksgiving break!). I basicaly talked about my connection to the land- my mom and her side of the family have lived there for hundreds of years. I talked about my memories there and basically took a “Pocahontas view” saying the land is in my blood.

17

The UC schools seem good, and if your essays are, I think you will get in. I think you will get into BU. Cornell and UNC I would say are high matches.

18

Yes, you should add your fundraiser experience to your extracurriculars! Colleges especially love fundraising! Cornell might be a bit of a reach, and Berkeley and LA might be a bit of a stretch, but the other schools are a good match!

19

You look pretty competitive but my advice is be REALLY CAREFUL when talking about mental illness on your application. I’ve been through it myself and my guidance counselor told me that if you aren’t careful with what you write then schools might think that you won’t be able to handle a rigorous environment. You need to make it really clear that you have recovered and make sure there is no doubt in the admissions officers’ mind that you will not relapse.

Help me back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1845262-final-chance-thread-before-sending-out-apps-brutally-honest-and-painfully-detailed.html#latest