Chance me at a ton of top schools? I WILL CHANCE YOU BACK!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi. I’ve applied to a bunch of places, and have seen a ton of people get rejected early, and I’m getting worried going into decision month. Could people just predict accepted/deferred/rejected? Thanks. Applied in Biomedical Engineering/Computer Science to all, so schools/colleges of engineering.

Applying to…
-University of Michigan - Accepted EA
-University of Maryland - Accepted
-UC Berkeley
-UCLA
-Washington University in St. Louis
-Georgia Tech
-Columbia University
-Harvey Mudd College
-Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents)
-Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous)
-Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME)
-USC
-Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer))
-Stanford University

Objective:
-SAT I (breakdown): 1580 (790 M, 790 R/W, 23/24 Essay) (1 Sitting)
-SAT II: 800 Math II, 780 Bio
-Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.80 w/o freshman year , 3.7 with. (4.0=A, 3.0=B, no +/- weighting)
-Weighted GPA (Out of 5.0): 4.7 w/o freshman year , 4.5 with. (All AP/College level honors-y are on a 5.0)
Lots of the schools i’m applying to cut out freshman year from their GPA calculations.
-Weighted and capped GPA (For UCs): 4.03 (I know it seems low, but the max I could get is 4.25 with the number of classes I took, the average accepted from my school is 4.1)
-Rank: Top 10-15%-ish? They don’t really rank, but that’s within a crazy competitive magnet school, and it would be higher without freshman year.

AP: National AP Scholar, Computer Science (5), Biology (5), Physics (5), Chemistry (4), Statistics (4), BC Calculus (5), English Lang (5), World History (4), NSL (5)

IB: N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Linear Algebra, Mathematical Physics (Crazy hard), Marine Biology, Political/Sports statistics, Honors English, AP Macro, Research Project

Pretty crazy course rigor throughout HS: Quantum Physics, Organic Chemistry, Linear Algebra, Discrete Math, Cell Physiology, Immunology, Analytical Chem, Physical Chem, Bio Chem, and all AP english and social studies’.

All the math/science courses I’ve taken are college level, above AP.

Major Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, National AP Scholar, AP Scholar with distinction.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars:

Debate Team (Captain of school team), Also on an independent team. Top 200 in the country, made NSDA Nationals and a bunch of other national tournaments. Round of 16 at a big international debate tournament, have gone far in a bunch of other national tournaments too. Just won UVA’s tournament.

3rd degree Black Belt, have won a few sparring competitions

Independent Soccer Team (Captain, Goalkeeper) On it since kindergarten
Independent Baseball/Basketball teams, Low-level

Surf and Rock climb a lot, wrote some essays about the rock climbing community.

Job/Work Experience: Interned in a well-known Parkinson’s disease lab over the summer at UCLA, designed/programmed something to make their research a lot better, and so it could be fully automated. I may get a patent on it, but not in time for college apps. The lab is actually using it now, so I played it up in essays and stuff.

Camp counselor the previous two summers, will be again this summer.

Volunteer/Community service: Lots of miscellaneous stuff, but the Camp counselor work experience was as a volunteer.
Summer Activities: (See above)

Essays:

Essays are 8+/10, both parents are writers/lawyers and I have them working with me on them. I’ve got a lot of dramatic, good stories about how my grandparents have Parkinson’s so I did Parkinson’s research, carried a kid out of a valley on my back during a camping trip when he gashed his knee open, etc. I pretty consciously tailored my essays to what the different schools I applied to were looking for in students.

Recommendations:

Teacher Rec #1: Computer Science Teacher, 8/10. He had everyone he gave a rec to fill out a form, so I gave him a bunch of good material to write about. Very eloquent guy, Harvard journalist turned CS major, should be a good rec.
Teacher Rec #2: Economics teacher: 9-10/10. Loves me, I get hundreds on everything in his class.
Teacher Rec #3: Physics Teacher, 8/10, have had him for a while and have a good relationship with him.
Counselor Rec: 7/10. I talk with her fairly often, she likes me. Gave her some good material to write about, wouldn’t expect anything too fantastic though.
Additional Rec:10/10 From the PI of the lab where I worked, well-respected researcher. Said he would write a “Glowing” rec for me at the end of the internship.
Interview: I interview well, I’ve had a few and they’ve gone well so far. I had really great ones for Princeton and Columbia.

Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: BME/Computer Science, maybe minor in business or finance.
State: MD
School Type: Public, Magnet
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper
Hooks: No real hooks, have some legacies.

Thanks for reading this far. Again, just an accepted/deferred/rejected for each place. I know some are hard to predict. I’ll chance you back, just ask.

2

Wow! Really good resume! But just remember that colleges look at applicants based on school groups. If your school does Naviance because I think that would be a better representation. Your amazing legacies at Cornell! Jealous! I know this isn’t really the best input but you have a really good chance at so many schools. You have basically no weaknesses. Good luck!

3

@Bananaking13 Yeah, that’s kind of what I’m worried about. Normally, the people from my school who get into most of the top places on my list have something like a 3.9 UW, and marginally lower scores than I do (1540-1560.) I’m really wondering if my ECs, essays, and somewhat different profile can get me over that GPA hump, assuming that most of the other people applying from my school have taken similarly difficult classes. I’m trying to sell myself as someone who’s good at math and science, but can also talk about them to anyone, and kind of be a bridge between science people and those without PhDs.

4

You have a really impressive application and great chances at almost all of these places. Of course, Ivies are crapshoots for everyone but your resume and transcript seem great. The only issue is that you go to a competitive school, and that you’re essentially competing against everyone from your school for admission (SAME).

UC Berkeley- Accept
UCLA- Accept
Washington University in St. Louis- Accept
Georgia Tech- Accept
Columbia University- Waitlist
Harvey Mudd College- Accept
Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents)- Accept
Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous)- Accept/Waitlist
Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME)- Accept general, waitlist BME
USC- Accept
Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer))- Waitlist/Reject
Stanford University- Reject

Chance me back?

5

@politicsdancegal Chanced you back, thanks a lot.

6

You’ll probably get into some of your remaining schools – guessing which is pointless, because it just depends on what types of attributes each school needs to fill its class.

Regardless, if you like and can afford the U of Michigan and the U of Maryland – two fine institutions – then you have already won: you have your mashed potatoes, and they’re some nice potatoes. More acceptances will just be gravy. :slight_smile:

7

Have to say, I’m really jealous of your resume. You seem to have covered all your bases. Without a doubt, I see you going to some of the top schools.

UC Berkeley- Accept
UCLA- Accept
Washington University in St. Louis- Accept
Georgia Tech- Accept
Columbia University- Accept
Harvey Mudd College- Accept
Cornell University - Accept
Carnegie Mellon University - Accept
Johns Hopkins University - Waitlist
USC- Accept
Princeton University - Accept
Stanford University- Waitlist

8

@szhang9246 Thanks a lot, chanced you back. Hopefully things go as well as you’re predicting.

9

You are all so smart and talented. I feel as if my chances of getting into my dream schools are all but impossible because of my GPA of 3.5 and SAT score of 1280. (I plan on taking the test again). However, most of the colleges I plan on applying to like, American University, George Washington University, and Franklin and Marshall do not require standardized test scores anymore. I am in Model UN, Debate, Reading Olympics, and I volunteer at my school district’s elementary school but most of my attention has been dedicated to my writing. I suppose it has paid it off in some small regards, because of I have won three Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and I was accepted to Interlochen Arts Academy twice for their summer programs, and I am currently being paid to write on Wattpad but I feel like Colleges won’t care about that because almost everyone writes nowadays.

Is it possible for me to get into the schools like American University, George Washington University, Wesleyan, and Franklin and Marshall? Or should I start looking for other schools.

(I don’t know if this will matter, but I am the first woman in my family to go to a four year institution).

10

@LiliVoss If you want to get your question answered more specifically, you can click the “Start new discussion” button on the main “What are my chances” page. Regardless, you’re going to be a little bit below average as an applicant for AU and GW, and fairly well below for wesleyan or F&M. It’s still very possible that you get in to some of them, I’ll predict that you get into at least one of the two between AU and GW. However, I would strongly advise adding a few other schools to your list that you’re more certain you can get into.

11

UC Berkeley- Accept
UCLA- Accept
Washington University in St. Louis- Accept if you showed interest, waitlist if you didn’t
Georgia Tech- Accept
Columbia University- Waitlist
Harvey Mudd College- Reject (They don’t accept many)
Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents)- Accept
Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous)- Waitlist
Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME)- Accept general
USC- Accept
Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer))- Waitlist
Stanford University- Reject

Chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1939905-chance-me-p1.html

12

Hooooly crap your application looks insane! I wish I had taken as much coursework as you did :open_mouth: I’d say you’re a straight shot for a ton of those schools

UC Berkeley- Accept
UCLA- Accept
Washington University in St. Louis- Accept
Georgia Tech- Accept
Columbia University- Waitlist
Harvey Mudd College- Waitlist
Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents)- Accept
Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous)- Not sure
Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME)- Accept general, Waitlist specific
USC- Accept
Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer))- Waitlist
Stanford University- Waitlist

Chance me back?

13

Jealous of your course offerings! (We don’t have anything like some of the classes you mentioned at my school.) Your GPA is a bit low, but not to the point of being unreconcilable. Your extracurriculars are decent, but maybe a bit scattered. (I.e. having four sports when you’re not in line for recruitment might pull less weight than an equal amount of time doing major-related activities.) Overall, I’d say:

UC Berkeley: Accept/Waitlist (due to UC GPA)
UCLA: Accept
Washington University in St. Louis: Accept
Georgia Tech: Accept
Columbia University: Waitlist
Harvey Mudd College: Accept
Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents): Accept (I’m not sure how much legacy affects the RD round though… you may want to look into that)
Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous): Waitlist
-Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME): Accept regular (Waitlist/Reject BME)
-USC: Accept
-Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer)): Waitlist
-Stanford University: Reject

Best of luck! :slight_smile: Chance me back? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1966406-chance-me-upenn-ed-yale-brown-princeton-etc-will-chance-back.html#latest

14

UC Berkeley- Accept
UCLA- Accept
Washington University in St. Louis- Accept
Georgia Tech- Accept
Columbia University- Reject
Harvey Mudd College- Accept
Cornell University (5 legacies, parents, grandparents, great grandparents)- Accept
Carnegie Mellon University (Applied to school of CS, I know it’s ridiculous)- Accept
Johns Hopkins University (Applied to BME Program, I know it’s ridiculously hard but they also consider you for the general school if you don’t make BME)- Accept
USC- Accept
Princeton University (2 legacies, grandfather is still very very connected with the school (was an interviewer))- Accept
Stanford University- Reject

15

Please tell me what my chances are. My extracurriculars and test scores are below average for Berkeley. I haven’t been able to find just how competitive the chemical engineering program is. I am a white male and family makes around 100,000 a year. I live in California and go to a small high school that only has 5 AP classes.

Unweighted GPA: 3.97
Weighted GPA: 4.33

Class Rank: 1/200

California Resident

SAT Score: 1470 Math 760 English 710
ACT Score: 32
SAT II Scores: 650 Chem 610 Math 1

AP: Chemistry : 4

Senior Course Load: AP Literature, AP Government, Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP Language, Honors Economics

Which college are you applying to? College of Chemistry: Chemical Engineering

ECs:
3 years football
1 year baseball
100 hours of community service for American Cancer Society
20 hours of community service for Goodwill
Member of a Discipleship Program
Community Service Representative for my high school/ Leadership class before school every day

I have taken 4 classes at the local community college and gotten A’s in all of them. I’ve taken every difficult class that my school offers. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Thank you

16

@qwertyuiop91 Go back to the “what are my chances” main page and click the “new discussion” big orange button, it’ll let you start your own thread. But, I think you’ve got around a 30-40% chance at Berkeley, your ECs and SAT 2 scores don’t really well support a chemical engineering major.

17

@idkmang22 @yalehopeful017 Chanced you back, thanks a lot.

18

Good chances everywhere. You will probably get a Math/Physics flag at some of these schools. Where did you take your college courses? The college’s reputation will probably influence how heavily they regard those classes.

Did you participate in any national competitions like USAMO, USNCO, or USAPHO? Those are often really helpful in comparing applicants with specific talents on a national scale.

19

@rshortsma I took a class at UCLA, but the magnet program that I’m in has all classes that are at college level, so that’s what I was basing my claim on. I didn’t really do any of those competitions, which I know is a weakness in my app.

20

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