<p>Wondering about my chances of admissions to Berkeley, Duke, Cornell, Virginia, and Northwestern. I intend on majoring in chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania Resident</p>
<p>Class Rank: 22 out of class of 400</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.73 Weighted: 4.18
ACT: 34 Math: 35 Science: 35 English: 34 Reading: 33 Writing: 8
SAT Subject Tests: Math II: 800 Chemistry: 720 Physics: 650 (will come up)
APs Taken: Stat (5), AB Calc (5), Chem (4), U.S History (4)</p>
<p>APs Pending: Micro Econ, Macro Econ, Lit and Comp, Physics, Biology, German, BC Calc</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:
NHS Society Member/Tutor Coordinator
German Club Member/Vice President
Chess Club Member/Co-founder/Treasurer
Computer Club Member
SADD Member
Freshmen Basketball Player/Co-Captain
JV/Varsity Basketball Player (1 Year)
Freshmen Soccer Player
JV Soccer Player/Captain
Varsity Soccer Player (2 Years)/Captain (Senior Year)
Over 550 combined Volunteer Hours with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Veterans on Deck, Special Olympics, and various causes for youth with mental disabilities.</p>
<p>Wrote essay about experiences with mentally handicapped (have been told its excellent).</p>
<p>I know my GPA is weak but my grades have improved in terms of fewer B's as I get deeper into high school as well as difficulty of classes skyrocketing as I go on.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance. I'm already a nervous wreck about getting into schools.</p>
<p>You seem like a fairly well-rounded kid, which is a plus. Your scores are fine, as well as your rank, GPA is a bit low. However, I’m seeing a bit of a lacking in Ec’s. You participate in clubs/sports and have leadership in some, which is good, but they seem fairly “commonplace”. In order to get into any ivy/equivalent, as you have listed here, you really need something stellar, so when the adcom reads your app he/she is taken aback. It may be a bit too late now to do anything, but you should still apply.</p>
<p>Penn State is the only safety I intend on applying too. Since its nearby and still a good school I figure why not. In regards to bilnythesciguy’s comments about low EC’s, I am very passionate about my work with special needs children and it shows in the essay that I wrote. Does that change an admission counselor’s outlook on my application?</p>
<p>You’ll definitely get into Penn State. You probably would go there for close to nothing as well. I would apply and weigh out your options based on the scholarships they are willing to give you.</p>
<p>Also, would an early decision application to Duke Pratt greatly enhance my chances? I understand they don’t have a ChemE program but I would settle for Bioengineering in a heartbeat.</p>