<p>I'm a first-generation, low-income, hispanic student who's shooting for Brown. I feel confident about my GPA and test scores but I feel that my ECs are going to be my downfall. Please chance me/give me any advice on how to improve my app, thanks so much. :)</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.9
Weighted GPA: 4.3
Rank: Top 1%
SAT: 2050
2160
2180 (superscored)
ACT: 33</p>
<p>ECs:
Vice-President of Technology Club
Volunteering at a medical center (4hrs/week)
Black Belt in Taekwondo
Principal's Honor Roll (Freshman/Sophomore year)
Received academic letter (Junior year)
120+ accumulated service hours from misc. organizations</p>
<p>Current Junior Year Courses:
Art 2D 1
Analysis of Functions Hon.
AP Eng Lang
Multimedia
AP US History
AP Psychology
French 3 Hon.
Pre-calculus Hon.
Physics Hon.</p>
<p>Senior Year Courses:
Art 2D 2
AP Physics
AP Calculus AB
AP Eng Lit
AP Macro
AP Gov
French 4 Hon.</p>
<p>If you get that SAT 2300+, you’re in.</p>
<p>Brown - High match
Cornell - High match
JHU - High match
UChicago-High match</p>
<p>engarde: I was actually considering just sending my ACT scores since I did better on the ACT than the SAT. I’ll be taking the SAT and ACT for the last time in October. I’m in, even with my less-than-stellar ECs though?</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for your replies. :)</p>
<p>Try to raise your ACT above 34. Other than that, you have a very good chance for all particularly for a hispanic.</p>
<p>“first-generation, low-income, hispanic student” is something colleges are glad to have, plus your profile is pretty solid. I feel like you can still improve on your e.c., but that’s just me…</p>
<p>Cornell/JHU: High Match
U Chicago/Brown: Low Reach</p>
<p>You could shoot for HYPS too with your hooks and stats</p>
<p>billcsho: I’ve been working on the science section of the ACT since that’s pretty much the only thing holding me back (If you have any tips on that, feel free to share haha)</p>
<p>smarty99: I’ve been applying to various summer programs so I’ll probably be able to add one of those to my ECs. Also I’m most likely going to get a few trophies/awards from Taekwondo tournaments in the coming weeks, so would that help boost my ECs at all? </p>
<p>skotchmover21: I might consider HYS when the Common App opens for my class, but I still feel like my ECs would be the proverbial “elephant in the room” when admissions officers are discussing my app. .-.</p>
<p>You are definitely on the right track. As for the Science section, it is probably the most unpredictable section. It is usually not testing your science knowledge (it does require some though), but the interpretation of data. Try to figure out what the graph or table is about first. After that, go through the questions quickly. Then you won’t be confused by the text. Try this strategy in a few practice test to see how it works for you. Doing more practice test would always let you explore more question formats.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think you have a very good shot at Cornell and JHU, and if you can get your ACT or SAT up by just a little more (at this point probably send in just your ACT since you did better on that), you will have a very good shot at getting into all your desired schools, including Brown and University of Chicago. Can you chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1495218-chance-me-nyu-u-illinois-umich-etc-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1495218-chance-me-nyu-u-illinois-umich-etc-will-chance-back.html</a></p>
<p>Agreed. Cornell and JHU are low reaches, while Brown and UChicago will be higher reaches by virtue of acceptance rate. Cornell and JHU have ~15% acceptance rates, while Brown and UChicago have ~9% acceptance rates. If you can get your SAT to at least the mid 2200’s, you will have better chances at all four of these schools.</p>
<p>billcsho: Thanks, I’ve heard similar advice before. 
Do you know if the Barron’s 36 book would help?</p>
<p>Flamengo2009: Thanks! Yeah, I’m going to be studying my butt off over the summer for these tests. ._. I’ll try to chance you but I’m no college admissions expert (hence why I came on CC asking for chances).</p>
<p>friedman: I’ve been able to get an 800 on CR consistently through practice tests but my math score varies between roughly 680 and 760. Do you know of any resources I can use to study/practice? Also I’ve gotten a 700 on Writing both times I took the SAT and that score hasn’t changed much on my practice tests. It’s idiomatic expressions/sentence and paragraph corrections that I need to work on, so if you have any ideas on how to improve from a 700 on those, I’d be glad to hear them!</p>
<p>I don’t know if this increases my chances or not but I’m a female who’s pretty deadset on a Biology/Chemistry/Biochemistry course of study (Major undecided).</p>
<p>@Hertznotexactly</p>
<p>Definitely drill yourself and find consistency on your math scores. If you can get 800 CR and 760 M, then you’ll have a good shot at both UChicago and Brown. Keep in mind, though, that UChicago’s acceptance rate has been going down by significant margins every year, while Brown’s has been in that 9-10% range for the last 3 years.</p>
<p>What are your subscores in ACT? The Barron’s 36 in ACT book is good for those that are already pretty good in all sections. My D used it after going through other books and she got 35. It is not very thick (indeed the thinnest among all prep books). It is best use after you have already done many practice test and just need the final review. I think it would be good for you.</p>