<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.75 UW - this is low, I know. (estimate, it would fall somewhere in the high 3.7 range)</p>
<p>My high school is considered "top 15" in the nation as its rankings are around there,
BUT offers limited AP options pre-senior year - I was unable to take AP Calc BC given that
my average was below a 95 and thus also unable to take AP Chemistry that year.
I'm now taking 3 APs, which unfortunately is as many as are allowed for this year.
(AP Statistics, AP Calc and AP Bio.)</p>
<p>Ranking: Top 10%
ACT: 35 (32 Math, 36 Science, 35 Reading, 35 English, 8 on essay)
SAT: 2170
SAT IIs: 710 Biology, 730 U.S. History, 720 Physics
& a relatively embarrassing math II score. May not even submit these.
ECs:
- Chinese School TA - 2 years
- Varsity Swimming - 4 years, lettered in 3 (going for 4 this winter)
- Lifeguarding for ~3 years, one during school year.
- Piano - 4 years + many pre-HS years
- Summer programs for engineering
- Experimental research experience - sophomore year
- Club Swimming - 4 years + many before
- NMSQT Commended Scholar - NJ
- NHS member
- Technology Student Association BSG Achievements
- TSA 4th Nationals, 2nd States (Electronic Game Design)
- Web Design, digital art, etc.
- Volunteer Hours (~300)
- Other stuff maybe? Nothing significant comes to mind atm. </p>
<p>Essay(s): Decent so far...
Recommendations: 1 STEM teacher, 1 World Language teacher (Same teacher for 3 years, knows me very well). Probably very good.
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female</p>
<p>Applying to:
-Cornell (ED CALS AEM, alternate CoE; RD chancing would be appreciated! )
-Northeastern University
-TCNJ for Optometry program (may change school - will be SUNY-affiliated opt.)
-Drexel University
-Lehigh
-Rutgers Business, Pharm program.
-University of Maryland
-Berkeley
-Dartmouth
-Tufts</p>
<p>Ha ha. I love the “chance back” stuff on nearly all chancing threads. It seems somewhat beside the point, that is, providing return for what is supposed to be an act of kindness or assistance, rather than mutual benefit. Not to say that the latter is bad, but it does cause quite a few misinformed chances. That being said, I’m not nearly the most well-qualified or well-informed chancer myself, so I’ll move on with it…</p>
<p>Solid ACT score for sure, can’t say the same about your academics. Even if your school doesn’t rank, can you provide more detail than decile ranks/approximations? ECs are decent but lack awards. Can’t say too much about the video game design thingy, but it could help you, given its prestige.<br>
Honestly, I’d say Cornell is a good school to apply to. You’re certainly a competitive applicant, but you are Asian ORM from a competitive state as well, so that does make it harder for you already. Fair chance at Tufts; it’s probably a high match to low reach for you. I would not apply to UC Berkeley–the weather might be good, but I don’t see any reason for you to look at such a competitive public college with no geographical proximity. Dartmouth is, like Cornell, going to be a reach, but more so. I’m not too sure about the others.<br>
That being said, take my chances with a thorough amount of caution.</p>
<p>I’m curious what exactly do you mean by that. Berkeley is in the Bay Area, just a BART away from the thriving city of San Francisco and just a few miles away from Silicon Valley. It receives more than 11k OOS applicants a year. Berkeley grads are highly employable; it’s a target school of top banks (top bulge bracker firms) and large, lucrative, wealthy companies. Very few schools can compete with Berkeley in terms of that.</p>
<p>I put I’ll chance back because this has got to be my third try getting chanced, honestly. </p>
<p>JAT reminded me, I also got an award in envi sci at a research competition that I included in my app, but it’s not super-impressive like Intel. </p>
<p>@RML - I’m applying for engineering most likely, but I’m interested in business also.</p>
<p>@JustAnotherTry - My school has been ranked 4th, 7th, and 11th - not in that order - in the nation, and all courses except the APs and things like gym are honors. Rankings are based on GPA and not class(having less than 60 students would make top 5% 3 people), so I fall in the top 10% range in that way.</p>
<p>What do you think is a good SAT II range for math and science subjects? My math II is poor but it’s too late to register for October, so Cornell won’t get to see that as an ED applicant. I am mostly looking at CALs anyway, but Engineering does require it.</p>
<p>?
I wasn’t ripping UC Berkeley, from what I know, it recruits many students from in-state and I don’t see much reason for OP to apply if OP is on East Coast, which was my assumption based off applying to University of Maryland. If OP is from SF, then my bad. Don’t take it too seriously, theRADtomato, I’m not ripping anything or anyone. My apologies if it appeared that way.</p>
<p>Your knowledge about Berkeley is obsolete. Almost 24% of freshmen enrolled in Berkeley are OOS. Berkeley targeted a 20% OOS for this year, so they increased the number of accepted applicants from OOS – from around 8-10% the previous years to something like 30% now. As a result, 24% comprised the Berkeley freshmen. </p>
<p>A New Yorker in Berkeley
*
While Das is among the more than 5,000 California freshmen entering UC Berkeley this fall, New Yorker Adam Gotlin is among 620 out-of-state freshmen. Another prospective engineering major, Gotlin was attracted to UC Berkeley’s reputation for rigorous academics and public service.</p>
<p>“The expectations at Cal are that you’re here to learn and develop and possibly change the world,” he said. </p>
<p>Gotlin considered applying to Ivy League schools such as Cornell University. But after visiting the UC Berkeley campus, he fell in love. Although he knows the advantages of attending a school closer to home, he felt that only UC Berkeley fit his personality. </p>
<p>Gotlin is looking forward to a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of his New York lifestyle. “I like the feeling of coming to campus and being able to walk to class and not see any cars,” Gotlin said.
*</p>
<p>You may have a hard time getting into the College of Engineering as the college requires higher stats, something like 3.95 UW GPA, 34-35 ACT, top 10% in HS Class. The admit rate in the College of Engineering is also smaller, something like 13%. </p>
<p>Getting into the College of Arts & Science is easier. It is where the pre-Haas program is offered. I would apply there if I have your stats. Remember that Berkeley weighs HS GPA more than they do test scores (SAT & ACT).</p>
<p>Well, RML, hence “many students from in-state”. That being said, I do not pretend to vie with your knowledge of UC Berkeley or colleges in general. It has just been my impression that OOS applicants there should be quite strong due to its reputation and standing among top schools, though by all means, the OP does have a relatively strong profile.</p>