<p>I hope you're having a fantastic summer!!
I'm a rising senior and I would love to hear your opinions on my chances at Duke, JHU, and Brown. Please feel free to recommend any colleges that seem to suit well with my stats. Thank you in advance!!</p>
<p>Objective:
* SAT I: 2270; Math 800; CR 730; CW 740
* SAT II: Math IIC 800; Biology 770; Chemistry 790
* Unweighted GPA: 3.91
* Weighted GPA: 4.41
* AP: Biology 5; Calculus AB 5; Chemistry 5; Physics B 5</p>
<p>Subjective:
* Extracurricular:
- Model UN (9-10) delegate
- Flag Football (9-10): founder
- Habitat for Humanity (9, 11-12)
- Math Competition (10)
- NHS (11-12)
- Varsity Swimming (9,11-12)
- Varsity Track and Field (10)
- Taekwondo 3rd degree black belt
- Piano (8 years)
* Awards:
- Honor Roll 3 years
- AP Scholar with Honor
- National Merit Semi Finalist
- Scholar Athlete with distinction (4.0 or above)
* Volunteer/Community service:
- Habitat for Humanity (100 hours)
- Peace Village (100 hours)
- Local Hospital (100 hours)
- Church Activities (50 hours)
* Summer Activities:
- ISE in Spain for 10 days
- Summer internship at a Biology lab</p>
<ul>
<li>Teacher Recommendation: AP Chemistry and AP Calculus teachers</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: We're tight</li>
<li>Additional Rec: maybe from a pastor related to my voluntary work</li>
</ul>
<p>Other
* State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania
* School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: Asian
* Gender: Male
* Income Bracket: around $100,000
* Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none</p>
<p>I am planning to major in Biomedical studies or just in the Biology field. Moreover, I will apply for some financial aid- would this hurt my chance at all?
THANK YOU!!</p>
<p>Second, your stats match both with acceptances to and rejections from the schools that you mention. They routinely reject 70-90% of students 800s on their math. Here’s a link to the acceptance/rejection stats for Brown; look at the rejection %s:
[Brown</a> Admission: Facts & Figures](<a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University)</p>
<p>Third, that means that you need some safety schools . . . and you may need financial aid safety schools (schools that offer a greater % of their students higher amounts of non-need based aid) . . . examples of the latter include Case Western (71% of stduents got an average non-need based aid of $20k) , Brandeis (25% of students received average of $18k) Davidson (21% got an average of $19k) and Vanderbilt (23% with $13k).</p>
<p>Other colleges that might appeal to you: Wash U . . . Rice . . . Pitt.</p>
<p>First of all, thanks for the reply!
I definitely have safety schools in mind, but Duke, JHU, and Brown are just my “dream” schools I’m shootin for. It will be great if you can tell me some aspects I have to improve on for a greater chance at these schools.
Second of all, your notion about how 70-90% of math 800s getting rejected is flawed. Since the SAT is a combination of three sections, just by looking at the math score and saying that I have a 70-90% chance of getting rejected- if that is what you are implying- can’t be assuredly said.
Again, thank you for the response and have a great day! :)</p>
<p>I think s/he means that you shouldn’t - for example - not care about the essays because you have a great SAT score. You’re still a long from being done ;)</p>
<p>Thank you for the response Sherifnada! I actually never considered my SAT score “great” and was planning to take it again. Moreover, I do- indeed- have a long way to go (essays, recs, and etc.). What would you think about my chances regarding my current stats? :)</p>
<p>I think you have a good chance at Hopkins and Duke! I think you can get into Brown too (probably a 50/50 chance), but you can never tell with the Ivy League … Good luck! =)</p>
<p>You are an Asian male so JHU, Duke and Brown will be reach schools.
It does not mean that you will not get into those colleges but you REALLY need to have more colleges on your list.</p>
<p>(I was waitlisted/rejected from JHU and Duke. I had good ECs and 3.96UWGPA, 2380 SAT I, 35 ACT, 800-800-780 on SAT II. My weakness was lack of national recognition. A friend of mine (Asian male) was waitlisted from Brown with 2400 SAT, 4.0UWGPA and multiple 800 on SAT IIs.)</p>
<p>Work on your essays and ADD MORE COLLEGES ON YOUR LIST.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response 20more! I definitely have more schools on my list- about 10. Moreover, Duke, Brown, and JHU are just my top schools I’m aiming for. I have a quick question, would taking 4 SAT IIs be more beneficial than taking 3? I mean, would it be worth it to take another SAT II if I already took 3. I might be taking the Physics SAT II.</p>
<p>“Second of all, your notion about how 70-90% of math 800s getting rejected is flawed.”</p>
<p>Not my “notion” . . it’s self-reported data from a college . . . how you use that data is up to you . . . my purposeful use of it was modest: it indicates that a vast majority of accomplished students with high SATs are routinely rejected from highly selective schools.</p>
<p>Wow. I’ve never been scared by a post this much before. 20more. You and I share almost identical stats haha. I’m also applying to JHU and maybe UPenn/Brown,etc. What do you think it was about your application that turned them off? Was the lack of national recognition really the primary motivation behind their decision?</p>
<p>I got into 7 top twenty colleges so I dont think I had any red flag on my application.</p>
<p>3 of my friends (Asian males) and I had 2350+ and multiple 800s 0n SAT II and near 4,0GPA.
None of us got into HYPSM, Cal Tech, Columbia and Penn.</p>
<p>texaspg
I was waitlisted at JHU while white applicant with lower academic credential got into JHU.</p>
<p>Wow. I knew they had stringent admission requirements but hearing it first account just makes me nervous as hell… Can I pm you some questions regarding the topic?</p>
<p>You do not have to pm me.
If you ask your question here, I will try to answer it here.
(My answer will be based on my experience and what I have witnessed from my HS over the past few years.)</p>
<p>Thanks man. I’m just having a lot of struggle, trying to make sense of it all. Like I said, I’m really similar to you as a college applicant (btw. congrats on getting into those universities); I’m an Asian male, similar SAT scores, and have what I think is fairly good EC’s.
I guess I just want to ask:
What kind of EC’s did you have? And is the recognition part really salient to the process?
At this stage, what can I do to perhaps ameliorate my application?
I took Korean SAT II (native language). Is it looked down upon, and should I take another test?
I’m trying to get into Medicine. But I’m also a Canadian. Are BS/MD programs such as Brown’s PLME achievable for me? If you know about the program, would you recommend it over traditional Undergrad -> Medical School route? (I’m guestimating that you are planning on going to medicine since you applied to JHU, Sorry if I missed the mark +_+) </p>
<p>Sorry about the long questions… I’m really apprehensive about the admission process, contrast to my gangster name.</p>
<p>@FoShizzle: I think I can answer two pieces from your questions. Taking Korean SAT II would not be a positive nor negative factor for the administrators. However, if you depended on the Korean SAT II and didn’t take a sufficient amount of SAT IIs (2-3) you will have to take some more SAT IIs before applying to colleges. Regarding the Brown PLME, I heard that the acceptance rate is lower than HYP’s (3%?). I would indubitably recommend PLME over traditional Undergrad since you are planning to go to med school and because it is one of the best programs for med. There is a reason why everybody applies to Brown’s PLME and a reason why the acceptance rate is so low.</p>
<p>I dont think your Korean SAT II will help you.
If you are an international applicant, your chance of getting into a top college will be lower than US applicants. If you apply for FA, it will be really difficult for you to get in.</p>
<p>I do not know much about med program. I am not a STEM person (other than mathematics)</p>
<p>My main ECs: (not including typical school clubs)
I volunteered for 2 organizations for more than 3 years and I was a recipient of an annual community service award. One of the volunteer works was a very unique one. (No kumon, no library, no hospital, no church volunteer works)
I was a member of math team for 4 years. (I won some regional individual and many team awards.)
I was a writer for local newpaper for 2+ years.
I had one very unique EC that almost nobody on CC does. I do not want to reveal this one because some people will know who I am. (3 years <- my common essay topic)</p>
<p>I had no typical Asian EC other than math team.</p>
<p>Honors:
NMF, AP Scholar, Community service award, AIME (did not make USAMO), math related regional individual awards. (No national recognition.)</p>
<p>Essays: My GC told me it was really good and non-Asian.
HS: Extremely competetive
Course rigor: very challenging</p>
<p>Work on your essays and highlight your focused ECs.
Apply to many colleges and GOOD LUCK TO YOU.</p>