Chance me for Duke, UPenn, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I’m a rising senior who will be applying to various schools this fall. I would appreciate some input on whether the schools I’m applying to are realistic.

I’m a hispanic female from a large, super competitive public school in NY. I am hoping for good financial aid.
The schools I am applying to so far are: Duke, UPenn, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, William & Mary, UVirginia, UMaryland

SAT: 1510 (I’m considering retaking it in October)
SAT Subject Tests: French w/ Listening (790), US History (780), Math II (750)
AP Scores: Gov (5), USH (5), Statistics (5), Lit (5), Enviro (5), French (5), Calc BC (4), Chinese (3)
GPA: 3.87/4, weighted is 4.7/5

I am also in the IB Programme.
Senior courses: IB English 2 (will take AP Lang test), IB Chinese 7, IB French 7, IB Econ (will take AP tests), Tech Ed, IB Math Studies, Theory of Knowledge

Extracurriculars:

  • Volunteered at after school care place near my house 2 hrs 1x a week for 3 years
  • Assistant coach at a running club at my local ES, 2hrs 1x a week for 3 seasons (~ a year)
  • Volunteered as a translator for an NGO, translating articles ~once a month for 1.5 years
  • Completed a competitive summer program at an international bank during summer of sophomore year
  • Worked as an intern for the United Nations Association during my junior year
  • Vice-pres of Chinese Honor Society at my school
  • Participated in debate at my school for 2 years
  • Installed + ran a debate team at my local middle school for 2 years
  • Member of NHS
  • Will work as a intern at a local law firm during senior year

Not sure if this counts as an extracurricular but I spent 2 years working with an NGO in Bolivia conducting research on the importance of diversifying crops. I visited the communities being studied, conducted interviews, wrote various research papers, etc. I was able to contact professors at local schools to discuss my research. (also my research didn’t focus on the scientific components of the project because I’m not super interested in that, I focused on the social/educational aspects)

Awards: National Merit Scholar semifinalist, a couple debate awards, an essay award from a local foundation, honor roll through HS

Do I have a shot at the schools I’m applying to? I think a lot of them are reaches but UMD and UVA should be relatively safe? Thanks :slight_smile:

2

Forgot to mention: I plan to study international finance/economics. Maybe politics.

I also think my teacher recs are both very solid, from classes I did very well in + participated in a TON.

3

Yes, you will be very interesting to them.

4

URM with solid grades/test scores and ECs relevant to future field of study. Likely in at most of your schools. I might consider Tufts as well if IR/Political Science are your interests.

1510 SAT is good enough and I wouldn’t bother with a retake unless you are sure of getting 1550+ for Princeton/Yale.

5

Very strong, you will be accepted at multiple places.

I’m surprised, though, not to see NHRP on your list. Did you just leave it off because you already have NMSF or was there a hiccup with your school and you need to self-nominate? It’s not particularly important, but why not add it; there might be some merit money lurking at a few of those target schools for NHRP.

Congratulations on your accomplishments and best of luck!

6

Thanks for the input. I totally forgot to put NHRP up there, but I did receive an invitation + am waiting for a response (I meet all the criteria).

I did visit Tufts last year and although the classes offered there seem really cool, I didn’t really envision myself there. But thanks for the suggestion! :slight_smile:

Right now my top choice is probably Duke.