Chance me for Ivy League please

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I’m new here on CC I was just wondering what my chances are for any of the Ivy Leagues. I’m seeing very strong applicants on CC so I was just wondering what my chances are. I’m Canadian so I may not be able to return the favour of chancing you back but I will certainly try my best.</p>

<p>Ethnicity/sex: Asian male</p>

<p>SAT:
2400 (first test)</p>

<p>SAT II:
-- Math II 800
-- Chemistry 800
-- Physics 800
-- Literature 780
-- Latin 800</p>

<p>GPA (exponential increase since freshman, started out in the 80s):
-- 96/100-point in a school notorious for academic rigor (2/300 in junior year)</p>

<p>AP (all self study, Gr 11 so junior year):
-- Chemistry 5
-- Physics B 5
-- Micro/Macro Economics 5/5
-- Computer Science A 5
-- National AP Scholar (Canada)</p>

<p>Course Load:
-- School does not offer any AP or IB so I’m just going to say rigorous because it is relatively demanding</p>

<p>Volunteering (250+ hours):
-- Teaching kids chess (80h)
-- Canadian Nationals Track and Field (70h)
-- Other track volunteering (40h)
-- Leading a basketball summer camp (40h)
-- Music accompaniment (pianist, 50h)</p>

<p>EC (not listing minor ECs):
-- JV football (freshman)
-- Varsity football (soph)
-- 3 years of varsity track (last 2 years serving as jumps coach)
-- Pres of Chemistry Club (2 years), founder of Computer Science Club (1 year)
-- University of Toronto Track Club (Gr 7 – 10, so technically only 2 years)</p>

<p>Athletic Awards:
-- 4 year Toronto top 8 finalist in triple jump (Gr 7 – 10, so again technically 2 years)
-- 2nd in Toronto for Triple Jump (freshman)
-- Ontario (largest province by far) qualifier in freshman year</p>

<p>Academic Awards (only ones worth noting):
-- AIME Qualifier (soph and junior)
-- Canadian Chemistry Olympiad Provincial Finalist (again Ontario represents 80%)
-- 1st in school for Pascal Math (minor math contest in freshman) and AMC (junior)
-- Tied for 2nd in Avogadro Chemistry Contest (kinda large national contest, junior)
-- American Computer Science League 39/40, 1st in school (junior)
-- Toronto Star HS Awards (large newspaper) 2nd for feature article (junior)
-- 3rd place in Latin comprehension contest (again in Ontario, junior)
-- Silver medal in National Latin Exam (junior)
-- Highest mark in Latin and Accounting in grade (for school)</p>

<p>Summers:
-- Volunteer work
-- Summer school for all summers to learn extra HS courses</p>

<p>Teacher Rec:
-- Latin teacher: very strong rec
-- Computer Science teacher: “one of the best in career” recs</p>

<p>Essay:
-- very passionate essay about how an event transformed me and made me more hardworking (note most major accomplishments are done in junior year); shows my very ambition nature</p>

<hr>

<p>So I’m wondering what my chances are for the Ivy Leagues. I think I’ve a pretty good academic resume but I’m lacking in ECs. Can anyone suggest what I should do to make my application stronger? Again, I’ll try my best to chance you back. Thanks!</p>

<p>*Edit: I see many applications with research experience. There are not many opportunities here in Canada so I'm not sure how much my lack of research experience/internship will affect my chances of acceptance</p>

2

<p>You have an impressive resume. There should not be any problem because of your standardized test scores. Your scores are fairly impressive. In addition, you have a lot of accomplishments. I would recommend staying active and participating in what you like to do because then it will have meaning. Your grades are superb as well. I know a person that got a full ride to Yale with about the tantamount resume as yours. I would say you are a strong candidate for most of the lower Ivies and as for the Havard/Yale/etc. it will all depend on your essay because everyone else probably has the accomplishments as you do. Try to stand out and find what makes you so special. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>You have a very strong resume, both academically and extra-curricularly. Your athletic achievements are particularly notable. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for international students to gain acceptances to Ivy League schools. If you need financial aid, it’ll hurt your chances. Otherwise, I think you have a pretty good chance of getting in, and you should be able to get into at least one of them (or else I’d be really, really surprised)!</p>

4

<p>While you are an impressive student, you have a few things working against you:
-Asian male
-International Student
-Only ~45% of kids with 2400’s get in</p>

<p>Colleges are looking for a diverse class; so they tend to take international students from backgrounds they can’t find anywhere else. Please don’t be offended by this, the Ivies do have a lot of Asians with near perfect academic scores applying to their schools. At this point, it might be a bit too late to throw in a completely new EC, but you should definitely continue to work on your existing ones. Your best hope will be your essays- you need to show why you aren’t just another Asian with a perfect SAT score and why you will add something unique and worthwhile to the college you want to attend.</p>

5

<p>Hey, thanks for the chancing!</p>

<p>Anyway, getting into the Ivy Leagues is difficult for anyone. However, I am especially impressed by your well rounded-ness. You have great scores. I think your EC’s are fine; they are not spectacular, but you can manage to pass some Ivy League standards.</p>

<p>For Cornell and other considered “lower tier” Ivies, I think you definitely have a great shot at getting into. HYP are always toss ups. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the previous opinions. Still looking for more on what I should do.</p>

<p>I will definitely chance back (look at my previous ones of other people; they are pretty thorough) so keep it coming =)</p>

7

<p>Your main problem is the fact that colleges want diversity- and there are a lot of asian males with perfect academics running around. I feel like you should be better than most because of your extracurricular (multiple sports, well spread out, sucessful)- Just make sure on your essays you differentiate yourself from the pack.</p>

<p>But for the lesser ivies (Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth to an extent) I feel like you’ll get in just fine. For the upper ones (Harvard, Yale, Princeton etc) it may be a bit tougher, but youll be ok i think</p>

<p>anyone wanna help me? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1179806-i-like-them-do-you-think-they-like-me-back-3-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1179806-i-like-them-do-you-think-they-like-me-back-3-a.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>dang, impressive numbers and extra currirculars you have there. i think you have a shot at all the ivies but you’re never guaranteed with Harvard, Yale and other ivies…it’s always a crapshot</p>

9

<p>You have an amazing chance at the Ivies! I think your extracurricular record is pretty solid - especially because you’re really distinguished with sports and academics, and you have a pretty good level of volunteering hours; the only thing is that it doesn’t look like you have anything in terms of showing your leadership abilities, writing skills, or creative talents (e.g. music, art, performing, etc.) I would say you’d have a better chance at some of the more academic-oriented Ivies like Columbia, Cornell (you’re a high match for Cornell), and perhaps Dartmouth, and it all comes down to your essay for the others. Your academic record seems to be quite good and your tests are obviously only going to work to your advantage. Some of the other chances on here are totally correct too - work on distinguishing yourself in terms of your ethnicity and show how you’ll contribute to universities! Good luck :)</p>

10

<p>thanks for chancing.</p>

<p>your scores are obviously superb. in the academic realm, you’ve nothing to worry about. the extra-curriculars are fine because a) you created a club; and b) just because you don’t have many, doesn’t mean anything-show them how involved you were with each.
you do have a slight disadvantage because of your ethnicity, but the 2400 helps. note a 45% chance of admission compared to ~10% chance with other scores. so this more than makes up for your race. write a stellar essay and i’d say you’re as good as in to most of the ivies. harvard, princeton, yale are always hard to guess for.</p>

11

<p>You’re amazing :slight_smile: you’re definitely qualified for the ivy league, but getting in to those schools is a crapshoot for almost anyone. At this point, it will be up to your essays and recommendations.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1180379-chance-me-top-universities.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1180379-chance-me-top-universities.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>Thanks so much for the chancing!</p>

<p>To be honest (and not ■■■■■■■■), while everything here is very impressive and you are absolutely qualified for the Ivies (I’m sure if I were an admissions officer, I would likely accept you), you also have to be aware that your ethnicity may hurt your chances greatly. In my school, which is about 25% Asian American, I have noticed a downward trend in Ivy League acceptances from Asian (be they also American, Canadian, or actually from Asia) applicants, mainly because they seemingly look the same on paper. What you may need to do is try to distinguish yourself from other seemingly perfect Asian applicants.</p>

<p>Furthermore, there has also been a trend (not necessarily in the Ivies, but in other top-tier public US universities) in rejecting applicants that are very (almost too) qualified, because the universities know that the student is not going to attend their school at all, and it would be wasteful to accept an applicant that won’t even give their school a chance. That being said, maybe this could be off-putting for lower-tier Ivies like Cornell, Dartmouth, or Brown? But who knows. After all, the Ivies can be pretty fickle.</p>

<p>I also agree with others who say that HYP all depends on your essay. Being that I live a few minutes away from Princeton, this could be true.</p>

<p>Finally, my final question for you is whether or not you made a careful decision when choosing the schools you want to apply to. Many people apply to the Ivies and other top universities because they are the top universities and are known by name. Obviously, this isn’t good judgement at all, but I’m curious to know what made you decide on these 8 schools. What do you want to accomplish? Why Harvard/Princeton/Yale/etc.?</p>

<p>You could be the exception. All you need to do is keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>P.S. I hope I wasn’t offensive.</p>

13

<p>Nono I’m not offended at all. Thanks for a great review. Well I tried to distinguish myself through sports so hopefully I’ll stand out? Also, what would you say makes for a better essay:</p>

<p>unique essay but not as passionately written
OR
pretty cliche essay but very passionately written and explains many of my accomplishments</p>

14

<p>No problem! Haha :)</p>

<p>Sports can be a great way to stand out provided that they aren’t, for lack of a better word, stereotypical. Unless you are a prodigy at tennis, fencing, or sports of a stereotypical Asian nature, you might not stand out. However, seeing that you play football (American, Canadian, or are you referring to soccer?), that can be seen as unique because it’s a more aggressive and unexpected sport from an applicant that has other very strong ECs.</p>

<p>As for essays, being that it’s the Ivies, unfortunately they would rather see a passionate AND unique essay. However, I’ve been noticing a trend towards the more unique, since it is more revealing and not as objective and list-esque.</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

15

<p>You are one of the most academically qualified students I’ve seen on cc, so academically you are exactly the student who would get anywhere, however you are a bit stereotypical no Offense. You should get into nearly any school but it is a lottery. My friend had nearly the same kinds of stats and awards as you and he was waitlisted nearly everywhere he applied to</p>

16

<p>i think that you have a great chance! those sports are definitely a huge help, as they’re not something that asians regularly do at all, and making varsity your second year is always impressive.</p>

17

<p>Thanks for chancing me! From my perspective, there are no problems with your resume. A lot of people have been saying that your being an Asian male will hurt, but I think that all your merits, scores, academics, etc. will outweigh your race by far. Just have some genuine, well written essays and you’ll be fine!</p>

18

<p>TBH, I think you are extremely iffy for HYP, but probably in at Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown. And I don’t think being international AND asian helps, for you can look through the threads yourself. Anyway, good luck next march!</p>

19

<p>You have very, very impressive credentials. I know of a person from my school who got into Harvard with a 2180 SAT score, so you stand a great shot in terms of academics. Your ECs are also quite impressive. Good luck! You will get into a great college.</p>

20

<p>o god, you are so asian, and you’re international and neither of those will help. if you write a good essay you will have a good chance. good luck!</p>

<p>PS apply to oxford or cambridge bc they dont care about ECs</p>

<p>CHANCE BACK!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1181496-chance-harvard-scea-unc-ea-state.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1181496-chance-harvard-scea-unc-ea-state.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;