Chance me for MIT, Stanford, Yale, Princeton (Questbridge), and more

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Schools I’m applying to:
-Early action: MIT, Stanford, Yale, Princeton (through Questbridge)
-Regular Decision (not set yet): Northwestern, CU Boulder, John Hopkins, UPenn, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Duke

Demographics:
-State (if domestic applicant): Colorado
-Country (if international applicant):
-School Type: Public with 1960 students
-Ethnicity: Chinese
-Gender:Female
-Financial aid? Yes
-Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): low income ($30,000 for a family of four), first generation,

Academic Profile:

Standardized Tests
-SAT I (Please List Breakdown): 1540 (M 790/ R&W 750); essay 6/4/6 (I know…)
-ACT (Please List Breakdown): n/a
-SAT II: Math II 750, Chem 800
-PSAT: 1440 probably National Merit Commended
AP Scores:
-Junior Year :Calc BC: 5 (AB subscore: 5)
Chem: 5
US History: 5
Chinese: 5
Lang: 4
-Soph Year: Bio: 4
World History: 4
-Fr Year: Physics 1: 2

Courseload and Transcript
-Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
-Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.41
-Briefly describe any upward/downward trends: getting more qualifying AP scores after freshman year
-Freshman year courses (only list honors/AP): AP Physics 1
-Sophomore year courses (only list honors/AP): AP Bio, AP World History
-Junior year courses (only list honors/AP): AP Calc BC, AP Chem, AP US History, AP Lang
-Senior year courses (only list honors/AP): AP Seminar, AP Lit, AP Stats, Calc 3, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 2
-Rank: 2/479 (might be 1st by the end of senior year)

Awards and honors
-Major Awards: Questbridge Prep Scholar, AP scholar,
-School Awards: academic letter, Outstanding Social Studies Student two years in a row

Subjective factors:
Extracurricular Pursuits: (also list: number of years/ leadership positions/ achievements)

  1. student council (Fr, Soph)
  2. National Honor Society (Soph, Jr, Sr)
    3.LINK Crew (soph)
    (can’t join too many clubs and had to quit some due to work)

Job/Work Experience: (also list: number of years and achievements)

  1. helping out in family restaurant for eight years now (around 40 hours a week, 12 hour shifts on weekends)
  2. Child Health Summer Research Internship at Children’s Hospital Colorado-this summer (pretty competitive https://www.childrenscolorado.org/pediatric-innovation/training-opportunities/)

Volunteer/Community service: (also list: number of years and achievements)

  1. National Honor Society (150+ hours)

Intended Major:
-Biomedical or chemical engineering

Essay:
-Personal statement: about how I started working since the age of 10 and what I’ve learned from working in the restaurant

~What can I improve? Should I retake any standardized tests? I know my extracurricular activities are weak, but there’s not much I can do due to my family situation. Also, please recommend some “match” schools I should apply to.

2

Usually I don’t say this but EC’s are weak. I see it’s because you have to help out in the family restaurant, though. Make sure you communicate that clearly

3

Working 40 hours a week in family restaurant is a deep EC! I expect admissions officers would take interest in that. It shows you are not privileged kid and frankly makes your academics and test scores more impressive. I see you already are planning to write about this, which is good idea. Maybe mention how you learn to manage time and balance school, work, and family commitments, prioritize, give up things you’d like to do, etc. The commitment (work and family) that forced you to sacrifice activities in high school could turn out to be asset in application.

4

@oldschooldad Thank you!

5

Your stats make you a competitive applicant, but plenty of competitive applicants don’t get in at extremely competitive schools. Not at all familiar with how much Questbridge helps your chances so can’t really comment. Consider adding Brown to your RD list.

6

Impressive academics but your ecs dont really illustrate what your passion is or show leadership skills. Working and volunteering show great commitment and make sure to write a great essay about that! I know its hard but you should try taking even one club/activity that has to do with your major. Maybe discuss it with your parents. I hope everything goes well. Maybe chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/2005601-how-can-i-have-an-actual-chance-please-enter.html#latest

7

@myan22 Good luck, write a good essay, no nerd to join a club, you will do fine, keep us informed

8

Also apply for Jack Kent cook scholarship, you will be an excellent candidate, you may get college as well as grad school scholarship, good luck

9

@nynycasino1234 thank you!

10

I cannot imaging working 40/wk and being able to achieve what you have. I think you have an amazing story to tell with your essays. If you are planning on applying to all those schools there are many required essays. Invest time in them. Good luck.