Hi everyone!
I’m a current junior, and I’m curious about what you all think my chances are for my (super)reach schools. The reach schools I want to apply to are currently Yale, Harvard, UChicago, Columbia, and Amherst. Any advice anyone has for me would be much appreciated! (I’ve a thick skin so don’t be afraid to lay into it a bit…)
Objective:
GPA: 4.15/4.5 (my GPA was horrible freshman year but there’s a clear upward trend, with junior year being far and away the strongest so far; I’m afraid this will damage my chances the most… Should I explain this in the add. info section when I apply?) (No UW GPAs in my school I’m afraid)
No class ranks in my school, but I’m guessing top 5% (not a shot in the dark; by past school profiles and some math)
SAT (new): 1570 (770 R/W, 800 M)
Subjects: 800 Math II, 760 Literature, 770 USH
APs: School does not offer before Junior year. Current APUSH, Physics M, Calc BC, Econ Micro. Senior year will take AP Euro, AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Stat, AP Law and Gov, AP Physics E+M. Also will take Honors Multivariable Calc and Orchestra, plus an independent study in poetry on the side.
PSAT: 1490, Index 222 (state’s last year was 220), expecting to be a semifinalist if not a finalist (but strange things happen, you never know)
Subjective:
ECs
Athletics: [No recruitment for any sports]
Varsity Tennis 2 years, plays on the main lineup
Varsity Squash all years (will be captain)
Music:
Piano for as long as I can remember; highest award at local competition; certified Level 9 by Royal Academy of Music or somesuch thing
Composition: 2 years so far in local composing competition
Tri-M- 3 Years
School Rock Orchestra- 3 years- first chair
Other:
Literary Magazine- 3 years (will be editor). A lot of creative writing on the side as well.
NaNoWriMo “winner” 2 years and 2.5 times (1 time with lit mag)…if that counts…
Poetry independent study
Quiz Bowl- nationally ranked team- last year top 10 at Nationals (captain)
National Honor Society
Columbia Science Honors Program
Occasional helper in school’s AV/film club, shooting news segments to show to the school.
Volunteer at a local organization which stages free and open to the public Shakespeare plays- stagehand
Applying to TASP- will this help at all?
Teacher Recs:
APUSH and English teacher will both be 9 or 10/10. They both know me very well (I do an independent study, lit mag, and class with English); one actually told me they want to write my rec for me.
Counselor rec: Probably 7 or 8/10. She’s busy, but she loves me. (She thinks my chances are very, very low for my reaches too- which is fair)
Essays: I like to think I’m a strong writer, so they should be good.
Any other advice on where to apply would also be much appreciated! I’m currently beginning to in-depth investigate schools.
Thank you all so much in advance! If I’m missing anything please let me know.