Chance Me For Next Year? What Should I Improve On?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey CC,

I’m currently a junior, but I wanted to see how my stats and ECs are and what my chances would be at some schools I’m thinking of applying to. Also, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Schools I’m thinking of applying to:
UCLA, UCB (probably won’t get in XD), UCSD, UCSC, UCSB, UCR (maybe…), USC (probably won’t get in lol), CSU Sac. - I know this is very UC/CA-focused, but I’m still thinking of other schools that might appeal to me :slight_smile:
I also have some unrealistic reaches that I know I can’t get into: CalTech, Harvey Mudd

Stats:
GPA: UW 4.0, W 4.35ish
SAT: 1580 (800 Math, 780 CR)
ACT: Didn’t take
APs: 5s on AP World, AP Calc BC (and AB subscore), APES

Personal Info:
Ethnicity: Asian Indian
Gender: Female
State: CA :slight_smile:

Courseload: (not going into specifics for privacy reasons)
9th grade: No APs, but one Honors class and advanced math
10th grade: 4 APs, 2 Honors
11th grade (current): 5 APs, and currently taking Calc 3 at a community college
12th grade (planned): 6, maybe 7, APs

ECs:
Math Club (Secretary --> President currently): Have received awards in a few math competitions
CyberPatriots: My team made it to State in Platinum both this year and the last
Science Bowl: My team won 2nd place in our region
Academic Decathlon: I was team leader this year, and have won awards for the past 3 years; my school was 3rd place overall this year in regionals
UCD Teen Biotech Challenge: Won award (can’t say specifically for privacy) within Agricultural Biotech
Other Clubs: NHS, CSF
Volunteer Work - over 200 hours, and I’m planning on doing a lot more :slight_smile:

Over the Summer:
Before 9th grade: Volunteered at library, 30 hours
Before 10th grade: More volunteering at library, 70 hours
Before 11th grade: Attended COSMOS UCSC (for a math cluster) and Mathroots (a math summer program)

Thanks!

2

Bump!

Also, a few additions:

  • PSAT: 1510
  • Planned Major: I’m still deciding, but something along the lines of engineering, math, or computer science.
3

Your grades and test scores are very good… Why not aim high and shoot for the stars? You could probably get into at least one Ivy or top 20 school

4

@beepybeetle, thanks for the reply! My grades/scores are pretty high, but I’m not really that interested in an Ivy league (but MIT/CalTech would be my dream schools). Besides, my ECs aren’t the best :smiley: Thanks for the advice, though, I’ll definitely consider it!

5

@Manuey13 Have some confidence my dude! I was in your position last year, thinking that I wasn’t going to make the cut, thinking I would get out-competed and whatnot. You have to believe in yourself, as cliche as that sounds. If you aren’t into the Ivies, then definitely shoot for MIT or CalTech since you can most certainly get in. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take man. Best of luck next year!

6

@beepybeetle, thank you! Anyone else?

7

You have some good choices for your possible majors. I plan on majoring in computer sciences, so we have something in common!

Your SAT and GPA are great. Try taking the SAT II Subject tests (Math II and a science) to be more competitive. Your EC’s are great, especially if you apply as a math major. You have a good chance at all colleges you listed. You should also try applying to some other colleges too, such as Stanford.

8

Chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1979098-chance-me-computer-science-colleges-p1.html?new=1

9

@collegeboundprogrammer, thanks! I totally forgot to mention, I’ve taken the SAT Math Level II subject test (800 in first try), Chemistry subject test (780), and World History subject test (750)

10

Anyone else?

11

Bump!

12

You’re an excellent candidate, I don’t know why you’re selling yourself so short. Keep Cal Poly SLO as your safety, eliminate your UCs except UCLA, UCB and UCSD and skip any CSU. You have a good shot at CalTech, Harvey Mudd, Carnegie, and a decent shot at MIT, so apply to them if you’re ok with the extra work. Stanford is a lot trickier to figure out, in this latest class, I joke that they rejected future neurosurgeons and quantum physicists. And their app is a lot of work. After you take out athletes, legacies, URMs, first generation college, the acceptance rate is 2%. And I wouldn’t apply to any ivy as you note, unless your parents went there :slight_smile:

Also don’t overdo the AP courses in senior year, colleges don’t want to see that much, I know it sounds counter intuitive, but when colleges see college students struggling with college courses, they have a hard time believing HS students can get straight As in APs without grade inflation or unhealthy attitude to academics study. Most students aren’t even taking six classes their senior year, much less six APs.

13

@theloniusmonk, thanks for the advice! I’m probably going to apply to the reaches I’m interested in, but based on the results threads, my ECs probably aren’t good enough :frowning: I’ll try for sure though! Yup, I’m not too interested in Stanford either, which is good considering the acceptance rate :slight_smile:

I will most likely lower the number of APs I’m taking, especially because I’ll take more math at my local community college. But since my school offers 8 classes, with 4 classes a semester, APs tend to be more manageable. And also, a few of the APs I’m planning on taking include AP CompSci A, AP Gov, (possibly) AP Psychology, and (possibly) AP Human Geography. The only hard ones for me would be AP Lit and AP Physics 1.