Chance me for Stanford, MIT, Ivys???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I am a rising junior and I want to strengthen my application this year! Any advice is welcomed.

Unweighted GPA: 3.97
Weighted GPA: 4.58
Class rank: n/a ((definitely in top 7%))

SAT 1: haven’t taken yet
ACT: 34 (Math 36 English 35 Reading 33 Science 33)
SAT 2: Math 2-800 ((will taken either physics, bio, or chem next year))

AP Tests: European History (expected 4 or 5); will take–US History, Physics, Calculus AB
IB Tests: will take–Biology HL or Chemistry HL, French HL, Psychology HL, Calculus BC/Math HL, 20th Century History HL, English HL

PROGRAMS:
Choir (9,10)–I also sing in my church choir, but can I put that?
Track (9,10)

CLUBS:
HOSA (10)
Essentials for Ecuador (10)–will probably be in leadership next year
Panther Pals (9,10) (we eat lunch with the special Ed students)
CodeNation (10)–Secretary (we tutor middle schoolers in basic coding–HTML, CSS, JS)

LEADERSHIP:
Counselor at Girls’ Day Camp (2 years)–also service
Camp Counselor at Overnight Church Camp (1 year)–also service

SERVICE:
Panther Pals (20 hours)
Nursing Home (10 hours)
High School/Middle School Cleanup (6 hours)
Assisted in Clothes Drive (2 hours)
Volunteer at Library (50 hours)
cant think of everything right now, but I have it written down somewhere

RECOGNITION:
National Honors Society
California Scholarship Federation
Probably Full IB Diploma (on track for this)

Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female

I’m predicted to end high school with a W GPA of 4.75 and I have lots more service opportunities, so those hours can go up. I want to start taking after school classes, so I will have to quit track because of that.

I know need more recognition and more interesting ECs in general. I have a large family of 7 and not a ton of extra time, but I am willing to put in the effort!

I am mainly interested in math and science. Possible majors could be: math (very likely), engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, business, or medical (pre med or nursing). I will probably minor in English regardless of my major.

As I said I want to be chanced for Stanford, MIT, and the Ivys. Suggestions on how to better qualify myself would be much appreciated!

2

It looks okay so far, and you should stick to ACT instead of dealing with the changing SAT. The recognition seems very generic, because a lot of people can get those awards, and they are all academic (you don’t have to go an extra mile for them). Honestly, more service hours will not help your application. Also, if you are on varsity track and have state awards, you could look into college recruitment. It seems that is not your focus, though. You should join math club or olympiads because right now your application does not seem geared toward math and science. For next summer, look into highly selective math and science programs, and narrow down your major. Right now, your possible majors cover every aspect, so I can’t be too specific.

Stanford: reach, as for anybody. You need to have a prestigious national award or extremely good extracurricular (national level).
MIT: reach, everybody here has the GPA, but most of these people attend science fair, are valedictorians, etc.
Ivys: reach

Instead of aiming for all of these, you might want to look at other universities, which can be just as good. Carnegie Mellon Engineering, UC Berkeley, Caltech, and UCI Champagne engineering are extremely good (I know the most about engineering schools). Even if you end with the predicted W GPA of 4.75, the Ivys will always be a reach.

3

You have the grades and the ACT score to realistically make application to these schools, which merely means you’ll be one of many tens of thousands of qualified applicants… You don’t seem to have a lot going on outside of school, but you have a large family. If you have significant family responsibilities, you need to spell that out in your applications. Many admissions committees recognize that some people have less extracurricular involvement because of heavy family obligations. It will be important to write bang-up essays, and get absolutely stellar recommendations. That is what will separate you from the pack.

4

@cjchasinglife At my school we have the Academic Decathlon, AMC, and Academic Competition. The Decathlon and Competition meet on the same day at lunch, so I would have to choose one. I don’t know if I would make it on the teams when there are seniors who would want those spots. Not to mention some very intelligient people in my own grade. I will definitely start taking AMC tests at lunch when they are offered. It’s a cut throat competition at my school to get the most points.