Chance me for Stanford, Pomona and Berekley?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a junior, hoping to go to a competitive college like Stanford, Pomona or UC Berekley. Do you think that I have a chance? What would you recommend for me to improve?</p>

<p>Current GPA: 4.3 weighted, 4.0 unweighted
PLAN score: 30
SAT score: ~2100, only from mock exams</p>

<p>AP Classes (taken/enrolled):
English Language
World and US History
Calculus AB and BC
Physics B
Computer Science</p>

<p>Senior year APs: english literature, biology, physics C, gov/econ, statistics</p>

<p>College Classes : Calculus D and Linear Algebra</p>

<p>ECs:
Intensive Ballet and jazz (10-12 hrs weekly)
Enviromental club (president)
Girl Scouts (silver and gold award)
Children's summer program teacher's aide
Ballet student teacher
COSMOS UCSC summer program (Chem&Math Cluster)</p>

<p>various community service groups/clubs, no signifigant leadership in them</p>

<p>I want to major in maybe engineering or math.</p>

<p>I go to an academically challenging public high school, I would be able to write decent essays, and I love to learn!</p>

<p>What do you think? Thanks for answering!</p>

2

<p>You are on the right track. Rigor of classes, varied ECs that show depth and solid GPA.</p>

<p>FOCUS ON TESTING, VISITS and AFFORDING THE SCHOOLS.
TESTING
I recommend taking the PSAT in October.</p>

<p>Most colleges of the caliber you listed require 2 SAT subject test with 1 “recommended” as a Math/Sci and 1 humanities based.</p>

<p>I recommend taking SAT subjects ASAP – Your classes are beyond the Math II exam, so it should only be a matter of getting a good study guide and reviewing for that.<br>
World SAT II is only given twice a year – you may want to coordinate either that with AP test or US History with APUSH.</p>

<p>You need to take both the ACT & SAT this year. I personally don’t like all the spring testing (APs/ACT/SAT) and I’d spread it out. I’d do PSAT/SAT both in Oct. </p>

<p>VISITS
You listed all CA schools, so I assume you are a CA resident. Go visit some schools on Columbus Day or other school holidays when colleges are still in session. When visiting Pomona, definitely tour Harvey Mudd too.</p>

<p>Do visits to local schools to get a feel for the size of school and layout of school.</p>

<p>Look at the Common Data Set for each school – If “showing interest” is rated high on the CDS, by sure to reach out to the school, sign up for info, meet with a rep if they are in your area.</p>

<p>FINANCIAL
And, I’m a parent so I feel obliged to add it is time to consider cost and build your college list based upon finances.
EFC – Have your parents run an EFC calculator. Add schools to your college wish list that include schools which are financially feasible based upon your families EFC. EFC doesn’t take into account COL, so many of us who live in high cost areas are shocked at our high EFC. This is not a surprise any of us want after dream acceptances are received in senior year.</p>

<p>MERIT – All the schools you listed are great, but Pomona & Stanford do not have merit aid (based on grades) and only have aid based on EFC. Both of these schools are VERY generous and give FA to “high” income families. Pomona has an easy to read FA chart on their website.</p>

<p>Seek out schools that have great merit as soon as you have ACT/SAT scores to use as guidance. There are great threads on these boards of MERIT schools – most on the Parents section and on the Financial Aid section. Make sure your list includes some of these schools.</p>

<p>Be aware Merit Aid generally is wrapped into a Financial Aid package and does not reduce the EFC.</p>

<p>UCs are having financial crisis which are effecting class offerings. I don’t know the effect this has on Berkley, but it would be conservative to assume in general UCs will require 5 years for graduation.</p>

<p>Keep up the good work!</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much for all the financial and merit aide info! I am signed up for the PSAT in October. I took two SAT subject test last year</p>

<p>Math Level 2: 800
World History: 770</p>

<p>You have definitely given me some things to think about. Thank you!</p>

4

<p>Those are good Subject Test scores. For Pomona and Stanford you will want to increase your SAT/ACT score a bit but if you’re working on it, a lot of the necessary will come naturally over the next year. Make sure you study for the PSAT because it’s also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.</p>

<p>I recommend trying the Physics Subject Test because you seem to have a good background and interest in the subject. It is relatively easy to get an 800 on if you don’t screw up (something like 10% of test takers get a perfect score). However, don’t do this at the expense of taking the real SAT or if you don’t feel it’s worth the cost.</p>

<p>One more thing: this isn’t really a chances thread, but if it were it would be on the wrong board.</p>

5

<p>I think I will take the Physics and literature and us subject tests next june.</p>

<p>oh and sorry about the post in the wrong thread. I’m new to CC. :)</p>

6

<p>stanford admission is quite random. Only one for every 10 or 11 applicants is accepted. I have very milited knowledge about Pomona’s admission standard. Your stats would look good for Berkeley College of Arts and Science, but low for the college of chemistry and engneering. Again, good for L&S, but not great. Berkeley’s admission for in-state is getting very competitive so aim for higher test scores although your UW GPA is already quite good.</p>