Chance Me for T20 Colleges Please!!! (LONG)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi!

I’m currently very anxious approaching this summer. In my opinion, in self-evaluating myself, I believe I’d have somewhat of a competitive application but I’m wondering if you believe my GPA is a deal breaker when viewing my application holistically.

Demographics:
Asian (Indian), first generation in the US.
Virginia

GPA:
4.2/4.5 Weighted (After Junior Year)
4.3/4.5 Weighted (Projected First Semester Senior Year)
3.6-3.7/4 Unweighted

Intended Major is CS or Econ

Rank: About 10%
SAT:
1510 (790 math, 720 English) [Planning on retaking over the summer aiming for 1560+]
ACT:
N/A [Will take this soon also. Aiming for a 35]
Subject Tests:
Math 2: 800

APs and College Level Classes:
14 APs total in high school.
5’s: World History
4: Computer Science (Planning to Retake)
Junior Year APs: AP Lang, APUSH, AP Chem, AP Physics Mechanics, AP Calc BC (Projected 5 in All but Physics which would be at least a 4)
Senior Year: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Econ, Multivar Calc, AP Physics EM, AP Bio

ECs:

  • Founded an entirely student-run NPO focused on STEM Education for Underprivileged Children. Also currently working on implementing this model throughout my School County. I developed my own websites for this NPO.
  • Currently conducting research of my own design (a proposal, research, and solution) at a very prestigious University under a professor who works in their most prestigious department, (Top 10 School). Looking to Publishing a paper this summer in a prestigious journal. Might be able to get the 2nd publication of similar research before EA Deadlines. So ideally 2 publications before regular deadlines, while 1 at the minimum. (Can't explain too much because I'm trying to maintain anonymity)
  • Working on multiple high-level Application Development Projects. (Have impressive projects on gitHub & Kaggle). (Can't explain too much because I'm trying to maintain anonymity). I have my own website that serves as an online resume and blog.
  • Also working on an Application with Local University Students with the support of my school, in hopes of implementing this throughout my community and school county.
  • I'm currently running all the STEM Programs at local Middle School and serve as a coach and founder in a variety of these programs. I coach these schools in a variety of STEM Competitions.
  • I'm running Innovation Camps over the summer at schools in my community through the county.
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and I work as an Instructor. (Sport)
  • President and Founder of my school's STEM Club
  • President and Founder of my school's Tutoring Club
  • President and Founder of School's Entrepreneurship Club.
  • I've run a variety of MLH LocalHost events in my community. Currently in the process of planning a Hackathon in my community.
  • Active Member of My Schools Science Olympiad. (Won Multiple Medals at Regional, States, and National level Competitions.) [Running for leadership position]
  • FIRST Robotics Team Member
  • Volunteering Hours: 100+

Work Experience/Summer Activities:

  • Interning at a Top Technology Company this summer. (Data Science and Cloud Computing)
  • Alumni of Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School - Math, Science, and Technology (MST). Very competitive program to get into.
  • Worked as front and back end developer on a variety of projects.
  • Paid Research Intern at a Pathology Services Company.
  • Research Internship at the T10 University mentioned earlier.
  • I’m planning on applying for RA Positions at Universities in the DMV Area this summer. (So not confirmed yet)

Awards/Honors:
(Trying to maintain anonymity here)

  • Multiple Awards from varying levels of competition in Science Olympiad as mentioned earlier.
  • 1st Place in my category at my Regional Science Fair. (Competitive Region)
  • Multiple Awards for Academics Achievement and Excellence from County and City School Board.

Financial status: Family of 4 [Well Below 70k]. Tough financial situation, and very heavy debt. Needs a ton of financial aid.

Recs: I feel like the teacher recs could be generic bc my school is huge, but I’m not sure.

STEM Teacher: 8-9/10. Known for all 4 years of High School.

STEM Teacher #2: 8/10. Knows me extremely well, and has written me recommendations for other programs and opportunities before.

Additional Rec:

  1. 11/10. From a School County Official, I am working with on expanding my NPO. I have read a recommendation she wrote for me and it’s amazing.
  2. 9-10/10. From my PI at the T10 University, I’m currently interning at. He’s worked with me all year and is very impressed and supportive of my work.

Essays:
My goal is going to mainly be focused on showcasing my passion for STEM and my efforts as a member of my community to expand STEM education and opportunities for all students. Also, I will try to showcase my passion for scientific research and the struggles I’ve faced due to my financial and family situations.

Please Chance Me for these Schools:
High Tier Reach/Impossible (LMAO): MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton

Everything Else (Reaches + Realistic):
Johns Hopkins
Cornell
CMU
UVA
UMich
UCLA (and some other UC’s)
UC Irvine
UC Berkley
Georgetown
Georgia Tech
UMD
Virginia Tech

Thanks in advance guys! I’m really just curious if my GPA and Race (Asian LOL) takes me out of the consideration from these schools, or can I make up with my essay writing, ECs, and test scores? Sorry about the ambiguity - I know a lot of people from my school are on this forum, so if you need clarification to base your response, please ask.

2

Your GPA is definitely going to be on the lower end for most of those schools, but I think your EC’s and SAT will make up for most of the ground that might be lost from not having a 4.0. Admissions is getting more holistic as schools are inundated with students with perfect scores, and that will probably wind up helping you.

Honestly, given the fact that you’re going to potentially have a publication in a prestigious journal (and by that I assume one that has an impact factor in the top 20% for the field), you might want to contact the STEM departments at these schools and ask if they might put in a word at admissions for you. I’ve done that as a transfer student and had some success with far less prestigious publications, so it might just work for you.

I think you have a shot at all the schools you listed, though I think the smart move would be to ED to Cornell, Hopkins, or CMU, where you’ll have a decent chance at being admitted in the first round. I assume you’ll be going to grad school, and I don’t think being at Cornell or Hopkins would prevent you from getting into a top-flight place. If you can’t ED because of financial reasons, then I’d say you’re in trickier territory, but you still ought to get into a T20 school like Cornell or Berkeley.

3

As an OOS applicant, the California UC’s will probably close to full fees at $65K/year currently so if you are looking for need-based financial aid and/or merit aid, I would remove the UC’s from your list.

You are definitely a competitive applicant so make sure you have two solid safety schools on your list and target schools with good FA for your circumstances.

I suggest you run the Net Price calculators of all schools of interest to make sure they will be affordable.

Best of luck.

4

GT gives a few scholarships but do not count on it . Financial aid to out of state students: no. UVA and V Tech I don’t think give much in the way of aid. You need to focus on financial safeties which are lacking from your list.

5

“first generation in the US” is irrelevant. Some schools do care if you will be the first generation in your family to earn a college degree.

6

Hmmmm UVA give the best aid of any public university.

7

@everyone Thank you so much for all the replies. I actually didn’t realize that UC’s stopped providing Fin Aid for OOS applicants, so it’s looking unlikely that I will apply there. Also, I was just wondering if it’s a good idea to apply ED to Hopkins (Number 1 Choice) since my GPA at the end of Junior year will only be 4.2. Will this hurt my chances severely? I was thinking about applying to Hopkins and UVA regular decision in order to get my first-semester senior grades so I can bump my GPA to at least a 4.3. Also I’d really appreciate it if I can get Chance Me specifically for: JHU, UVA, Cornell, Duke, and CMU, and which one of these I should apply to EA/ED. Those are the school’s I’m looking forward to the most. Thanks

8

OP, do you have any safeties identified that are affordable and that you would happily attend? I think your GPA may hurt you unless your school is notorious for grade deflation. Either way you really need some safeties and matches.

9

@suzy100 My safeties are probably George Mason, Virginia Tech, UMD.

10

Those are expensive schools. How are they affordable? What can your parents pay each year? What state are you from? I know that’s not why you posted but if a school isn’t affordable there is no sense worrying about your chance for admission to it.

11

My family should be able to afford it. State is VA.

12

@omegarenge23 If your HS is the one I’m thinking of located in Fairfax, Va., large numbers of kids apply to the schools you are interested in every year. Naviance should give you a pretty good idea of your chances at those schools.