Chance me for these top-level schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! </p>

<p>I'm a 16-year-old senior (skipped 2nd grade) applying to way too many schools. I feel like my stats are all good except for my test scores which are painfully bad. </p>

<p>Can you chance me for these schools: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Lawrence University, Bard, and Tufts? </p>

<p>GPA: unweighted=3.9 weighted=4.0 rank=95th percentile </p>

<p>Classes:
AP US History (5)
AP European History (5)
AP Microeconimics
AP US Government
AP Statistics
AP English
Honors English II and III
Gifted&Talented World Geography </p>

<p>Standardized Tests: </p>

<p>Sat I (1st try):
Composite= 1750 (yep I know it's embarrassing)
Reading=630
Writing=600
Math=520</p>

<p>Sat I (2nd try):
Composite=1840 (even more embarrassing)
Reading=750
Math=520
Writing=570 </p>

<p>Sat II:
Literature=670
US History=730 </p>

<p>ACT:
Composite: 29 (not too great either :/)
Math: 26
Science: 25
Reading: 32
Writing: 30
Essay: 10 (score from 2-12) </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Scribblings Literature Club
Rotary Club
Model UN
WorldQuest Geography Competition
French Club
Gay/Straight Alliance
International Club
National Honor's Society </p>

<p>Awards:
- Won a boatload of state & local academic awards and have spoken twice at both gifted and normal teacher education conferences
- Have also won national/regional/international piano competitions as well as performed for top musicians/professors across the world </p>

<p>Other:
I feel like my essays are strong, and I have a lot going for me. I'm a minority race in a state where geographic distribution is important. I'm adopted from Africa. I'm a Questbridge prep scholar and Questbridge national college match finalist. I've done a fair amount of volunteer work. I'm a high level pianist, and I've worked really hard for a strong transcript in school. I have strong teacher recs. I'm a recognized gifted student who has worked hard advocating strong gifted education at teacher conferences. </p>

<p>The only problem is I don't test well, and my very poor test scores reflect that. My parents have given me all the tutoring we can afford, and I've worked hard through practice books etc... but the fact is I just don't do well on these tests. </p>

<p>Will this truly dampen my chances of getting into these schools? Do I truly not stand a chance? What should I do??? </p>

<p>Many thanks!</p>

2

<p>please any help is much appreciated!!!</p>

3

<p>Those test scores are on the extreme lower end of their admitted students… but you know that. </p>

<p>The only other thing I can see is that your ECs seem like a laundry list (the clubs), I don’t know if you did anything in those clubs. If you did, list them and we can probably evaluate them better, but if you’re just a member then those will probably go more against you than with you. The outside of school activities are great, but nothing exceptional. </p>

<p>I hope I’m not being too harsh, but that’s the reality of it. Your test scores truly do dampen your application since you don’t have anything extremely special to back them up. The top ivys may be out of reach for you, but you’ll never know until you apply. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

4

<p>Ivy Leagues are extremely high reaches for you imo. Why would they choose you over kids with same stats/EC(or even better), and perfect SAT/ACT scores? How is your essay? Your essay will determine your chance of getting in or not imo.</p>

5

<p>I’ve held leadership positions in my ECs (communications officer, team captain, treasurer, section leader). My strongest EC though is piano. I was accepted without admission into a top conservatory after studying with a teacher at Aspen (won’t name names because then you could easily find out who I am). But I feel like there’s more to life than just playing piano which is why I’m not attending. </p>

<p>I’m also known in my state a strong student supporter of gifted education and have spoken twice as the youngest speaker at state teacher conventions about gifted education reform. </p>

<p>I feel like my essays are pretty strong and unique. I wrote about being adopted, the immensity losing competitions has taught me, and about my passion for studying psychological impacts of modern warfare. </p>

<p>I’m also a minority race, live in a state where geographical distribution often plays in my favor, low-income, and a Questbridge National Match Scholar. </p>

<p>Even with these stats am I just not unique enough to be to override the fact that I just don’t test well? Or should I just give up and go to a state school? Do test scores really count this much?</p>