Chance Me for top schools?... Not the normal applicant.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Sorry in advance for this being quite long!</p>

<p>Hey guys, I'm just curious what my chances might be to some top schools. My situation is not normal compared to most applicants. I've had a really rough life. When I was little, my parents became drug addicts, and I spent most of my days in a ghetto waiting for them or helping them beg to get money for their drugs. I went to foster care, and then later went back with an abusive alcoholic step parent and my mom. My brother started becoming violent and using drugs, and then he started to abuse me, some in ways I can't say because they are cruel. My dad continued using drugs, and I moved back with him. I couldn't volunteer because I lived too far from the school, and he wouldn't take me because he spent a lot of time using drugs. My mother birthed an autistic child and then became sick. But before that, my father passed away during exam week of sophomore year, and I moved into a hotel and then my teacher's house and then back with my mom. I now live with her. Her health is getting terrible... She's afraid she's going to die because of a bunch of major complications. She can barely walk, and I try to help with my little brother. My step dad was in jail for a while, so I helped then. But I don't have a ton of volunteer hours because I haven't been able to get my license nor afford a car, and ours is even breaking down a lot.... I often loan my mother money for things because she can't afford it. As you can see, this isn't that normal, and this small little description definitely doesn't do my life justice in my opinion, but I don't want to drag it out right now. It kind of may explain why I don't have a ton of volunteering Anyway, here is more about the academic me...</p>

<p>GPA: 3.99
Junior year:
Chemistry II
Calculus
Physics 2
Spanish III
AP Biology online
World History
English III </p>

<p>**<strong><em>NO AP/HONORS CLASSES OFFERED AT MY SCHOOL</em></strong>*</p>

<p>Senior year I'm dual enrolling at a college
Fall
Calculus II
Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (Math department professor approved me to take it because I have self-studied knowledge of Calculus II) but auditing this course for knowledge
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (Similar to AP Physics C)
General Chemistry I (Similar to AP Chem)
Psychology 101
English IV ( high school course)
Art (high school course)</p>

<p>Spring
Calculus III (multivar)
Ordinary Differential Equations
Programming C++
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
General Chemistry II
***might independently study linear alg with math professor?
English IV (high school course)
Art (high school course)</p>

<p>Schedule might change...</p>

<p>ACT: 31 (12 writing)
Rank 3/225 Unweighted... no weighted GPA
School type: Small country town public school, noncompetitive... Doesnt send any to ivy league, etc.
Recommendations.... will be quite good
Volunteering: Humane Society, starting in late summer.... Hospital, starting late summer. (when I get a vehicle finally)
Work Experience: 22 hours per week during the school year, 40+ hours during the summer.
Extracurriculars: Leo Club (10,11,12) 30 hours per year... SADD (10,11,12) 17 hours per year? Robotics Club (12), Mentoring Elementary Students (11,12) 120 hours + during the school year, and I mentor one during the summer... Tutoring Math and Science(11,12)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income: <30,000 Questbridge applicant to many schools...</p>

<p>Please Chance me for
Stanford
Princeton
Harvard
Yale
University of Michigan Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana Engineering
Northwestern
Uchicago
MIT
UC berkeley
Duke Pratt Engineering
Notre Dame
Brown
Cornell engineering
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Thanks! I really appreciate it..:)</p>

2

<p>you are aiming a just a little too high, but you certainly have a chance at all except maybe harvard and stanford(just too ridiculously hard to get into.) but your stats are good and if by some small chance you can’t get into one of these places, you will still go somewhere good</p>

3

<p>Wow. You’re exceptional. Regardless of how nervous you are the moment, you will be MORE than fine. Alright? Just pour all of your passion into your essays. During times of frustration during the app. process, remember that you have come this far and you’ve pretty much been unstoppable. Even if you’re rejected by Questbridge, any school would be glad to have you. Just keep in mind that your list is composed of reaches for pretty much everybody. Still a very impressive list of stats you have there. You will rock the admissions game!</p>

4

<p>I’m instate for Michigan. I dont think Ill have a problem there, what do you think?</p>

5

<p>But you guys think I shouldnt try to apply to these places? I’m aiming too high?</p>

6

<p>You should definitely apply. A girl at my school got into Harvard with a 1750 SAT. You just have to write one amazing essay.</p>

<p>It’s still a long shot, but you have a shot. </p>

7

<p>All im saying is that EVERYONE has low chances of getting into those places, regardless of how good. i’ve already said you will get into somewhere top-notch
Also, u mich is Very good and you are lucky to be instate, if you get accepted, definitely go, you won’t get an ELITE EDUCATION for that kind of price anywhere else</p>

8

<p>Wow. You should definitely apply, these schools love to see people who succeed in the face of overwhelming odds, and that description fits you to a T. Make sure these schools are affordable and that you have some reliable safeties, but if you can write an essay that does justice to your story, I would be pretty surprised if you weren’t admitted to at least one or two of your reach schools. I read a blog entry (<a href=“Confessions from Stanford -- ARCHIVED: When the odds are against you...”>http://confessionsfromstanford.blogspot.com/2012/07/when-odds-are-against-you.html&lt;/a&gt;) about someone else who also faced some very difficult circumstances and got into Stanford, so there is definitely hope for you! Good luck, you have already accomplished so much more than what people in much better circumstances could not. </p>

9

<p>Definitely apply to the Ivy League, because they offer exemplary financial aid and if you are accepted you most likely will go w/o costs. Also consider UPenn CAS or the SEAS.</p>

10

<p>You’ll get into at least half of even the most selective schools; you define overcoming the odds. That said you might need a few more safeties. Cross UIUC off you list, as you’re out of state you’ll likely get little aid (unless quest bridge covers this). Good luck and I sincerely hope you get into your dream school. You deserve it. One piece of advice, try to have your counselor or someone else talk about your life circumstances more rather than you, it might come across as a little whiney and perhaps fabricated if you do it; sounds better from a reputable adult ,</p>