Hello! I am a rising senior at a large public school in the US. Please chance me for EA Princeton, UC Berkley, Penn (Wharton), Cornell, MIT (not sure if I should apply to MIT yet). I am an Asian female and plan to major in engineering (except at UPenn).
Stats:
ACT: 36C
SAT (new): 1540 (only submitting if I have to)
SAT II: Chem: 770 Math 2: 750 (planning on retaking)
AP Scores: National AP Scholar Award, 10 APs, 5 on Calc BC, APUSH, Lang, Spanish Lang, Psych, World History, Human Geo, Art History, 4 on Chem and Comp Sci, taking 6 or 7 more senior year
GPA: 3.93 UW, 4.69 W
Rank: Mid thirties out of my class of 870 (Will probably go up before I apply though)
Senior year: All AP classes (5), and Multi Variable Calculus
ECs/ Awards
-Speech and Debate for 4 years: (Captain for two years), state and national qualifier sophomore and junior year in two events. I have done well at some national and state level tournaments.
-FBLA: Placed at nationals and state in three events total the last two years
-Math Honor Society: Member for three years, tutor students in math
-National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society: Member junior/senior year
-Researcher/Writer in a youth led think tank
-More than 300 volunteer hours, President’s service award Gold and Silver in 2015 and 2016
-Summer internship at University of Texas Medical School
-Worked at a tutoring center
-Gold National Spanish Award in 2015 and 2016
-Currently working on my Girl Scout Gold Award
-NASA writing contest finalist (2nd place) 2017
Should I apply early action to Princeton? I really want to go to UC Berkley but also want to increase my chances of going to a top school by applying early action/decision at a top university. I am thinking of doing early action at Princeton since it is non binding.
I think your chances will be slightly better than average at these schools, especially given the competitiveness of the engineering school. However, apply anyways, you still have an above average shot.
You can afford all of these schools?
BERKELEY is a California public school and will not provide any funding for non-resident students.
As an Asian student, you are considered ORM and going into an impacted major with an UW GPA of less than a 4.0.
It does not matter if you are female since Berkeley has increased the numbers of females in engineering. Political pressure is on California to admit more residents and less non-residents.
Your stats are good for the privates, so continue to focus on those schools and find some safeties.
Even students with perfect scores are rejected from elite universities.
Asian female engineering not doing you any favors.
Good GPA, good course rigor. Would like to see your class rank slightly higher. Excellent scores, you don’t need to retake a 750 Math II with your 36 ACT and a 5 on AP Calc BC, instead spend your time on essays and trying to find a unique narrative as your ECs are very checklist / cookie-cutter. From the above info, I don’t get a sense of who you are. If you are trying to be “the FBLA/debate girl”, it won’t work unless national / international awards.
For Princeton and other elites, you need to ask yourself how will you stand out from the thousands of near perfect FBLA, debate, honor society applicants? Your essay will be your best tool for this.
My advice is to spend more time on how to best convey “you” vs. retaking good test scores, and I’d put 1-2 safety schools in your list. You will get into a great school with your record, but Princeton, MIT, Wharton aren’t likely, and UCB and Cornell just slightly better.
You will get into a great school just apply wisely. Are you coming from a very competitive school? Your rank is very low for your stats. Princeton as SCEA sounds like a smart move. Good luck!