Chance me for top universities? Low-income URM

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, all. This is my first post, although I have been browsing CC for a while and have learned quite a bit. Due to parental/income restrictions, my prospects for attending a prestigious college are not great, but perhaps a full ride/significant aid or getting into the right school could change that. I'm not a juggernaut by any means, but hopefully I have a decent shot. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Race: Black, (American son of Haitian Immigrants)
Income: 38k (First generation college, neither parent went to High School)
School Type: USNWR Top 100 public
State: FL
SAT:2340
SAT II: Lit (780), Biology(800), History(790)
GPA:3.93
Rank:6/328
Program:IB
Test Scores: AP World Hist(5),AP Human Geo(5), AP Gov(4), AP Lang(5), AP Macro(5). Waiting on results of AP Lit, APUSH, and AP Stats(fairly confident I got 5s on all of them), also IB SL Math. I'm currently taking 2 dual enrollment courses.
Senior Year Courseload: TOK, IB HL Bio, HL History of the Americas, HL English, SL Spanish, AP Chem, HL Psych.</p>

<p>Awards: USABO Semifinalist(Grade:10,11). National Writing Award for Poem about Crime Prevention. Expect to be National Merit Finalist/National Achievement Finalist (PSAT:226). AP Scholar. Won 3 Regional competitions for Piano, invited to states(couldn't attend). All-Country Track. A few school awards.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
President/Founder of Invisible Scars(10,11): Club works with Invisible Children, raised/donated $5000, 2000 books.
Co-President/Founder of Soccer Without Borders(11): Works to develop sports programs in underprivileged nations, donated $2000.
President of Hands Across Campus(10,11):Club that promotes cultural awareness, has school wide assemblies.
Co-President of Biology Club(10,11)
Vice President of Psychology Club(10,11)
Writer for School Newspaper(9,10)
Member of Habitat for Humanity(11)
Secretary for Church Ushering Committee(9,10,11)
Varsity Track (9,10,11) (Co-captain Grade 11, district champion team all 3 years)
Piano(7 years)
Community service: ~400 hours. Done at a nursing home, children's day camp, etc.</p>

<p>Schools I'm considering(I'm hoping for some fee waivers. I have a limited budget for application fees):
UF
UMiami
Duke
UNC-Chapel Hill
UVA
And Harvard? Haha</p>

<p>Also, I'd like to know if anyone has any suggestions for schools I should look in to or things I should pursue? Do I have too much variation in my ECs? I think i show an affinity for philanthropy and I guess biology. In addition, I like schools with a decent sports scene (I love sports), but it's definitely not a requirement. Thank you very much for your opinions/assistance.</p>

2

<p>Your resume is fantastic, great ECs, not really any flaws. Low income and black. All Ivies are very competitive but if you like Stanford you should apply. I’ve heard they’ll give aid to anyone who needs it. I think that you will get into a very large amount of colleges on your list. I’m even recommending applying for some of the more selective ivies.</p>

3

<p>Wow, thank you for your response. Stanford, a GREAT sports school, and of course world-class academics. I was pretty wary due to its sub 6% acceptance rate (and unsure about financial aid), but if CCers think I’m THAT qualified, I’ll definitely consider adding it to my list.</p>

4

<p>Good chances anywhere. </p>

<p>Apply to Dartmouth, they like their minorities. =P
They’re also excellent with need-based grants. </p>

<p>Same for UPenn.</p>

5

<p>I think you have better stats then most and great ECs which puts you in the running. However you are also low income and you are black. I think you have the highest stats of any low income or black person I’ve ever seen. Also Stanford (along with many ivies) values motivated and outside the box thinkers which is shown in your ECs. You have the stats to apply to Harvard but I think Stanford is a better fit. </p>

<p>Remember they have a 6% acceptance rate but I think you have probably one of the best shots I’ve seen. Usually people with your academic stats are asian/white with dull ECs and high income.</p>

6

<p>I think you’re in for most of them if you write a great essay. Put some Ivys on your list. They meet full need. what are you majoring in? are you going for LACs or research universities?</p>

7

<p>Have you looked at QuestBridge?</p>

8

<p>Wow! Congrats on great SAT score and overall HS accomplishments. I think you have a great chance of getting into any school. You’ve earned yourself the chance to be selective. </p>

<p>Put same effort in your applications and you may get into all your choices. Be sure to include at least one guaranteed full ride school as your safety.</p>

9

<p>A for effort. F for confidence. Stop being so insecure!</p>

10

<p>I second the Questbridge suggestion. They value first generation students and your stats are right up there. You can find their website and look through the eligibility. You have great stats and ECs!</p>

11

<p>i think you have a great shot at all of those, even harvard. Harvard is the only one you might consider a reach due to your gpa. good luck!</p>

<p>chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1519195-chance-me-lehigh-ed-couple-others-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1519195-chance-me-lehigh-ed-couple-others-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>Thank you all for your responses! I’ll definitely look into questbridge, it sounds like a terrific program. Also, haha sosomenza I’ve been told I’m a little cocky (hard to start organizations/lead them at my school otherwise) so I’m practicing some humility (both real and a little exaggerated). It’s actually gone a long way, but trust me I’m pretty self assured, and it shows in my essays.</p>

13

<p>Lilmelonred, I’m leaning towards majoring in Biology or neuroscience. I am looking at research universities, I am very impressed by LACs but I think I’m a better fit for the research institutions.</p>

14

<p>Even with the low admit rate, you are exactly the kind of person I’d expect to get into Stanford. Although your admission isn’t guaranteed, you definitely should apply because you have a good shot.</p>

15

<p>Your stats are good for admissions, and your ECs are exactly what they should be. They’re focused but still diverse, and the philanthropy seems genuine. You may paradoxically have a cheaper education at an ivy then a state school. Look for institutions that have need blind admissions and practice what they preach with high average financial aid packages. I’d expect with your finances that you’d have an EFC of nothing or next to nothing. An ivy could pay for that. They’re all crapshoots, but you’re in the “good enough to admit” pile, whether or not you get in is honestly random. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about some of the best schools for Neuroscience in particular or want to talk about anything else.</p>

16

<p>You have solid ECs and a pretty good GPA. SAT is fine as well. </p>

<p>UF- match
UMiami- match
Duke- high match
UNC Chapel Hill- match
UVA - match
Harvard- reach</p>

<p>I agree with the others; apply to Stanford.</p>

17

<p>UF: Match
UMiami: Match
Duke: Low Reach
UNC-Chapel Hill: High Match
UVA: Match/ High Match
Harvard: Reach</p>

<p>Being a URM helps, as do the other awesome parts of your application. Just keep doing what is good, and I am sure that you’ll get accepted to most, if not all of your schools. Harvard is really the only question here, and even that is possible.</p>

18

<p>Your stats are just pure gold ! :smiley: … I unfortunately only know about the florida schools and a little bit about duke … and I honestly would say you have absolutely no problem getting in there. And I highly concur with everyone to apply to some ivy/near ivy schools. And DEFINITELY look at QuestBridge. I know someone who just graduated at my school whos SAT was a 2310 I think he either had a 4.00 or a 3.9, valedictorian and he was Hispanic, he got into Stanford with QuestBridge and a full ride. Good luck!</p>

19

<p>Thanks for the replies! Here is an updated list of my schools:
Harvard
Stanford
UPenn
Columbia
Duke
Emory
UVA
UNC-Chapel Hill
UF
UMiami
Northwestern</p>

<p>What would you say my chances are with these schools? A family member has graciously volunteered to pay for any and all extra app fees, so narrowing down the number of applications is no longer an issue. You don’t have to respond to all, just the ones that you’d like to.</p>

20

<p>Ivy schools -> High match~Reach(Impossible to predict :wink: sorry.)
As for Duke and Miami, I think you have a solid chance of getting into them! ( Low Match)</p>