Chance me for variety of schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Only posting what would be evident from the application

Class rank: top ten
GPA: 4.0 UW and 4.381 W (if cont. to get As this semester)
SAT: 2180, Critical Reading 790 Math 650 Writing 740
AP Classes thus far: Calculus AB score 5, US History score 5, English Lang score 5, Biology score 4, Chemistry score 4, World History score 4
Honors Classes: English 9 & 10, Earth Science, Algebra 2
Non-Honors: PreCalc/Trig (due to scheduling error, I tried…) and art (grad requirement)
Language: Mandarin, 3 years
Senior Course load: AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AB Gov/Econ, AP English Lit, Mandarin 3

Extracurriculars:
Medical volunteer trip to Nepal (my essay)
Junior State of America, started chapter, chapter president and state cabinet position
Robotics, president
Malaria community service project, started chapter, president
Writing program, publication
Newspaper publication (beyond school)
ScienceBowl, A Team captain
Volunteer program, mentor/tutor
Neuroscience camp

Awards:
Girls State Delegate
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Gold Key
AP Scholar with Distinction
Honors Society
Speech Contest 1st place

Background:
White, female

Pulls: Women in STEM, unique combination of passions

College list in order of preference:
Yale (SCEA)
UChicago
Columbia
Wellesley
Stanford
Boston University
UC Berkeley
UC San Diego

2

Your math score is pretty low for your reaches, especially if you are saying you want to be STEM.

3

Your hooks really aren’t hooks because of the schools you want to go to. Agree with above comment, and that actually concerns me quite a bit for the reaches. I think you are an average applicant to Yale, UChicago, Columbia, and Stanford. I would say all are high reaches/crapshoots. You really need to make yourself stand out. You should add a true safety or two.

4

Thank you! My calculus score is a 5, so I hope that balances out the SAT math score. (I also scored higher on a different test date, this isn’t my super score, just my best overall.)
I think I stand out in other ways. Those hooks aren’t the most fair assessment of why I stand out. I think my essays will help a lot.

5

Also, do you have any safety/matches to recommend?

6

Nope, your AP score will not balance it. Do you have subject test scores? I agree that you are an average applicant in the pool for your reaches.

7

What is your highest math score? And what is your superscored SAT?

8

BU is probably close to a safety for you, if you can afford it. Are you a CA resident? If finances will be any sort of concern, I think you should add more matches and safeties. You have a chance at all of your reaches, but they are big reaches, nevertheless.

9

I’m going to retake the SAT to boost my math score this Fall, so hopefully I can help that weak point on my application.
@woogzmama I am a CA resident, and I will definitely apply to a few more UC schools (since it’s all one app anyways and they’re cheaper). I am concerned that because the beginning cost is cheaper, I won’t be a strong financial aid candidate. BU has a scholarship I am applying for, too, and there are a few privates I believe will give me a good financial aid package.
As for my reaches, I think that like most candidates, a bit of luck is required. I’m not going to be too hard on myself and hope for the best. What would you suggest to make myself stand out?

10

Be careful with that essay. A lot of schools warn against writing about service trips, so unless yours is exceptional, it it c ould cost you at the schools on your list

11

The service trip essay is considered a cliche in the admissions world, so that is sound advice.

12

change the essay topic and retake the SAT and I think you’re golden :slight_smile:
However, I hope you do know that even with the great profile there is a risk with the schools you’re applying to
Chance back: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1804806-upenn-ed-last-minute-check.html#latest