<p>Hey guys!
I'm trying to weigh my chances at multiple schools...Could you help me out?</p>
<p>I'm an Asian Indian from TN
I go to a private, all-girls school
My school doesn't rank, but I'm in the Top 10
Weighted GPA: 4.48
SAT I:
M: 660
CR: 680
W: 700
(total: 2040)
ACT: 29 (30 Superscored)
SAT II:
Math II: 690
Chem: 600
Spanish: 630
My test scores aren't the best, but my grades are decent.</p>
<p>AP Exams:
AP Calc AB: 4
Still waiting on AP Spanish Lang</p>
<p>AP Classes completed by graduation:
AP Calc BC, AP Spanish Lit, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Spanish Lang, AP Calc AB (My school limits the number of APs a student can take to 3)</p>
<p>Activities:
Indian Classical Dancing for 12 years (performing 90 minute solo "graduation" performance in August)
I work 5-6 hours a week year round (It's a tutoring center)
JV Volleyball= 2 years
Black Belt in Taekwondo (since middle school)
President of Spanish Club (Jr and Sr years)
President of Government Club
President of SADD
Class Treasurer
NHS
National Spanish Honor Society
Member of Young Democrats
Multicultural Student Association
Honor Roll (every year)
...etc</p>
<p>College List:
UPenn
NYU
Vanderbilt
University of Southern California
Boston College
UNC
Emory
WashU
GW
UCLA
UMich
SUNY Buffalo
American
Case</p>
<p>I would really appreciate all the help I can get! Could don't have to chance me for every school! Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>You have a decent shot at American, may be Case, GW and SUNY Buffalo. Others are reaches, particularly Penn and top state schools schools like UNC, UMich and UCLA. Being from TN might help a little at USC and NYU. </p>
<p>However, anything is possible. Essays are important in differentiating yourself. </p>
<p>What does your guidance counselor say? Is your list realistic?
You really need some safeties on your list. We are going through one of the
roughest and most competitive admission cycles.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! My guidance counselor thinks my list is realistic but I have too many schools, I didnt add my safeties to the list. I figured I'd ask about the more competitive schools. If I have good essays, ECs, grades and recs, do you think they could overshadow my scores and give me a shot at Penn?</p>
<p>Not to be discouraging but it is very unperictable. It also depends on who else is applying from your school.
If there is someone, who is say slightly less academically qualified but
has strong varsity sports, or is a preferred category (legacy, under respresented minority) or who has an amazing life story, or who the
teachers will advocate in their recommendations for whatever reason, then it hurts your chances. </p>
<p>Similarly if there is an amazing candidate (as an outrageous fictional e.g., a kid who fought drug lords in Colombia and escaped from the jungles to the USA) applying from your neighborhood then it hurts your chances however good you are. </p>
<p>However, if you really really like a school you should apply. Penn is
particularly known for giving preference to students who show a passion and love for the school. Make this come through in your essays in a big way.</p>
<p>ED is tricky -- remember that you will be competing with a very strong and motivated pool in ED. The edge that ED gives is minimal. But if you feel that it is absolutely THE school for you then go for it. Make sure you visit and interview and all the good stuff. Rumor has it that Penn is big on "demonstrated interest". </p>
<p>Another option might be to apply early action to places like BC and do RD at Penn. (You cant apply EA to BC if you are applying binding ED any where else.) Make sure that you have some rolling admission and early action schools on your list so that you have some acceptances in hand relatively early. Believe me, it really helps manage the stress if you have an acceptance early on in the process. </p>
<p>Good luck with Penn! Work on your essays and polish them.</p>
<p>Honestly your test scores are not nearly high enough, and many of your EC's lack any articulation of substance. Being president means NOTHING, its the individual awards and recognition you attain within an activity that truly defines its meaning. That is, a one sport all American is in much better shape than a 3 sport captain. Being Indian doesn't help either. Besides SUNY Buffalo, Case, and American every school is a reach.</p>
<p>Rferns: "Being Indian doesn't help either"
What is that supposed to mean? Btw chill out, Rdave's stats are ok, she has lots of EC's, and 2 years of volleyball isnt that bad.</p>
<p>I actually had to quit playing volleyball because I injured both of my knees to the extent that if they were further damaged I would have needed surgery, but I still continued with Taekwondo and dance after I had recovered from my injuries. I'm actually planning to retake the SAT in October, and I'm fully aware that being an Indian can sometimes put me at a disadvantage at the schools that I am considering..besides my test scores, it could even be considered one of the negative aspects of my college app.</p>
<p>animefreakss4: My school actually doesn't keep track of unweighted GPAs. I have been asking them to give me a ballpark estimate, but they won't do it! Im going to try to unweigh it myself.</p>
<p>I have a question, i still dont get how being an indian puts you at a disadvantage, its not like colleges have quotas allowing only a certain number of indians do they? That way the competition would be way too much? Can you please clarify this for me? I'm indian too lol so naturally im concerned...</p>
<p>Haha thanks Rferns! I knew I was forgetting something! I added a few things above, but here's the whole list...</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
2nd Place at Science Bowl
Hendrix College Book Award
National Honor Society
National Spanish Honor Society
History Honor Society
Mu Alpha Theta
Silver Medal on National Spanish Exam (Level 4)</p>
<p>Work Experience:
Kumon Math and Reading Center (5-6 hrs weekly, year round since 9th grade)</p>
<p>Summer Activities:
JHU CTY Distance Learning Courses in Writing ('05,'06)
National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine ('07)
Internship at Research Lab at University of TN Med School ('08)</p>
<p>Haha it's cool...You see, the schools I'm looking at have a decent number of Indian kids. We're not put at a real disadvantage- we wont be rejected just because we're Indian- it's just that lots of Indian kids have good grades, good test scores, good ECs, good essays, and so on. I'm not saying we're all the same, it's just that there's nothing new about a gifted, well rounded, Indian student.</p>