Chance me - Ivy, Top LACs, NYU, USC, UCLA. I'll chance back.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Where do you think I can get in with my stats, and maybe with a scholarship/financial need? I demonstrate full need.
My brother got a BA @ Amherst and PhD @ Northwestern, if that counts as a legacy.</p>

<p>Amherst College (Early Decision)):
Williams College:
Pomona College:
Lafayette College:
NYU Shanghai (but also NY campus):
Duke:
Uni of Southern California:
UCLA:
UC Berkeley:
UC Santa Barbara:
MIT:
Stanford:
Vanderbilt:
Northwestern:
Pepperdine:
Harvard:
Yale:
Princeton:
Brown:
Cornell:
Dartmouth:
Columbia:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.83 UW (My Bs are: PE 9th+10th grade, 9th IT, 11th Bulgarian, 12th Physics)
SAT I: ~2200 total - 720CR, 760M, 720W
SAT II: Biology M 730, Math IC 730
Status: not from USA, International student
Very good recs, the teachers and counsellor love me.
Common app essay about my transition from daddy's little girl to an strong woman after his death by facing my fear of not being able to swim. I wouldn't go into the water without holding my dad's hand, but I later faced my fear and learnt to swim on my own with the idea that learning that would be like... finally letting go and turning into the adult I'm supposed to be.
Family income <$10K per year.</p>

<p>ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS
-3rd in national olympiad in English (10th grade)
-Qualified for national olympiad in English (11th grade), but was unable to attend because I was abroad on a cultural exchange
-Top 16 (unranked) national creative writing essays in English
-Distinction as best in school and municipality in English
-Single-handedly picked by politician/journalist for his merit scholarship
-Honorary mention by the European Commission as a runner up with an outstanding EN-BG translation in the Juvenes Translatores competition for secondary schools in Europe
-Won St. Valentine's Day themed English poetry contest</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP / EXTRACURRICULAR / VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES</p>

<p>People to People International (9-12) - Chapter Secretary [mostly organize and coordinate fund-raising events]
StudyUSA Club (11-12) - Founder and President [organize presentations about American education, history, economy, lit, etc,; got in contact with school alumni from US to host lectures; brought an American TA to school]
School Newspaper (9-12) - Treasurer and writer
Youth Red Cross (10-12) - Volunteer
English For the Talented Club (11) - [founded by the ministry of education after my achievement in the national olympiad]
Annually organize the school's alumni reunion (9-12)
Annually organize the school's chemistry fair (9-12)
Annually volunteer in the organization of the city's open nights of Museums and Galleries (10-12)
Throughout 11th grade: Wrote 50-page historical research about the tobacco-workers' outcry in 1940. Submitted it to a national research competition: results are due June 2014</p>

<p>WORK EXPERIENCE</p>

<p>Unpaid internship as a secretary in International Cooperative Alliance (summer before senior year) - organize transportation during their trips, translate to English, etc.</p>

<p>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</p>

<p>International cultural exchange in Germany through "Comenius" program
International cultural exchange in The Netherlands, through "Netherlands-Romania" foundation</p>

2

<p>Amherst College (Early Decision)): low reach
Williams College: low reach
Pomona College: match
Lafayette College: high safety/low match (I really think you could get in here)
NYU Shanghai (but also NY campus): safety
Duke: reach
Uni of Southern California: low reach/high match
UCLA: match
UC Berkeley: low reach
UC Santa Barbara: high match
MIT: reach
Stanford: reach
Vanderbilt: low reach
Northwestern: low reach
Pepperdine: I don’t know this school well enough to tell, sorry :frowning:
Harvard: reach
Yale: reach
Princeton: reach
Brown: low reach
Cornell: low reach
Dartmouth: reach
Columbia: reach</p>

<p>I think your stats are great!!! What country are you from though? I know that is personal and you don’t have to say but is the cultural influence one that pushes you to get good grades and test scores? If so it can be seen as an anti-hook but if you are from a country that doesn’t have that cultural influence, I think you would be great. I wish that I could give more insight on the ivies and I know I put reaches for all them but that’s just because once you get into the single digit acceptance rates, nothing is predictable. However, I do think that you will get into at least one of them. There are a ton of great qualities about you that are interesting and powerful that I’m sure at least one ivy will give you an offer. I think that Amherst would be crazy not to accept you. You have a lot of hooks going for you especially your income. Good luck, I hope that you get to where you want to be and I have no doubt you will go somewhere fantastic! :)</p>

3

<p>Scores probably won’t be enough to get you into MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton. You have picked some of the most selective schools in the nation, where even 2400/4.0 students get rejected. I’d say cut some of those high, high reaches from your list…this is going to be a lot of essay-writing. You’ll be exhausted.</p>

<p>Also, legacy is usually only considered your parents, not siblings.</p>

4

<p>FCalli, putting reaches on all of the Ivies is understandable! If anything, they’re probably even high reaches. Let’s hope you’re right about Amherst - it would save me so many applications fees and hours up at night wondering which college to leave in the list and which to cut from it.
I’m also Bulgarian. It’s in Eastern Europe. </p>

<p>Boda, thanks for the chance!</p>

<p>I’m curious though: one of you put Brown and Cornell as low reach, while the other didn’t include them in the list of super selective schools. Are they generally easier to get into than the other Ivies? </p>

5

<p>@bodangles‌
Are you sure about the legacy thing? I know of many people who have found it way easier to make it to the school that any medium to close family member has gone to, including siblings, aunts and uncles.</p>

6

<p>Oboe, It’s controversial, I believe. I asked specifically about Amherst legacy on the CC forums a year or so ago and a parent told me that during a meeting they had been told siblings are considered legacy as well - which raises an applicant’s chance a lot. However, when I contacted the office of admission I was told siblings are not a legacy… Bummer.</p>

<p>If you look at the common data sets though, you’ll see that it says ‘‘alumni relation’’ which leads me to think that even if you’re not a ‘‘legacy’’, they might still consider the fact you had someone from your close family go there. </p>

<p>I’m not so sure how it is with other schools, though. </p>

7

<p><a href=“Does Legacy Status Matter for College Admissions?”>http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/f/legacy-admissions.htm&lt;/a&gt;
“If you’re wondering why the Common Application asks where your mom and dad went to college, it’s because legacy status matters in the college admissions process.”
“Why Does Legacy Status Matter? One word: Money.”</p>

<p>Sibling won’t help as much as parent, but I do agree that it would be more helpful than great-great-great aunt. But…honestly I don’t think it makes too much of a difference.</p>

8

<p>@Someone007‌
@bodangles‌
I think it is the same deal for most schools. It’s completely unfair, because there is a kid, Indian-American, first gen. and oldest kid in the family, in my neighboring school district who had the best credentials; 2380 SAT, leadership position in 5 clubs, 4.0 unweighted GPA, 800’s on 4 subject tests, 200+ hours of service, varsity track, the list goes on and on. Well he got rejected from Cornell and some delinquent, white-Caucasian, from his school, who had a 1750 SAT, 2.68 GPA, history of ISS for disrespect to teachers and peers, and whose father went to Cornell, got in with a medium merit scholarship. It’s the most extreme type of unfairness in college admissions, IMHO.</p>

9

<p>Amherst College (Early Decision)): High match because of ED
Williams College: High Match
Pomona College: idk sorry
Lafayette College: idk sorry
NYU Shanghai (but also NY campus): NYU Shanghai? For NYU match.
Duke: reach
Uni of Southern California: Low Match
UCLA: match
UC Berkeley: low reach (only if you lived in cali lol)
UC Santa Barbara: IDK sorry to many UC schools lol
MIT: reach
Stanford: reach
Vanderbilt: low reach (they care alot about grades)
Northwestern: high match/low reach
Pepperdine: dont know at all
Harvard: reach
Yale: reach
Princeton: reach
Brown: low reach
Cornell: low reach
Dartmouth:low reach
Columbia: reach</p>

<p>2200 imo is good enough for all the schools, but just remember some people you are competing with have 2400. If you win that research competition, that would help your chances alot. </p>

10

<p>Amherst College (Early Decision)): match
Williams College: high match
Pomona College: high match/low reach
Lafayette College: match
NYU Shanghai (but also NY campus): match for NY, not sure about shanghai
Duke: low reach
Uni of Southern California:match
UCLA:match/high match
UC Berkeley:high match
UC Santa Barbara:match
MIT:reach
Stanford:reach
Vanderbilt:low reach
Northwestern:high match/low reach
Pepperdine:match
Harvard:reach
Yale:reach
Princeton:reach
Brown:low reach/reach
Cornell:low reach
Dartmouth: low reach
Columbia:reach</p>

<p>Thanks for chancing me! :)</p>

11

<p>Wow, you seem to be an amazing student, that any college would love to have. I think you are very qualified to apply to the Ivies, but you honestly never know what they will decide. I’m not sure how being an international student will effect you chances, but I think any of these schools would be lucky to have you. I’m not familiar with some of these schools, but I would say you have very good chances outside of the Ivies, Stanford, and MIT (and I only say that because of acceptance rates). Good luck!!</p>

12

<p>OboeWhizzy-
Be careful about listening to rumors. They’re not always accurate. For one thing Cornell doesn’t give merit scholarships. All financial aid at the Ivy League schools is need based.</p>

13

<p>Thanks guys. I really hope I do get into Amherst ED so I can save myself all the other applications. I’m worried I don’t have a hook for any college, such as urm, legacy or a varsity sport. </p>

14

<p>Amherst College (Early Decision)): match
Williams College: low reach
Pomona College: match
Lafayette College: match
NYU Shanghai (but also NY campus): match
Duke: reach
Uni of Southern California: match
UCLA: match
UC Berkeley: match
UC Santa Barbara: match
MIT: reach
Stanford: high reach
Vanderbilt: low reach
Northwestern: low reach
Pepperdine: match
Harvard: high reach
Yale: high reach
Princeton: high reach
Brown: low reach
Cornell: low reach
Dartmouth: reach
Columbia: high reach</p>

<p>Your stats are pretty good for most of your listed schools. Personally, I believe that as long as you have pretty solid GPA/SAT score, you’ve got just as good a chance as a person with slightly higher stats (I hope lol) and essays/ECs will be a determining factor. </p>

<p>I think that your ECs are great and they definitely reflect your interests and skills. All Ivies give 100% need based scholarships so money shouldn’t be that much of a problem. Write good essays (as I’m sure you will) and I think you’ll have a pretty fair chance at getting into some of your top picks. </p>

<p>In all honesty, no matter how good you are, HYPS are reach schools…a ton of qualified applicants will get rejected, so it’s nice to keep in mind that sometimes it’s not a fault in your application.</p>

<p>Good luck! Chance me back?? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1656175-chance-me-pls.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1656175-chance-me-pls.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;