Chance me mates?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi. I'm a rising senior at Dutchtown High School in Hampton, GA - Class of 2013!!! :)
I have few schools in mind that I want to apply to:</p>

<p>UCLA
UC Berkeley
University of Rochester
Penn State
NYU
Purdue
UIUC
University of Georgia
UVA
Emory
USC
Georgia Institute of Technology</p>

<p>I don't have much spec to show off but I'll tell you guys anyway, so please chance me. </p>

<p>I'll start with some unimportant spec -
School: Dutchtown High School (2013)
Race: Asian
Nationality: Republic of Korea
Parents income: less than $60,000
Sibling: 1 sister in college (SCAD)
Aspiration: Aerospace Engineering, medical, undecided. </p>

<p>GPA: unw(95/100); w(97.6)
Ranking: 8th/280
AP Classes taken:(AP Human) (AP World History) (AP US History) (AP Lang) (AP Chem)
AP Classes plan to take by end of high school: (AP Physics) (AP Calc) (AP European History) (AP Lit) (AP U.S. Government)
SAT: I plan not to take one
SAT Sub. Tests: (Chem. 550) (Math 2. 600) (US History. 670) (Korean Lang. 800)
ACT: First time 26 (English 27, Math 28, Reading 25, Science 25, Essay 09).
Second time N/A (waiting for the scores from June).
(I actually prepared for this previously for about 5 months. I bought the ACT prep texts, took practice tests, and went over and corrected each problem missed every weekend. On average, I scored about 30-32 on the practices, yet, my scores are just horrible on the real ones. Any recommendation?) </p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities/Clubs:
JV soccer, Varsity soccer, Club soccer, Jazz band, Concert band, Symphonic band, National Honor Society, Beta club, International club, Ambassadors club, Varsity Academic Team, Golf (I'm planning to join when my ACL is healed this fall), NSHSS, Student Council (Class president candidate), State Governor's Honors Program (math), Soccer camp @Emory University. </p>

<p>Volunteer/leadership:
Sorter @Medshare, co-cpt. @club soccer, manager@dry cleaners, volunteered trash picker in front of a certain commercial building every Saturday morning, piano tutor. </p>

<p>Work experience: Currently working @the dry cleaners. </p>

<p>Teachers/Counselors' rec. letters:
Didn't receive any yet, but asked to numerous teachers and they all said they will write one - (Band director) (Soccer coach) (9th grade H.math teacher) (10th grade AP.WH teacher) (10th/11th AP Chem teacher) (10th grade H. math teacher) (11th grade AP. USH teacher) (11th grade H.math teacher) (11th grade AP Lang. teacher) - this may sound crazy but I was on the same club teams with some of my 12th grade teachers - (12th grade AP. Gov. teacher) (12th grade AP. Physics teacher).</p>

2

<p>We don’t have engineering.</p>

<p>Nothing really seems to jump out at me. To be honest, I don’t think you have much of a shot at the main campus.</p>

3

<p>Oh, I forgot to mention medical. lol
Duh, Emory is most famous for its medical researches. Anyway, thanks for the comment mate.</p>

4

<p>Penn state does not accept any teacher recs. They focus heavily on gpa and after that sat/act. Everything else is looked at with less importance. Get the act up by a point or two. But you should be fine.</p>

<p>My only concern for you is (and only because you included that info) is that PSU does not have great financial aid so you should alao consider that</p>

5

<p>Your ACT score of 26 is equal to 1760 SAT, which is extremely low for a Cal applicant. You’ll need to raise it up significantly. Your SAT2 scores are also low. It’s optional for you to submit SAT2 scores, so if you can’t raise them above 700, it may be best if you don’t submit. UC’s don’t accept recommendation letters. Your essays will have to compensate for all of your deficiencies. Also, as an Asian, you need better scores than others to get into top schools. Right now, I’d say your chances are very slim. Do you have any hooks, such as first generation college, any major obstacles you had to overcome during high school, etc?</p>

6

<p>Just as an aside, being Asian does not affect admissions at Berkeley in any way.</p>

7

<p>I don’t know your chances for admission, but a lot of kids take both the ACT and SAT to see which they do better on. Is there a reason you aren’t planning to take the SAT?</p>

8

<p>oh…I’m sorry I didn’t know.
Thank you for telling me that. Could you give me the link to that topic please? :)</p>

9

<p>thanks for replying!</p>

10

<p>I prepared for the ACT for too long (5 months + future dates)
And I plan not to take the SAT until I make at least a 31/32 on the ACT.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the replies.
Uhh the only hook I can think of is first generation college. </p>

<p>So do you think I’d be better off not sending in the SAT2 scores if I don’t bring up the scores?
If I still turned them in, would my chances of getting in be affected?</p>

12

<p>Your class rank and course rigor look good, but your test scores are too low. Letters of recommendation are not accepted by UCs. </p>

<p>I would say you’re a reach, unless your ACT scores go up. Don’t submit your SAT II scores.</p>

<p>I also question the wisdom of attending UCLA on OOS tuition with your parents’ income. You won’t receive much need-based financial aid, and it’s not worth it to take out $150k+ in undergrad debt.</p>

13

<p>As TheHutt said, UCLA is going to cost almost $60k per year, and based on the UC’s recent financial troubles, they most likely won’t give you financial aid unless say you invent a time machine or something</p>

14

<p>@TheHutt: are you 100% sure the SAT IIs will affect my chances of getting in?
@TheHutt & LimitlessProd: you guys are absolutely right, the UCs are extremely expensive. But why not give a shot? if I get in with no financial aid of any sort whatsoever, I’ll knock on other schools’ doors. :slight_smile: Thanks for the replies!</p>

15

<p>I have to say, your gpa and class rank is impressive. However, your scores(sat II’s and ACT score) will have a great impact on the colleges you will apply.
But don’t let yourself down! Academics are not the only ones college admissions look at.
I have similar stats as yours and I got into Rochester, Penn State, UIUC, UGA, Gtech, Umich, and Upitt, while I got waitlisted in Emory.</p>

<p>I did have some hooks, but I don’t think those “affected” admission’s decisions.
I was in your shoes because I am asian and my academics weren’t as high as other asians, but I managed to get into some pretty decent schools.</p>

<p>I would actually recommend going UGA or Gtech since you’re qualified for the instate tuition and with your stats, you’ll probably go to those schools for free.
With all the college fund cuts going on these days, it is better not to have any debt when you graduate… </p>

<p>I will be attending penn state with instate tuition, but I’ll still end up being in debt(60k+).</p>

<p>But yeah… try to raise your ACT scores, and getting into Gtech or UGA will be easy.</p>

16

<p>Hey dpsu, thanks for the reply and such encouraging words. Unfortunately, I am not eligible for HOPE scholarship. Also, I am not considered in-state, but rather out-of-state, or “international.” The thing is, my family came to GA in 2006 but with an investment visa, which only allows the holder and his family to stay here as long as he owns his own business and employs citizens/green carders. Yeah, it’s very complicated. Anyway, I’m not eligible for any sort of aids. :confused: And this is why I’m trying to find out-of-state schools that are better than GA tech, UGA, and Emory and that can also maybe give me some sort of financial aid.</p>

17

<p>good luck with your education my friend~</p>