Harvard(Lmao)
Vanderbilt (Reach)
Duke (Reach)
Rice (Reach)
Emory (Closer, still reach)
Auburn (Match)
UAB (Safety)
South Alabama (Safety)
ACT: 34, most likely higher with recent test that has not been updated yet.
GPA: 3.9 UW 4.75W (Out of 6)
Asian Indian
Alabama
Income: ~60k on last 2 tax returns due to personal reasons, around 120k now.
Rank: 20/~500
APs: 5 APES 4 Stats 3 Chem 3 Calc AB 4 Lang 3 Bio
Senior Year APs: Psych, Physics, Macroecon
Hooks (I think these count): Disabled sibling, extended family partially reliant on income, not first-gen or alumni child though
ECs:
-100+ hours volunteering at local hospital
-Created a lesson plan to educate middle schoolers about cancer
-Hosa (3 years)
-Key Club (2 years, treasurer)
-Science Olympiad (VP)
-Scholar’s Bowl (2 years, VP)
-NSHS
-NHS
-High School Ambassador, help out at local events and represent my school
Jobs: Worked at motel/hotel over the summer at junior year.
Essay: 10/10 - English teacher said it made her cry, talks about growing up with my sibling.
Rec (Guesses): 9/10 Anatomy teacher, Emory graduate, likes me a lot
7/10 Calculus teacher, had her for 3 years knows I like to procrastinate but I did really well in her class
6/10 Counseler, does not know me at all just wrote it based off teacher recs my resume and parent rec.
AP exam scores are not that good,and school in Alabama is probably not that great or competitive. I would take out Harvard and one or two of your reach schools… You should apply to several schools between the Auburn and Emory level, between like 50th and 200th rank.
All the Alabama schools are around 100-200 in the top universities. I know I had like no chance to get into Harvard, but am I not competitive enough to have a chance at Rice or Vanderbilt? Thanks!
The Alabama schools you mention are not top 200, maybe not top 500. I don’t think you have a good chance at any of the reach schools you mention. I would look at schools somewhat below the level of Emory.
I didn’t really understand what hooks were but I do now I will edit the post, thanks!
From what I understand AP scores are not required to be reported during the admissions process for most top schools. Also Bio was a 4, forgot to edit it. Thanks!
"Required " or not, the top colleges still want AP scores. It’s one thing to skip reporting for some random class, another when you omit the important ones, the cores, those related to your major.
You need to learn what your reaches want, look for, value. Otherwise, all you have is a list of your “likes.” Be savvy. Put the effort in.
Harvard–waitlist/reject
Vanderbilt–waitlist/accept
Duke–waitlist/accept
Rice–accept? I don’t know much about Rice admissions
Emory–accept
Auburn–you’re golden
UAB–^
South Alabama–very safe
I think you’ve categorized these fairly well–you’ve got a fine chance at your reaches, especially with strong essays. Don’t count yourself out. Your ACT is great, your GPA is stellar. You’re clearly smart! Best of luck.
Whatever your chances at the 2nd through 5th schools you mention, I would apply to some schools a little below Emory. The Alabama schools are extremely safe safes, so you don’t want to take a chance of really ending up at one of them.
All of the good schools you mention at least recommend SAT IIs. You will need decent scores on those. Your AP scores are not that great.
Apply to UAlabama Tuscaloosa Honors right now - including the “Honors within honors” programs.
You’re competitive for Emory and Rice but odds for anyone are low. You need universities between Emory and UAlabama.
Run the NPC on Davidson (no loans policy, excellent financial aid for your income range), Colby, Dickinson, Denison, Macalester, St Olaf, Grinnell. Those are top schools where you’d be under represented and where being from Alabama would be a boost for geographic diversity. Davidson is harder to get into than Emory but worth a try I think.
Read what they want carefully.
Check out URochester, the Claremont’s.
Start working on USC Columbia’s honors college application - it’s due in two weeks and, as one of the best honors colleges in the country, very competitive so requires time.