Chance me or suffer my wrath

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>lol, not really. erm, just chance me please? well...here are my stats...</p>

<p>middle class indian american female - junior as of now at a public, semi-decent suburban NJ high school.</p>

<p>Course Work:</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
1. Honors Language I - A
2. Honors World History - A
3. Honors Geometry - A
4. Honors Lab Biology - A
5. Honors Spanish II - A
6. Working With Children (lol) - A
7. Transportation Technology (lol) - A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
1. Honors Language II - B
2. AP US History I - A
3. Honors Trig/Precalc - A
4. Honors Lab Chemistry - A
5. Honors Spanish III - A
6. Journalism - A
7. Environmental Science A</p>

<p>Junior Year:
1. AP Language and Comp - B
2. AP US History II - A
3. AP Calculus AB - A
4. Honors Lab Physics - A
5. Honors Spanish IV - A
6. AP Psychology - A</p>

<p>**self studied AP enviro, macro/micro, and comp. gov & pol. this year.</p>

<p>Senior Year (projected)
1. AP US Gov & Pol - A
2. AP European History - A
3. AP Calc BC - A
4. AP Statistics - A
5. AP Literature - B
6. AP Spanish - A
7. AP Art History - A</p>

<p>Rank: top 5%</p>

<p>SAT - 2210 (planning to try it once more, with some studying)</p>

<p>SAT II - US History 800, Literature 690 (!), Math II 720 [I plan to retake the last two]</p>

<p>PSAT - 225</p>

<p>In School:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Class office - VP (soph) and President (junior) <<wasn't re-elected="" for="" senior="" year="">></wasn't></p></li>
<li><p>Model UN - secretary (junior and senior)</p></li>
<li><p>GSA - VP (junior) and President (Senior)</p></li>
<li><p>Environmental Action Club - VP (junior and senior)</p></li>
<li><p>Mathletes - captain (junior and senior)
also school's winner in AMC 12, if that's relevant</p></li>
<li><p>Literary Magazine - Head Editor (junior and senior)</p></li>
<li><p>Key Club - VP (junior and senior)</p></li>
<li><p>Youth and Govt. - member
Science League - member<br>
Student Council - member </p></li>
<li><p>Peer Leader - in peer leadership program (junior)</p></li>
<li><p>Junior nominee and attendee to HOBY program</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Out of School:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>editor (of about 20 kids in america) for national literary magazine</p></li>
<li><p>member of temple's youth commitee, writer for temple's youth newspaper, counselor (volunteer) at temple's annual summer camps</p></li>
<li><p>volunteer at march of dimes offices (150-ish hours so far) & member of march of dimes chain reaction youth board (junior and senior)</p></li>
<li><p>founder and director of volunteer tutoring group that provides regular tutoring to middle school students for free (perhaps one of my favorite accomplishments and activities)</p></li>
<li><p>member of student board of indian cultural association - junior and senior</p></li>
<li><p>dancer (classical indian, several years)</p></li>
<li><p>sole student rep to public library board - junior and senior</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My summer activities have been kind of bland, I've just kind of counseled at my summer camps and had fun. This summer I'm taking some interesting History courses at the local CC (I plan to major in History), continue my tutoring (this time to teach students advanced material over the summer - for those that want to learn it), start teaching dance, work a bit, continue counseling, and some other random stuff.</p>

<p>I should also mention that I've had a few disciplinary issues - nothing like getting expelled - but enough to cause a little concern? I don't really know. One truancy thing soph year and three detentions (for lack of ID)</p>

<p>The schools that I'm applying to are:</p>

<p>Rutgers (lol, can I get a full ride?)
Swarthmore
Princeton
Harvard
Columbia
Yale
Cornell
Stanford
UPenn <not wharton="">
MIT <i figured="" that="" my="" non-science="" background="" would="" be="" an="" advantage?="">
Brown
Duke
UChicago</i></not></p><i figured="" that="" my="" non-science="" background="" would="" be="" an="" advantage?="">

<p>...and yea, I realize that the list above is basically Rutgers + very top-tier schools, no match-y schools basically. Let me explain: I know I'm gonna get good, if not full, financial aid at Rutgers. And I personally like Rutgers (unlike most other New Jerseyans) and would have no problem going there, considering how I really like its diversity, affordability, and proximity to home. The only schools that I would ditch Rutgers for are the top-tier schools I also listed. So that's why that list is what it is.</p>
</i>

2

<p>Well you seem to have a very competetive application/resume. Very strong transcript and extracurriculars; with some improvement in your SAT I and especially SAT II scores you will almost certainly be accepted into multiple top tier schools that you have listed. Some are reaches, no doubt, especially Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and the likes, but your resume certainly bodes well for potential acceptance into UPenn, Swarthmore, and U of Chicago, among others as long as you have sound essays and recs. Assuming so, although these top tier schools are difficult, you will have an above average chance at all, assuming you are able to get your standardized test scores up. good luck!</p>

<p>chance back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/935287-chances-top-tier-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/935287-chances-top-tier-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>I’d add a few schools inbetween Rutgers and the ivies/Swat just in case you change your mind. Indian from NJ puts you in an extremely competitive pool at the ivies and uber top colleges.</p>

4

<p>Rutgers (lol, can I get a full ride?)–idk about full ride, but definitely some!
Swarthmore–I heard this is one of the top LACs, so reach
Princeton–reach for all, but you have a decent/average shot
Harvard–same as Princeton
Columbia–a little better chance than HPY, but still a reach
Yale–same as HP
Cornell–better than HPY and C, but I’d say a low reach
Stanford–I would say an even less chance than HPY just because it’s so erratic in their acceptances
UPenn <not wharton=“”>- low reach, just because it’s UPenn
MIT <i figured=“” that=“” my=“” non-science=“” background=“” would=“” be=“” an=“” advantage?=“”>–It may play and advantage, but I’d still be conservative and say mid-reach, but better than HPYS
Brown–low reach
Duke–low reach/high match if ED
UChicago–can’t say, it’s also erratic</i></not></p><i figured=“” that=“” my=“” non-science=“” background=“” would=“” be=“” an=“” advantage?=“”>

<p>Reasoning: Rank/GPA is solid, standardized tests are great (but good for the schools you listed lol), but ECs, as involved as you are, are scattered and you have WAY too many leadership positions, which is kind of bad in that you’re trying to portray a laundry list of ECs and don’t have passion for something…especially at the caliber of schools you’re applying to. The lack of meaningful summer activities will hurt also…get some match schools in there like Vanderbilt or Emory or Carnegie Mellon.</p>
</i>

5

<p>I think that you’ll get into Rutgers obviously and one of the non HYPSM reaches. One question: why would you want to go to MIT? for the sole reason that you might have a better chance as a history major???</p>

6

<p>how can i improve?</p>

7

<p>Improve by putting one specific thing on your application, and be crazy passionate about it. I had a 3.7 and 26 act, and talked about my passion for music, and got into ucsb and ucsd.
Although the schools I was accepted to are small stuff compared to your list, the same rule applies. Focus on one specific activity, and flourish in it. Your current ec’s are a little better than a laundry list. So yeah, go focus on anything! And don’t sound like a total brain in your interviews, they want someone who’s a genius and is able to hold a full conversation. Good luck :)</p>