Chance me? Original title, I know...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok so I hate these chance threads for their addictiveness and nerve-inducing qualities as much as the next person. But chance me?</p>

<p>Stats
-White female
-current junior
-Medium sized (~1000 kids) public school in New Hampshire, sends maybe 3 kids to top schools every year
-4.0 unweighted GPA (we don't do weighted)
-No class rank, but first decile
-Classes-all honors/AP where available</p>

<p>APs
Calc AB-waiting on score
Stats-waiting on score
Next year: English Lit, Chem, Calc BC, Physics C</p>

<p>Tests
-SAT-2040 (first time, retaking in June-SHOULD go up, I had the flu and was up till all hours of the morning playing paintball right before...bad idea...)
-PSAT (not that it matters)-224
ACT-Taking in June
SAT II-Taking math 2 and chemistry in the fall, math should definitely be good, chemistry should be ok too</p>

<p>ECs (at least the biggish ones)
-Math team-will be all 4 years, captain next year
-Ocean bowl team-all 4 years, captain this year and next year
-Community council-3 years-way more of a commitment than student council-executive board member this year, clerk and executive board member next year
-Field hockey-all 4 years, 1 year varsity OR 3 years + cross country
-Ice hockey-3 years, all varsity (soph-senior), likely captain next year
-Track and field-all 4 years, varsity
-Rugby-2 years (jr+sr)-team just started this year</p>

<p>Awards?
-Academic/Athletic Achievement all sports
-Mission Statement award (embodies school mission statement)
-SOME college book award (find out next week)
-Some class specific award (find out next week)
-Star student award
-Highest honors
-National Latin Exam/Medusa Mythology exam-various awards
-National Merit Semifinalist (at least I think so, if NH's cutoff doesn't rise ten points from last year...)</p>

<p>Summers
After freshman year-sports camps, independent math study for acceleration, not for credit
After sophomore-Volunteer job working with mentally handicapped people in my area
After junior (this summer)-St Paul's Advanced Studies Program-program for NH juniors, considered pretty prestigious here, but not well known (the program Im in is the Advanced Math program)</p>

<p>120 volunteer hours-more to come</p>

<p>Essays
Should be pretty good, I know how to get my point across. I want to write about my experiences with alternative education (namely, attending a Waldorf school for eleven years)</p>

<p>Schools
Yale (HIGH reach-dream school)
MIT (another HIGH reach/dream school)
Boston College
Trinity (maybe)
University of New Hampshire
and....open to suggestions! I need more places to apply</p>

<p>I LOVE math and science and my high school classes completely reflect that. I want to go to school for applied math. </p>

<p>So...chance me? Or even just suggest places I should look into?</p>

2

<p>Lily, I think you have excellent chances at BC and Trinity. Others to look at are Michigan, Maryland and NYU. I believe they are all very strong in Applied Math. Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks poi! I'll look into those. Anyone else? I'd appreciate any and all thoughts or opinions!</p>

4

<p>Anybody...?</p>

5

<p>Hey lilyrobin,</p>

<p>First off I have to commend you for your EC's. </p>

<p>Its pretty awesome that you do rugby, and field hockey is awesome (play it myself, although in Australia it's obviously better with the whole gender equality thing going on. lol!)</p>

<p>I'm in a similar boat to you, except for the obvious distance barrier (^^) and from what I have learned, it looks like you have some very good EC's and if you can get your SAT up to 2300 or even near there you should have a decent shot. </p>

<p>Basically it really all comes down to the essay. You need to demonstrate passion and individuality, so if you nail the essay I reckon you will have a good shot at all of those schools. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>M</p>

6

<p>Lily, also look at Wisconsin, Rutgers and St. Olaf.</p>

7

<p>Thank you both! I'm really nervous about the whole application process, but excited too, and it really helps to hear from people who know more what they're talking about than I do!</p>

8

<p>MIT and Yale are big reaches, but I think you already know that.</p>

<p>You look like you're in good shape for the others.</p>

9

<p>Thanks sak, and yeah trust me, I know they're BIG big big reaches, but a girl can dream! I'm pretty confident I can get my SAT scores up a good amount, but I know I don't have any hook or anything, but that should at least help a little...</p>

10

<p>"first decile"? is that the proper phrase to use? i would either say top 1% of class or 99th %tile which would mean the same as better than 99th %tile of class...oh and btw u have a good chance to get in all ur picks. I bet a retake on the SAT or ACT take in ur case can only help.</p>

11

<p>^first decile = top 10%, not 1%</p>

12

<p>I think first decile is okay to say. At our school they don't tell us our rank, they only tell us if we are in the first decile (as they call it) or if we're not.</p>

13

<p>I can see passion, and a good GPA. If you can get your SAT scores to the 2150-2200 mark, and get over 780 in Math 2 and near 750 for your other SATII subjects, then i should say that you are looking good for MIT. :)
I think Yale is a further reach for you, due to your lower SAT scores, and lack of Leadership positions, but your profile seems quite similar to other MIT girls'. Although, some of your AWARDS don't seem too dazzling and significant.</p>

<p>I d suggest write a modest essay outlining what is truly important to you in life (your passions etc) and you should be a strong contender.</p>

<p>Well done and good luck :)</p>

14

<p>Thanks sidfromaus. I'm definitely working to get my scores up, I think it can happen.</p>

15

<p>look into Carnegie Mellon</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the suggestion duke. Anyone else? Or any other suggestions? Maybe some more closer to home (New England and around there)?</p>

17

<p>...anyone?</p>