Chance me please! I really could use some help

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a male rising senior from a strong public school in Rhode Island. I'm looking to attend a selective to highly selective college, preferably in California (UC Berkeley is where i want to go, but its a reach). I've posted this thread because just about the only thing I can change between now and when I apply to college would be my test scores. My SAT is 2300 (800 M, 750 CR, 750 W). SAT IIs are Math 2 (800), Chem (720), Bio (700 as a freshman).
A few other things about me (they will be all 4 year after senior year b/c I am continuing all of them):</p>

<ul>
<li>3 year member of Math Team (2nd best team in state, top 20 in New England), 5 on AIME, 8th best scorer in Rhode Island Math League</li>
<li>3 year member of LifeSmarts Team</li>
<li>3 year cross country runner (varsity, all class, all division as a junior, will be captain as a senior).

<ul>
<li>3 year indoor and outdoor track runner (varsity in both since sophomore year)</li>
<li>5 years as a Grade 8 soccer referee with top 60 distinction in RI</li>
<li>Volunteering (75 hrs+) at local library where I also was in charge of a reorganizing project of the entire library</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>4.15 unweighted GPA (on a 4.33 scale) with 5 APs taken (four 5s and one 4) and 3 more I will be taking as a senior. I have taken just about the hardest course load my school offers and am also taking a college level Linear Algebra course as a senior. Recommendations from teachers and guidance counselor should be good. I'm interested in engineering. I've posted this because my counselor (a bit senile) keeps telling me I have a great chance at Ivies and even Stanford, which I know is completely false. Tell me where I have a decent chance of getting in!
Can you chance me for: The UC schools, Cornell, Northeastern, WUSTL
Other questions I have are: Should I retake the SAT to increase my chances or is there no point to that? Should I take the ACT, would that help me at all?</p>

2

<p>Your SAT score is really good. There’s no reason to retake it unless you believe in doing so you will significantly improve your score. A lot of people find the ACT easier, so you can take that if you wish, but again your scores are all really good. You do have a good chance at the top schools! If UC Berkeley is your top choice then by all means apply there, because you definitely have a shot. Obviously you have to find some matches and safeties as well, but the reaches you have are good!</p>

3

<p>Your SAT is competitive for the UCs and you will get in, but you will be full pay as an OOS student. California has very limited funding for OOS students.</p>

4

<p>Berkley is not a reach for you. You likey will get in.</p>

5

<p>I think that you’ll probably get into Berkeley. Don’t retake your SAT; I probably wouldn’t try to take the ACT if I were you given your high SAT score unless you’re pretty sure that you can get a 35/36. </p>

6

<p>You have great stats, but some people are really competitive. At my school, for example, lots of kids take over 15 APs starting their freshman year… One kid took 21 APs during the school year, during summer school, and online total. I’m not trying to psych you out, but it’s the truth. You should definitely apply for Berkley; you’ll probably get in, but beware of people from my school… (p.s. it’s in texas)</p>

7

<p>OP. If you want to go to school in California like so many do now…you should also look into Stanford, Harvey Mudd, and Caltech (all tops in engineering and CS) which may all offer better scholarships (if you are financially qualified) than any of the UC schools…</p>

<p>…whether you can get into the schools I mentioned above will be reliant on the strength of your essays and recommendations…because your academics/ECs meet the basic criteria…</p>

<p>…good luck!</p>