Chance me please? Low-income and first-generation.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Please chance me for:
Bates, Bowdoin, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Vassar, Pomona, Wesleyan, Cornell, Yale, and Harvard.</p>

<hr>

<p>Asian male, attends public high school in NYC that requires a competitive entrance exam for admission. School is competitive and there are about 290 seniors this year.</p>

<p>Hooks: Low-income; First-generation </p>

<p>Stats</p>

<p>SAT: 2210 (720 CR, 760 math, 730 writing, 10 essay)
Subject tests: Bio-E (720), Chemistry (740), Math II (800), U.S. History (760)
AP exams: English lang (5), Chem (4), World History (4), U.S. History (5), Enviro sci (5), Psych (5)
GPA: 3.79/4.0 UW; 4.13/4.5 W
School does not rank</p>

<p>Currently taking: AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Physics B, and AP Macro. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Envirothon Club (9, 10, 11- team leader, 12- president) - Envirothon is an environmental science competition</p>

<p>Pre-Med Club (9- secretary, 10- president, 11 and 12- vice president) </p>

<p>Youth Environmental Club (out-of-school organization; no leadership positions available) - connects with other youth around the world to share activities in environmental science. Sponsored my trip to Japan (see below).</p>

<p>Spearheaded an effort to start composting bins and other environmentally-friendly activities in teacher lounges and cafeterias.</p>

<p>Writes for a column on science activities with Scientific American; have all been published online. </p>

<p>TA'ed for my freshman English teacher for two years; tutored students who were struggling in biology for two years.</p>

<p>Took after-school science research courses at a museum in gr 10 -- eventually led to internship (see below)</p>

<p>Work experience / Research</p>

<p>Interned for three summers at a local non-profit agency that promotes environmental awareness and environmental science in young disadvantaged children. This is my sole volunteer/internship activity and I will have about 430 hours when it's all completed.</p>

<p>Conducted research in gr 10 with a professor about the diet and evolutionary relationship of a turtle species (Submitted to NYC citywide science fair - did not place)</p>

<p>Conducted research in gr 11, 12 with a professor about endangered snakes; became a semifinalist in NYCSEF (NYC Regional science fair) with it and I have entered Intel this year. </p>

<p>Assisted a researcher at a museum with her research (was about environmental science/ conservation genetics); presented at various symposiums and conferences alongside her. Did not enter Intel or any other competition with it (deadlines did not work out), though my name was published with the researcher's.</p>

<p>Went on various walks for things like diabetes, breast cancer, teen suicide, AIDS, etc. </p>

<p>Summer activities</p>

<ul>
<li>Johns Hopkins CTY (Center for Talented Youth)- two summers </li>
<li>Internship and scientific research (mentioned above)</li>
<li>Went to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands during one summer and Hawaii during spring break to study environmental leadership as well as biodiversity and human impacts on it (received financial aid or did fundraising for these trips)</li>
<li>Was chosen to travel to Japan to attend an international youth conference about environmental studies (A youth environmental club fully-sponsored the trip for me)</li>
<li>Took pre-calculus over the summer but school didn't let me take AP Calc right afterwards so I ended up in Honors Calc but am now in Calc BC </li>
</ul>

<p>I plan on asking recommendations from: (they all should be very good/excellent)
--Freshman English teacher (even though freshman teacher, she knows me extremely well)
--Calc BC teacher
--Executive director at place of internship
--Researcher from the museum who I worked with</p>

<p>Essays are great. Not the best, but above avg.</p>

<p>Plan on majoring in Environmental Science or Environmental Studies on a Pre-Med track.</p>

<hr>

<p>I know it's a lot of stuff, so I will gladly chance you back in return! </p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>How many AP’s have you taken? And your GPA and SAT’s are pretty good! The EC’s show a massive focus on Env Science so thats good even though theres not much variety. You have a good chance at the nonivies and possibly low reach/reach for ivies. Chance back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1431373-chance-top-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1431373-chance-top-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>These schools are all reaches but the good news is that they are all realistic.</p>

<p>Have a safety?</p>

4

<p>Kobe, I will have taken 10 APs by graduation. This is the most our school will allow. </p>

<p>Catria, my safeties include NYU, SUNY Binghamton, CUNY (city universities), SUNY Environmental Sci and Forestry, Boston University, and Northeastern.</p>

5

<p>And, if you want an affordable match, try a Macaulay (Staten Island, Brooklyn, to name a few)… NYU is just out of your budget, BU and NEU are pretty expensive.</p>

6

<p>^ Yes, thank you. I am slightly discouraged to apply to Macaulay because they have a reputation of not accepting over-qualified applicants from our school :(</p>

7

<p>^ You make it sound like Macaulays are afflicted by Tufts Syndrome…</p>

8

<p>Well that’s just how it has been at my school for the last couple of graduating students… e.g. one student who graduated last year got into Columbia, Cornell, UPenn, Dartmouth, and Cooper Union but was rejected by Macaulay Hunter.</p>

<p>anyway, bump.</p>

9

<p>You’re really focused on environmental issues, and some of your work is local (not just trips to faraway exotic places). Tutoring in both English and bio is a nice mix, too.</p>

<p>Certainly you’re competitive for everywhere, and I have a hunch the top schools will like you. You sound like a real person, not just an academic robot.</p>

10

<p>Thank you. Oh, i forgot to include that I did science olympiad junior year and this year as well and was recently appointed vice-president of the club (i knew i was missing something!). My events are earth/ environmental science related: water quality, dynamic planet, and rocks & minerals. </p>

<p>bump again</p>

11

<p>bump. i rate back!</p>

12

<p>Bates,- match
Bowdoin,- low reach
Swarthmore,- reach
Middlebury,- match
Vassar,- not sure
Pomona,- not sure
Wesleyan,- low reach
Cornell,- low/mid reach
Yale,- reach
and Harvard.- reach</p>

<p>Your low-income and first-gen will help but unfortunately not as much as in past years due to our country’s failing economy (now legacy and donor status is more valuable). Did you do Questbridge?</p>

<p>The enviro focus is great and yes like the above poster said you come off as a real person and not just as an academic robot. Definitely choose to do an interview because you have an interesting set of ECs. I am curious though… how were you able to get so many research positions??</p>

13

<p>Thanks. Yes I did do Questbridge but was unfortunately not matched with a college. </p>

<p>I was able to get research positions through my school’s established science research program and the connections that my school has with various institutions and their research scientists.</p>

14

<p>Bates,- safety
Bowdoin,- high match
Swarthmore,- high match
Middlebury,- match
Vassar,- high match
Pomona,- low reach
Wesleyan,- high match
Cornell,- low reach
Yale,- reach
and Harvard.- reach</p>

15

<p>You will likely get into some schools on your list, but really, you should have some school that you absolutely know will take you, that you can afford. Money is tight these days, and some need blind schools might not be so need blind which bumps a school ike Wesleyan up to a reach, and Bates is not a safety by any stretch, IMO. I know some 2200 kids rejected from there. Are they need aware in admissions? In any case, you should have some schools that are true safeties.</p>

<p>Whoops, just saw your safety list. Since you are so covered, you’ll do just fine. Good luck and I hope you have several good choices.</p>

16

<p>A majority of these schools are reaches or high-matches (with the exception of Bates), but the good news is that with your stats and income level, you’ll definitely have a good shot at all of them</p>

17

<p>Keep in mind, a lot of schools will meet 100% of your need, I think most schools on this list do!</p>

18

<p>Thank you. bump</p>

19

<p>Bates - Match
Bowdoin - Match
Swarthmore - High Match
Middlebury - Low Reach
Vassar - High match
Pomona - ?
Wesleyan - Match
Cornell - Low Reach
Yale - Reach
Harvard - Reach</p>

<p>I only skimmed through your ECs but I think this seems about right.</p>

20

<p>All those schools are reaches for everyone. I do have a feeling though that you will get into a couple of them though. Bates is the one exception.</p>