<p>I am applying ED at Duke. I will also apply (RD) Cornel, Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis, Notre Dame, Emory, NW, and U. Chicago. What are my chances for these schools? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I: 2240 (M:800, CR:720, W:720)
ACT: 35 (36 If superscored)
SAT II: Math II: 800, Chem.: 780, phys:760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.81
Weighted GPA (out of 5.0): 4.20
Rank: Top 2% (#4 out of 297)
Race: Asian Male</p>
<p> AP: Calculus BC (5), Physics (5), Chemistry (5), European History (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Biology, AP U.S. History, AP Statistics, AP English, AP Micro-economics, Honors U.S Government
Major Awards: Academic Challenge State Champion in 2010 & 2011, National second place in 2009; National Merit Commended Scholar; AP Scholar w/Honor; National Honor Society
Subjective:
Extracurricular: Academic Challenge Team Captain ( 4 )yrs-state champion of 2011; English Club (VP), 1 yr, School Chore 3 yrs, Chief-Editor of a school news paper
Job/Work Experience:n/a
Volunteer/Community: Akron Childrens Hospital 200 hrs, some local charitable organizations
Summer Activities: Joined Youth Group & Remodeled Church Building</p>
<p>Hey! Your numbers are fantastic as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure other people will also say this, but everyone applying to the schools you’re looking at will have fantastic numbers. Though I suppose you do have a small edge cause you’re male and ethnic. You sound like a brilliant guy, but do you ever have any fun?? It just seems like you have a very very intense and serious application which is great, but it seems like you sort of lack dimension in that all of your ECs and community experience are generally academic based. I’m not a college counselor or an admissions officer, but from what I’ve heard, schools are really interested in an applicant that is not only academically stellar like yourself, but also someone who maybe just likes to drive their car, or watch the birds, or draw pictures. What were/are your essays like? I think that your application would benefit from a more relaxed and whimsical piece of writing, but really, what do I know. I don’t think any opinion or bit of feedback on CC should be taken entirely seriously because an application is such an arbitrary and subjective thing and the decision in the end isn’t up to us, it’s to the school. I would say that you’re matched at Notre Dame, NW, and Emory. UChicago and Wash U are definitely reaches, but not nearly unattainable. Cornell, Columbia and Duke are reaches for everyone, but I’m sure you have some sort of chance with any of the three, and applying ED to Duke definitely helps. I hope all works out for you!</p>
<p>Thanks penriquez for your valueble suggestions. With your input on mind, I will add some other aspects of my personalities on my application and essay. You are absolutely right-that people who apply to these schools also have stellar numbers.</p>
<p>Regarding Penriquez’s post, I agree 100%. Your chances are reasonable at each college you are applying to. Given that there are many schools, you will positively be accepted at a few.
However, I would definitely add something to your application insuring that you also have other interests outside of school:</p>
<pre><code> collecting something, Sports, work, etc. or an activity along those lines
</code></pre>
<p>Other than that, you look like a great candidate, but in your essays I would try to separate yoursely by possibly indicating that you aren’t just that utterly brilliant student, you also have a life outside of the sphere of academia.</p>
<p>You don’t have any TRUE safeties on your list, but Emory, WashU, ND and NW all seem to be near matches.</p>