<p>Stats :</p>
<p>SAT I : 2400 - [M:800, CR:800, W:800]</p>
<p>SAT II : Math Level 2 : 800, Chemistry : 800</p>
<p>AP : Calculus AB : 5, Environmental Science : 5, Biology : 5, Calculus BC : 5</p>
<p>GPA : 3.86</p>
<p>Rank : not available</p>
<p>Senior : AP Economics, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP Physics C, AP Physics B, AP Music Theory</p>
<p>Extracurricular : I don't want to post my ECs online. They are decent</p>
<p>I posted this over at the Harvard and Princeton threads of your same posts, but for those readers that do not visit those sites, here it is again.</p>
<p>Every chance thread poster should read this article before posting: </p>
<p>[Why</a> getting into Harvard is no longer an honor - Class Struggle - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/why-getting-into-harvard-is-no-longer-an-honor/2012/04/04/gIQAPhBVvS_blog.html?wprss=rss_education]Why”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/why-getting-into-harvard-is-no-longer-an-honor/2012/04/04/gIQAPhBVvS_blog.html?wprss=rss_education)</p>
<p>It’s a deeply rooted idea in today’s academic culture that more qualifications equate with better chances. After all, who doesn’t perceive the selection process as a judgment panel that deems one applicant, for want of a better word, superior to another? Call it a myth, a misconception, or whatever you like, but this belief is positively unshakable.</p>
<p>Perhaps a different approach is in order. It’s high time the public understands and embraces the notion that college admissions decisions aren’t based on better academic or extracurricular specifications any longer, if ever in the first place. Just as neither perfect SAT scores nor Nobel prizes guarantee a spot in the branches of the Ivies, it’s apparent that what we identify as top colleges seek attributes that are intangible, elusive, and quite plainly put, mysterious.</p>
<p>Take a friend of mine, for example. Despite the 14 Advanced Placement tests (11 top scores) and two consecutive placings in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair under his belt, he found no welcome at any of the eight Ivy League schools, and neither did his co-founded company aid him in clinching even a position on the wait-lists of several of their peers. His great weakness? He’s an Asian applying for financial aid. It’s easy to argue that one case alone does not justify a loss in faith in the college admissions process, but open the question up for discussion and there’s no doubt the resounding response will taste of misgivings flavored with skepticism. Taking a glance at the qualifications of despondent rejects is enough to convince anyone that surely not all who were accepted into eminent institutes performed better either in terms of academics or extracurriculars, or, for that matter, had more passion.</p>
<p>So, instead of rationalizing that the admissions decision is an objective verdict that evaluates one’s educational caliber and is not an assessment of character, and hence should not be taken personally, it would be more accurate to recognize that the admissions decision does no such thing. They’re not looking for the finest scholars or greatest leaders, and being the best won’t get you into the “best” universities. What they’re looking for is, well, whatever they’re looking for, and with over 4,000 colleges in the U.S. alone, it’s good to remember that we have almost as much bargaining power as they do.</p>
<p>Well, you have good SAT scores. So consider that box checked.</p>
<p>Other than that, it is impossible to tell based on what you have told us.
What I’d like to know:</p>
<p>Why is your senior schedule so lopsided? </p>
<p>What about:
English?
History?
Foreign Language?</p>
<p>Are you challenging yourself enough?</p>
<p>Scores are… stellar, GPA is a bit on the lower side. ECs are… decent. </p>
<p>As the above poster mentioned, you do seem heavily lopsided toward the sciences and other quantitative subjects. It’s hard to see a top school applicant without a single AP level course in history, politics, english, or the foreign languages. </p>
<p>Anyway, that was the only thing that struck out. Your scores alone will make you competitive for any school in the nation and I wish you the best.</p>
<p>Congratulations of your perfect SAT scores. What is your intended major? If you plan on majoring in one of the so-called STEM fields, your chances at Yale will improve.</p>
<p>
I wouldn’t worry about that. My rising sophomore at Yale only had AP English Literature out of those areas. His other courses were AP Biology, Calculus AB, Psychology and Statistics. I would worry more about the lowish GPA (especially if that is the OP’s weighted GPA).</p>
<p>ECs…decent. It is rather hard to say or give a chance if we have NO idea what your ECs are. I mean- the only idea we have is that you think they are decent. Are you worried that someone will steal your ideas? If so, you shouldn’t worry- tons of people post their ECs on CC. And really, that is not what I would be focusing on. You should worry more about your GPA as previously stated rather than stressing about disclosing your ECs. Main thing going for you- as your username states- 2400 SAT score. Although there are many perfect scorers who don’t get accepted- not trying to be a downer, but scores alone will not get you accepted.</p>