Chance me porfapls

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi all, please chance me for the following schools if you can:

Columbia University
University of Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College
Northeastern University
NYU
BU
Wash U St. Louis
Middlebury
UF

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 34C (36E. 32M, 36R, 31S)
SAT II: 800 Spanish, 730 US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.65
Weighted GPA (out of ??): 4.52
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 18/732
AP (place score in parenthesis): English Lang (5), Spanish Lang (5), APUSH (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): not offered
Senior Year Course Load: Ceramics 1, AP European History, AP English Lit, Band, AP Biology, Peer Counseling (some mandatory online class), AP Calculus AB, AP US Gov/ AP Macroeconomics (semesters)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Jon Kersten Memorial Award, given to 5 marching band kids in Florida, Nominated for National Hispanic Recognition Program, AP Scholar, Harvard Prize Book at my high school, State Solo and Ensemble Superior Award 2016 and 2017, (Idk if it counts, but most outstanding Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior in Top 3 in the state band program??), not much else though, maybe all principal honor roll in 11th?

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Marching Band (9-12, Librarian in 11 and Band Captain in 12), our band is state finalist every year, being top 3 in the last 2 years, has a strong leadership curriculum and is very well known in our area.
-Student Conductor for Wind Ensemble, which achieved district, state, and national Superiors, awarded Best Brass award in US at Nationals 2017, went to nationals in 2016.
-Participant in local and regional music programs, Principal Chair at All District, two years in a row, Seated top chair at every local college honor band (UMiami, USF), Participant at highly selective Side by Side Program of the New World Symphony, played with a Grammy-nominated Conductor.
-National Honor Society Chapter at my school, (11 and officer in 12)
-Math Honor Society in 11 and 12
-English Honor Society in 12
-Speech and Debate Club in 12

Volunteer/Community service: Over 100 hours volunteering for my band program, setting up the school for local events such as music evaluations and auditions, and community service at all football games, another 100 hours at Local Community Youth Orchestra throughout the last 3 years, played free concerts for low-income communities in the area, done local fundraisers. Also done about 20 hours for National Honor Society, setting up boards in the school and helping set up fundraisers and club events, as well as school beautification, etc.
Summer Activities: Just prepared for national level auditions for programs such as National Youth Orchestra of the USA and state programs such as All-State.

Essays: About the way music has seeped into all aspects of my life, especially literature, where dynamics and tonal shifts are present. Showed it to a college counselor, they said it looked great, and so did all my teachers.

Teacher Recommendations: One from AP Lang teacher who I’m really close to, was always the best student of all his classes, one of the only 2 who scored a 5 in the exam. was really eager, should be really good.
The other from my Pre-Calc and now AP Calc teacher, has a really good impression of me because of my energetic participation in class and since I frequently went to see her to ask her for extra help even when I didnt need it, should be good I’m hoping
Counselor Rec: Has a really good opinion of me after my PSAT Junior year, I always go see him in his office for any scholarship stuff, etc, should be a good letter.
Other
State (if domestic applicant): FL
School Type: Public School
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: around 40K
Assets: None
Property: None
Extenuating Circumstances:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Hispanic, immigrant parents, low income bracket?? Also music maybe???

Please chance me if you read, would be happy with any of the schools I listed, major is in social sciences, probably in history or poli science.

2

Honestly, you just don’t have that much oomph for the top schools on your list. Your grades and scores are good, but not exceptional, and your ECs are weak for a social science major. Most of your activities are band, which is great, but you are not a music major so they don’t help you that much. It doesn’t really seem like you did much else than band and academics, which isn’t enough for the top schools. However, for sme of the other schools, you have a good, solid chance.

3

@sashachup I disagree with your assessment!!
Regardles of major, his passion and commitment to the music program at his school is admirable. Some colleges will really appreciate that he doesn’t have a laundry list of ECs and that he focused on music. Also a 34 on the ACT puts him in range for all schools on his list.

4

@ssjstudent I never said his dedication to music wasn’t admirable, however, programs at top schools are incredibly competitive. Musical achievement is a great added bonus, but sadly it can’t be the main focus of an application unless it is the students career plan. Also, I am not by any means advocating a laundry list of ECs. Colleges want to see that you have a passion, one that you are good at and plan to pursue for the rest of your life. And an ACT score that high is remarkable, but everyone applying to Columbia, UPenn, Swarthmore, and WashU will have comparable scores and higher GPAs, as well as ECs that relate to their program of choice. I’m not saying he doesn’t have a chance, just that making it into those schools is unlikely. One can have a 4.0 and a 36 and still be denied from all his top choices. BU and NYU, however, I believe that he will most likely make it into.

5

@sashachup I did admissions for a top 50 college and honestly this statement is wrong, “Colleges want to see that you have a passion, one that you are good at and plan to pursue for the rest of your life”
being a musician requires a level of commitment and study that are unique.