CHANCE ME!!! Princeton, UCHICAGO, Columbia, Harvard, Georgetown and APPLICATION TIPS???

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everybody!!! I am currently a junior and would just like some insight on my chances for the above schools…basically so I can decide if they would be worth applying to or if there is not hope :slight_smile:

Also, because I still have some time to apply and I’m starting early…could anyone please provide some useful applications tips? Perhaps what I should include or not include…just to make it as good as possible. It would be much appreciated!!!
(I REALLY NEED TO HAVE ALL OF MY APPLICATIONS DONE BY SEPTEMBER)

I am a US citizen, but I attend an international school in Europe

Intended major: Anthropology, Biological Sciences, or Chemistry (I would like to study infectious diseases or history)

Race/Gender: White female

Demographics: Middle class, expat student, IB international school

GPA: IB Programme 40/42 (without bonus points)

Rank: 1/93 (I go to a pretty small school)

SAT: 1530 (750 R/W) (780 Math) 20 Essay (First time, so I’m gonna take it again in May)

SAT II: Haven’t taken them yet, but I’ll take them in June (Biology, USH, and Math 2) Should do better on bio and math than on history

AP: N/A
IB (Predicted grades): Eng Lang Lit HL (7), Spanish ab initio SL (7), History SL (7), Bio HL (7), Chem HL (6), Math HL (6)

ECs/Work/Volunteer/Community Service:

  • Violin (14 years), Orchestra (various positions within), part of a traveling group String quartet
  • Green Team (3 years), Co-founder of school-wide recycling program
  • Volunteered at CDC office (helped with data analysis and input) (a few weeks)
  • Worked at office at American embassy for 1 summer
  • MUN (4 years, held chair position 1 year) (this goes in with violin as a performance theme…I would like to include it because it really helped me to become a better speaker and a better performer)
  • Volunteered at a health clinic in Africa (a few weeks), shadowed a doctor
  • Volunteer tutor (math, chemistry, biology)
  • Designed and created a website amount malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases
  • Running (3 years) more for physical fitness and personal enjoyment (am unsure if I should include this…seems to take a step away from my other activities in terms of theme and stuff)
  • Science fair (3 years) (won 1 year, special award the next)
  • (Hasn't happened yet) Will volunteer at Cancer research institute in USA for 8 week unpaid internship, shadowing and doing own research. I am unsure if it will be able to be published though.

Teacher Recommendation 1: 10/10 (science teacher), LOVES ME
Teacher Recommendation 2: 8/10 (english teacher), likes me but not as much as science teacher
Counselor Recommendation: 6/10, probably not as notable. Don’t know them very well (haven’t actually read the recommendation though)

Common App Essay: (I have already written it) I wrote about how moving overseas (Africa) helped to shape my interests in disease and anthropology (things I hadn’t really been exposed to before) , whereas when I lived in the states I was very hesitant to move outside of my comfort zone
Notes: because I have so much time…I may rewrite it. I am afraid it may be too generic. Pls give tips

Course rigor: I’d say I pushed myself pretty hard. I still have a year left, but I will be continuing my current ECs and my all of my courses because IB is a 2 year program sooooo

Yea hopefully I gave enough info…THANK YOU SO MUCH! in advance
AND CONGRATS TO EVERYONE THAT GOT INTO THEIR DREAM SCHOOLS OR COLLEGES IN GENERAL!!!

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I think you have a high chance of getting into any school you want but if you are aiming ivy i would recommend getting better recommendations and try showing more leadership position like creating more of an “impact.” for Columbia you might want to show more of a diversity in studies/outside activities like something similar to the core classes they have. You have an awesome chance of getting into Georgetown I know some ppl that got in similar to you. You might want to take more challenging course so more AP and make sure you do well in them. In my opinion, if you get stronger recommendations you got a good shot but ivy schools are super unpredictable it hard to tell whether or not you will get in

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@hopeful6101

Thanks for your feedback!

I’ll definitely look for more leadership opportunities to really show my interests through “impact.” Columbia is super tricky though, but I’ll try. However, because I’m in Europe (currently) and travel to Africa A LOT there’s the issue with the language barrier which hinders my ability to really get out there. Hopefully this isn’t too much to ask, but do you have any suggestions? If not, that’s ok, I’m gonna ask a few of my teachers nonetheless.

As for AP classes, my school is super small and only offers IB :confused: and all college classes that I could take are not in a language I am proficient enough in to comprehend :frowning:

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TL; DR

No one can chance you for these schools. Many applicants have a resume more impressive than yours.

5

Sorry I forgot to add which other schools I will be applying to:

Princeton (#2 choice)
Harvard
UChicago (#1 choice)
University of Alabama
Georgetown
UVA
UNC
Carnegie Mellon
Columbia
Northwestern
Northeastern
University of Wisconsin Madison

Here is my list so far? Are there any other suggestions that would maybe fit my application better? Or are these pretty good?

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@Muad_dib Aww too bad. In what ways are they more impressive? I would definitely like to improve if it is possible!

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bump?

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@Emiris I think this is amazing! I don’t have nearly the impressive application you have, and I still got into some nice schools (i.e Boston University, American University, George Washington University), so you will shine wherever you go! Best of luck!

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You will definitely get into UNC. I am a senior and I got in with far less impressive statistics. Make sure you apply early action as well because I feel you could definitely get some scholarships. Definitely consider it though because the price is very good for the education!

As for ivy leagues, they’re a reach for anyone, but you could definitely get into UChicago in my opinion. If you do, their financial aid is fantastic and they have a no-loan program. With UChicago though, (and likely ivy leagues), getting in is mostly about your essay. You need to spend a significant amount of time on the essay, especially at UChicago. That is the make or break to getting into these universities.

But good luck! You’ve definitely worked really hard and deserve to go to any of these places!