Chance me? Sophomore! Stanford/Northwestern/Yale

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Here's what I have so far:
Gender: Female
Race: Chinese
Location: Wisconsin, in a pretty good school. My grade is particularly competitive...</p>

<p>Rank: 1st (weighted), 5th (unweighted), top 1%
Class size: 291
GPA: 4.443 unweighted, 5.something weighted (weird weighting system at my school, but it works for me :) )</p>

<p>Some EC's/Awards:
Intel ISEF-Affiliated Science Fair: 3rd State (physics), 1st Regional (physics)
Policy Debate 2008-2009 (1st place in several novice tournaments and JV, Qualled and went to CFL nationals in varsity, and did several varsity tournaments)
Asian Pacific Islander Club (Probably president next year)
Community Service Club (Probably some position next year)
Tutor in STAR Tutoring Program (2009)
Dean's List/Honor Roll
Diving (JV team, first in conference)
National History Day Honorable Mention State 2009
National History Day 1st Regionals 2009
MYSO winner, finalist, and honorable mention (trying to win!) 2005-6, 2006-7, 2007-8 respectively.
MYSO Principal cellist/Associate principal 2005-2006, 2006-2007, currently 3rd stand in highest orchestra and have a really good shot at moving up next year to principal (leadership position).
MSO Stars of tomorrow honorable mentions (trying to win!)
Planning on doing wildlife/biology research soon, possibly another try at science fair next year.
Principal cellist in highest school orchestra
Pit orchestra for 2 years already
Cello is my biggest focus. I've been playing since 4th grade, and have been going at these competitions vigorously. </p>

<p>Courseload(s):
8th Grade:
Honors Algebra (at high school, I'm a year ahead in math)</p>

<p>Freshman Year
Honors Global History
Honors English
Honors Geometry
Spanish 2+ (highest level available as freshman)
Biology A (highest level available as freshman)
Chamber Orchestra A (highest level available)
PE</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
AP European
Computer Programming 1A (AP Computer Programming is next, or other wise self study)
Honors English
AP Chemistry (took chemistry over the summer at Northwestern's Center for Talent Development)
Honors Pre-calculus
Spanish 3A (highest level available currently)
Chamber Orchestra A
AP Music theory (Self study first semester, second semester with teacher).</p>

<p>Junior year (expected)
APUSH, AP Bio, AP Calc BC, AP Physics B/C, Honors English, Honors Spanish, Chamber Orchestra,</p>

<p>Senior year (expected)
AP English, AP Micro/Macro Economics, AP Statistics, AP Spanish 5, Chamber Orchestra, AP Computer Science AB, Community internship, and something else,</p>

<p>Definitely most challenging load available at my school, all A's/A+'s so far. Exams are next week, but I doubt my grades will drop.</p>

<p>Summer (Freshman year to sophomore):
Dartmouth Debate Institute (though I didn't debate this year because my parents had been forcing me and I really hated it)
Northwestern's CTD (Chemistry) - LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Got an A in the class.
Other Summer plans (sophomore to junior):
Summer school requirements like gym and info/tech class</p>

<p>Rec's should be really good (my counselor really likes me, and I'm probably interning with him for my business credits). Essays should be good. Will be in NHS and Spanish NHS, and probably national merit award something.</p>

<p>Sister went to Stanford and graduated about 2-3 years ago.</p>

<p>SAT score in 8th grade with Northwestern was about 1960 composite, mid 600s in each. Wi
ll take again soon in junior year.</p>

<p>I would <em>love</em> to attend:
1)Stanford
2)Yale
2)Northwestern
3)Possibly Caltech or Berkeley
Plan to major in science or math related field.
Backups are probably UPenn or Madison or Columbia. I'll figure them out later</p>

<p>Financial aid:
Most definitely would need financial aid (after taxes <70,000/60000)</p>

<p>Please chance and/or give advice on how I could improve my chances to get into these schools. I don't feel like I stand out :(</p>

<p>I'll chance back! :)</p>

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<p>At the rate you are going I think you can make any school. Stanford, Yale, Northwestern. Do your BEST in junior year, that’s the year that’s going to count the most…</p>

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<p>on what scale is your UW gpa?</p>

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<p>A —> 4.0
b —> 3.0
c —> 2.0
d —> 1.0
f —> 0</p>

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<p>lol. you can’t get more than 4.0 UW on a 4.0 scale, it defies the law of averages. Didn’t you learn anything in your 8th grade honors algebra course?</p>

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<p>Ok, its great that your excited to get into college, but honestly no one can tell you your chances, ever. They can’t tell anyone’s. We’re all guessing. But, your only a sophomore, so your extremely difficult. To the point, concentrate on continuing your good grades. Go look at the other chances blogs and see what you will be competing with. The schools your competing for do not want “oh, but I took APs, my B is good” you want A’s. (but some lower grades should never stop you from applying)Plus, right now, it should be easier to get good grades than it will be, say, next year, when most people take the toughest workload. If you want you could try out studying SAT, but don’t let it distract from your real job right now. Honestly, I would recommend if you’re already this motivated to study over the summer and take the SAT in at the end of it. That’s 3 months of no school to remember, just SAT. I will I had. Also, don’t overload yourself with extra curriculars, schools want to see you involved in depth. Pick some of the ones you love the most, or are related to your expected major/career.</p>

<p>Hope this helps a little, glad your doing better than I ever did. Do your friends a favor, tell them how important it is to become aware of the college process now. I didn’t figure it out until August of my senior year when I relized I might want to go out of state lol.</p>

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<p>This has nothing to do with averages. At my school for an A is 4 points. However if you take an AP class you get an extra .025 points, but this is added at the end of the semester so if i get a 3.8 (UW) but i took 4 APs, 4x .025 = .1, so what’s 3.8 + .1? 3.9</p>

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<p>To the GPA people: Our school does it based on a 4.67 scale (if you get 4.67, it means you have all A+'s) or something, and A+'s have different values than A’s or A-'s or B+'s. Our other one is out of 5.83 or something and depends on if you take honors or accelerated or basic classes, and if you get A’s, A-'s, or A+'s etc. If I do it on JamJoe’s 4.0 scale, then I have a 4.0 GPA. Still haven’t gotten a single B or even an A-.</p>

<p>JamJoe: Thanks, but I feel like from what I’ve seen on other threads, I’m just the average kid. I can see the people who are 2nd and 3rd in my class going to Stanford because they’re doing special lab research on cancer or whatever… I’m still a sophomore, which is why I’m posting my stats early and trying to get suggestions before it’s too late.</p>

<p>Traveler2be: I’ve got all A’s in my AP’s (and an A+ in AP Chem now :slight_smile: We’ll see if it stays that way after exams), and I know I’m looking at top tier schools so I know the people I’m competing with have super high grades, and are all trying to stand out. Thanks for the SAT advice though. I’ve been beginning to prep with test books and practice questions from the CollegeBoard daily. As for extracurriculars, my main focuses are music and science (biology/ecology will be my focus if I can get the research assistant position I’m looking for). Most of the other stuff like tutoring/Asian Club/Community Service Club/Dean’s List aren’t really my focus. I do plan on volunteering at a humane society though to add to the lack of service + I just really like animals :)</p>

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<p>your amazing,but i don’t know what your chances are at yale and stanford,for others you are in.</p>

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<p>To the GPA people (edit): Our school does it based on a 4.67 (or maybe 4.83, I’m not sure) scale (if you get 4.67, it means you have all A+'s). Each grade has a different value, so A+ is different from A, and A is different from A-, and A- is different from B+.</p>

<p>I also forgot to add state solo and ensemble and stuff with best possible score (didn’t do state last year, but qualified. just didn’t feel like hiring an accompanist for $60-80). I’ll probably do it this year though, and the following two years (even if it’s shelling out a lot of money).</p>

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<p>bbbuuummmppp</p>

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<p>last bump? :(</p>

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<p>oh well… i mean i do chance back, but i should just give up on this thread…</p>

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<p>You’re on the right track, but we can’t chance you until we have standardized test scores.</p>

<p>My advice: take the ACT and SAT multiple times and study, study, study for them.</p>