Chance Me: Stanford, Columbia, UVA, UF; Lots of research experience

Hello! I’m a white, female, high school senior at a pretty competitive small public high school (around 350 students total). I’ve been there since my sophomore year. My school doesn’t rank its students and it only offers like 4 AP classes in total, so I’ve only taken AP Calculus AB (5). I’ve taken a lot of other advanced, non-AP classes though including Organic Chemistry, Modern Genetics, Calculus 3, Differential Equations, and Quantum Mechanics.

Test Scores: 34
GPA: 4.0 UW
ECs:

  • I think this is where I really shine/ my passion really comes through.
  • Paid internship at Stennis Space Center with NRL (Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program); Mainly comp sci work for 8 wks
  • Chemistry Research with a professor for a year.
  • Worked with researchers from NCSU over the summer in machine learning.
  • Currently working with researchers from UVA on machine learning and materials science research; second author on published paper
  • Chemistry Club President for 2 years (only be president of 1 club/yr)
  • SGA Executive President 1 year, SGA senator the year before
  • Founder and Sole writer of school’s science newsletter; I interview alum and current students
  • Beta Club treasurer and then Vice President.
  • Writing Tutor for 2 years
  • School Ambassador
  • Powerlifting all 4 years, top 3 in state every year, 4th at nationals in 2019
  • Cross Country, varsity 2 years
  • Track and Field, varsity 1 year

Essays:
They’re pretty strong and original

Recommendations:
Strong, I know all my recommenders really well

First, congratulations on your achievements! Whatever happens, you’ve done really well.

Now, to the nitty gritty. What is your state of residency. If you are a Virginia resident, UVA would be a match. If you are OOS, UVA is a solid reach. UF is a match/low match (or lower, depending)

Columbia is a high reach for everybody, and Stanford is a lottery ticket. You are competitive, but but for every competitive applicant who is accepted, 4-5 are rejected. So apply and hope, but don’t expect.

What do you want to major in, and why these colleges?

I’m not from Virginia so UVA is highly dependent on what kind of aid I’m looking at. I’m currently planning on majoring in applied physics or materials engineering. I know a few people who’ve gone to each and they’ve all really enjoyed it. Thank you!

I would recommend that you look at Purdue, UIUC, CMU, and Cornell for Materials Engineering, rather than anything on your list except for Stanford and UF. For Physics, I would also recommend those.

For either Physics or Materials engineering, I would not recommend either UVA or Columbia over a long list of colleges, many of which have higher admission rates, and which would be matches for you (in fact, for physics, some may be safeties).

What is your state of residence?

Hey! I just wanted to ask where you were able to take the Quantum Mechanics class! I am really interested in that topic and could not find that class available anywhere!

I’m from Louisiana. Thank you for your recommendations. I’ll have to (re)look into those schools.

I was able to take it through my high school

If that’s the case, I would recommend that you focus on private colleges, since they are likely to cost less. At UVA and UF you will pay out-of-state prices, which is true for UIUC and Purdue as well.

Still, I think that you should definitely replace Columbia with Cornell.

You should also read this article if you are looking to finish a BS in Physics: https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.1620833#t1

You do have a couple of things going for you, strong application and female STEM from LA, which is not a highly represented state. It doesn’t mean you’ll get in of course, but it does increase your chances, also you’re assuming your TO. It’s tough to do chances these days, especially with covid, but I think the Cornell over Columbia is a good suggestion, you proabably have a better chance at UF over UVA, Stanford, probably better than the RD rate of 4-5%, try and find out how your school has done with these colleges.

Also assuming that you’re pursuing weightlifting as a recruitable sport anywhere, as that would be your best chance of getting in.

You’ve got a very interesting profile. I think you have a decent chance. Stanford will be tough, but I think Columbia is a possibility. Did you submit a research supplement?

I submitted two research supplementals for Columbia (on work at UVA and NCSU), but I haven’t seen anything on how much weight they will have in admissions.