Chance Me: Stanford, Duke, Yale, Vandy, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi all!

I’m an Asian female senior and applying to college this fall. I was wondering if someone could look at my stats and predict what schools/programs/scholarships I can get. I want to do in something pre-Health, and Vandy had a major I really liked called Health, Medicine, and Society and it explores the sociology aspect of medicine and working with patients, etc (so I’d look for major similar to that or create my own like the Duke Program II major option). I’d want to minor/get a certificate in Environmental Studies.

Colleges I’m exploring are: Stanford, Duke, Yale, UPenn, Vandy, Rice, Emory, UVA, UMD, and maybe Brown/WashU in SL. I’d be applying to every school’s Arts&Science school.

I’m also open to any suggestions to which schools to apply!

Duke was my top choice for a long time, and I was going to ED but I’m not sure I can handle that commitment. So, I’m currently planning on REA to Stanford (now my top choice), EA to UVA, and Priority to UMD, with regular to eveyrthing else. However, I’m scared I’ll get rejected from Duke RD and not sure if I’m wasting my time REA to Stanford (do I have a chance?) I was planning on submitting a music supplement (art portfolio) to all my schools, but the deadline for Stanford for art portfolio and REA is October 15 and I’m not sure if my application will be my strongest at that point. I do think the music supplement will add to my application positively (especially at Stanford where it will help me stand out since they don’t have a music school like Yale does) but should I forsake my art portfolio and apply to Stanford REA without it, to meet the Nov 1 deadline? Or just apply RD to Stanford (with the arts portfolio) and REA Yale? Please help.

My Qualifications:
GPA- 4.0/4.0; 4.81/5.0
SAT- 2310, Superscore: 2340
SAT II- Math 2: 800; Biology: 800
National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar w Distinction (all 5’s on APs)
Senior course load: AP Psychology, AP English Lit, AP Physics: Mechanics, Hon. Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations (above AP BC Calc level), Design Tech Solutions, Hon Spanish 4/5, and Hon Wind Symphony (where I’m Principal Flute)
I’m in every single Honor Society (Spanish, History, English, Math, Science, Music Academy) and applied for National Honor Society, which I’m pretty sure I will be accepted.
Certificate of Meritorious Service (State Award), since I have about 600 SSL hours and passed the qualification of 260 hours

Extracurriculars:

  1. Cheer (3 years)
  2. Captain of JV, led my team to 1st Place at counties
  3. Got pulled up to Varsity & competed as a Varsity member while I was also JV Captain (attended two practices back to back everyday after school)
  4. member of Varsity Cheer, currently
  5. Achieved the State Award of Minds In Motion: Student-Athlete Award every single year
  6. Youth Building Bridges (3 years)
  7. Program where students in American high schools make lesson plans in English, History, Science, Music, and Art, attend leadership seminars to bring out teacher/leader in everyone, and then travel overseas to China for 3 weeks to teach our lesson plans to disadvantaged students in rural China
  8. First two years, I was a member of this program and taught (we would teach for almost 12 hours a day)
  9. The third year, I was selected by the program directors to become, first, the English Lesson Planning Leader (the most difficult and vital of all lesson planning position), and based on my performance with that, selected as one of two (out of 40 American high schoolers) U.S. Team Leaders and the Leader of the Event Planning Committee • As English lesson planning leader, I directed, edited, and organized 10 other student volunteers in creating detailed and appropriate English lesson plans • As Leader of Event Planning Committee, I coordinated the program, scripts, and positions of various members in the annual YBB ceremony, as well as acted as one of the hosts and performers (flute); I directed and presided over a leadership conference between University students and YBB volunteers (creating the structure); I wrote scripts, organized, and presided as host in the First Bonfire Opening Ceremony with Shanghai Yangtze High students (cultural exchange) • As U.S. Team Leader, I oversaw structure and organization of over 60 student volunteers (combination of American high schoolers and Chinese college students) as well as oversaw and critiqued their performance and teaching
  10. Flute, 10 years
  11. Principal Flute of my school's top Wind Symphony • Freshman year I was 2nd chair Principal Flute of the middle band (you have to audition in) • Sophomore year I was a First Flute (fourth chair) of the top band (audition for seating every year) • Junior year, First Flute (third chair) of top band • Senior year, Principal Flute (first chair of first flute) of top band, therefore the leader of the band
  12. Assistant Principal Flute of American Youth Philharmonic (1 year) • Selected from two-round audition process to lead the Second Flute section
  13. First Flute, New Life Youth Orchestra (1 Year) • Visited and played music for residents at nursing homes, hospitals, and homeless shelters to lift their spirits
  14. President of Helping Hands Club (3 years)
  15. Student Director, K9 Lifesaver Adoption Events • Organized 20 other student volunteers • Handled dogs and talked to prospective adopters about assigned dog
  16. Student Coordinator, Coalition for the Homeless • Organized over 20 people and arranged event logistics • Made over 300 sandwiches to donate to local homeless shelters
  17. President of Fun Runs Club (3 years)
  18. I coordinate and lead weekend hikes for club members
  19. Lead conditioning sessions afterschool, and promote fun, healthy living through themed runs
  20. SGA Secretary (Senior Year) - member of Senior Exec Board
  21. Ran for this position, competing against another candidate, and the entire school voted and I won
  22. I led my school in becoming more spirited
  23. Organized the Homecoming and brand-new Sadie Hawkins dances
  24. Assisted in creating the first Student Senate
  25. Keep everyone informed by sending out all the emails, notes taken during meetings, ideas
  26. WCHS Ambassador
  27. After applying and interview, was selected
  28. Lead new students and parents on tours of the school
  29. Help new students feel at home here
  30. Intern at FDA, Center for Biology, Vaccinology Department
  31. I contributed to a study on the effects of mumps virus on en viro cells
  32. Treasurer for Mycology Club (1 year)
  33. Lead nature walks
  34. Sell shirts to raise money for American Forests to promote the conservation of mushrooms, nature, & the environment
  35. Author of a book (done in 6th grade so not on my Common App EC section but mentioned in my CA essay & on resume if colleges require one)
  36. Wrote a chapter book, found a self-publishing company to publish it (Fantasy, Children's Chapter Book, 200+ pages)
  37. Donate the proceeds to nonprofit environmental conservation and animal protection organizations
  38. Book-signing at my local schools’ book fairs to promote literacy and nature conservation
  39. I continue to write creatively in my free time but haven't finished/published anything since that book in 6th grade

Please be candid, I will chance back! Thank you!

2

Self-published books are not considered impressive, nor will colleges care about achievements in 6th grade.

3

so what do you think my chances are?

4

Your chances are good at Vanderbilt. For the rest, your horoscope can tell you as much as anyone who isn’t an admissions officer at the schools in question.

5

I think you have done your best!
Sit and relax and see where your fate takes you now!

6

Strong Musical background. Definitely something I would focus my application on since you’ve been involved with the flute for so long. Your GPA and scores definitely won’t hurt you for Stanford/Duke/Yale, I think it’s just important for you to focus on essays and recommendations. Other than that, I think you are certainly an above average applicant, and have a good chance at getting into any of those 3.

Chance me back: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1814801-chance-an-ipho-medallist-for-princeton.html#latest

7

If you apply to Vanderbilt or Duke ED you will very likely get in- regular you still have a strong chance although it gets quite considerably harder. Stanford and the Ivies are a reach for everyone but you seem to have as much of a chance as anyone. You will get into Rice, Emory, UVA, and UMD almost for sure. Good luck!

8

What years did you do these things? 9th, 10th? All senior year? Over the summer? I think if you specify that, it’ll look more realistic because right now, it looks like you’re all over the place. Try limiting which ECs you put and really emphasize those in the image you want to build for the person reading your application.

9

Thank you so much! I’ve been in love with Duke for so long (was planning on ED for most of my high school career) and I get really “possessive,” I guess, about Duke when I hear about other people applying. I just started researching Stanford and I love it so much; Stanford is the ultimate dream, but it’s incredibly far and expensive to travel home. Though I would choose Duke easily over any other school, including Yale/other Ivy’s, but it is on even footing with Stanford. Do you recommend I ED to Duke? The commitment is so… binding though. Should I waste my time on Stanford?

10

Yeah I’d say you’d get into Rice easy. For one, Rice is much more accepting of Asian students. (I think something like 23% of the Rice student body is Asian.) I wish I could provide more information, but Rice is really the only school I feel comfortable commenting on because I spent a weekend there and feel like I know a little bit about the school.

11

Thank you for the response! I also feel somewhat comfortable about Rice, as they sent me a fee-waiver for the application (they really want me to apply?)

12

@jwang217 They do that for a lot of people, but it’s a good sign none the less. Honestly, you’ve got ridiculously good stats and Rice is going to acknowledge that. I’m not sure if Rice really cares about interest, but if you communicate to them that you want to attend I think you’d get in.

13

@DressingIron You say Rice is more accepting of Asian students… Which schools do you think I have a lower chance of acceptance based on my ethnicity?

14

@jwang217

I’m sure someone else can pen a way better explanation of this than me, but I think you’re likely to face discrimination in admissions at most of the schools you apply to – which isn’t to say you can’t get in, because you have fantastic stats and a great application and, by rights, you deserve to be in a top school.

Every school accepts Asian applicants, but pretty much every school has different standards for people depending on whether or not you’re a URM, white, or an ORM. The bar is set higher for Asian applicants because more Asian applicants have better stats, which is a really twisted way to handle admissions but, at this point in America, that’s the reality of it.

I hope that didn’t sound overly cold or callous because I’m rooting for you.

15

I think you have a pretty good chance at all the schools, I’d ED to duke smce it’ll help your case by conveying your interest. Stanford will be pretty tough but I’d still apply for the heck of it. Also, you might want to slim your EC. No clue if you can fit it all, and if you could, not sure it’s relevant

16

@andyis Thank you so much for the reply! But is it worth ED to Duke? Will it really give me that much more advantage - like could I be accepted ED but rejected if i applied RD?

17

I think you have a really good chance at all those schools, especially Duke and Stanford!! If duke is your #1, apply ED!

18

I strongly reccomend that you apply to Duke ED.

19

@jwang217, your academic credentials are impeccable for any of the schools on your list, including Stanford. Your combination of GPA, standardized tests (and your APs will reinforce these) and curricular rigor are very strong. There will be no question about your ability to handle the academics. Congratulations on a fine effort.

Your ECs show some nice diversity, especially for an Asian applicant, but are a bit diffuse and scattered. There can be a fine line at times between appearing to have broad interests and appearing all over the place. Try to present yourself as having a clear narrative and coherent story. I think that your interest in the sociology aspect of medicine is a nice angle to explore in essays, and a way to tie together some of your EC interests.

You have a terrific list of schools, including many of my personal favorites that sometimes get overlooked a bit by applicants focused on just the Ivies of HYPSM. What is it about Stanford that suddenly appeals to you? It’s a fabulous school (I went there) and probably a good fit for you, but I get the impression that if Duke were EA instead of ED that you wouldn’t be hesitating.

I think Duke is pretty perfect for your interests. If your not familiar with him, look up Paul Farmer, the medical anthropologist and MacArthur Prize Winner, who was a Duke anthropology grad.

I don’t think it makes sense to apply REA to Stanford without a flute supplement, as that is a major strength for you. I think there are 2 ways you could go:

  1. Apply REA to Stanford with a flute supplement. Then apply RD to Duke, Yale, Vanderbilt and Rice. Even if you get in to Stanford, I'd probably apply to these schools to keep your options open. Duke, Vandy and Rice all have merit aid that could be appealing, and Yale music is phenomenal.
  2. Apply ED to Duke, with a flute supplement. I think you would stand a strong chance of getting in given your academic credentials, ED, and your flute, assuming you can put together a strong application. Given that Duke has been your "dream school" for so long, this wouldn't be a bad thing. If you didn't get in, or got deferred, then you could apply to Stanford and the other schools. I think you might stand a better chance at Stanford RD compared with REA, especially if your flute supplement wouldn't be ready by next week.

It’s a hard call. Personally, I’d probably ED to Duke in your situation, especially if your flute supplement won’t be ready.

Good luck!

20

Honestly, I can say with 95% confidence that you would at least get into Emory, Vanderbilt, Duke, or Rice. The others are huge crapshoots (Duke kind of is as well, but to a lesser extent than some of the others listed). I was admitted to all of these colleges I mentioned, which is why I’m commenting on them, and I ended up going to Rice. As important as acceptance seems right now, I’d honestly make sure to put just as much time into looking into the nitty-gritty of your top choices and really evaluate what you hope to have in the next (very expensive) four years of your life. If I could do the whole process all over again, I would have applied to about eight colleges instead of 18 and would have done a lot more looking into the culture at the different campuses. You will receive an impeccable education at any of the institutions you may get into/select, so it may be more helpful to look at the place where you think you would be the happiest. (Rice ranks quite highly for quality of student life and student happiness, btw)