Chance me? UC/USC/Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>aisrdhfaisdfasd omg I had a whole beautiful wall of text typed out and then I got logged out and auuugh. Anyways, rant over, onwards!!</p>

<p>I'm an Asian chick (of the non-avian variety) living in a pretty populated area of Southern California, first generation American. Undecided major (leaning towards something liberal though)</p>

<p>I'm the first kid in my fam going to a college here in the States so I have no idea how my chances of anything are and it'd be cool if you guys could soothe my jangled nerves...</p>

<p>I'm applying for:
- UC Berkeley (which is basically my dream school omg)
- UCLA
- UCSD
- UCI
- Stanford (ED lol)
- USC (if I can snag a coupla scholarships!!)
- maybe Chicago? (Or would it be a waste of money? I really like their prompts though.)</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.89 unweighted, 4.63 weighted. Class rank 8/542.</p>

<p>SAT: 2270 (Math 690, CR 680, Writing 800) - 690 Math can be substituted with 740 Math for superscore purposes</p>

<p>SAT Subject: Math II 800, Lit 770, US History 760</p>

<p>AP Tests: Physics BC 3, Calculus AB 3, Macroecon 4, US History 4, Psych 4
planning to take the Bio and Lit tests</p>

<p>IB Tests: Econ SL 5, Music Appreciation HL 4 (got a 7 in group performance though)
planning to take the Math HL, Lit HL, World History HL, Chinese SL, Bio HL tests
also gunning for the IB diploma</p>

<p>Courseload is pretty rigorous this year (unfortunately....): IB Math HL, IB Lit HL, IB World History HL, IB Chinese SL, IB Bio, IB Music Appreciation HL, IB Theory of Knowledge
and I've almost exclusively honors for all of high school</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- NHD CA State Finalist
- marching band - 4 years, 1 year as section leader
- part of the school's exclusive pep band
- first chair in wind symphony (the most advanced band class)
- school district honor band member - only ten kids per high school go
- best in the world at sitting at home and surfing the web (forgot to list that part on my actual app though)</p>

<p>Community service:
- volunteered for two weeks over the summer at a camp for autistic kids
- 200+ hours working for the county mental health department over the last three years</p>

<p>Awards:
- Rotary Youth Leadership Award
- awards of recognition/appreciation for volunteer work from:
- the city
- the county
- a local community service organization
- three members of the CA state assembly
- National Merit (I didn't write this on my apps though, because I don't think the UCs care and USC checks that on their own I think)</p>

<p>Work experience:
- freelance graphic designer, 9-12th; and yes, I did get commissions and make money, it's not just for show ~
- activities director, 10-12th; activities director for an online enterprise
- site artist, 10-12th; site artist (drawing stuff as well as photomanipulation) for a (different) online enterprise</p>

<p>My rec letters should be pretty solid; I know one of 'em talks about my being able to draw pretty decently, my unique writing style, and my creativity, and my other one should <em>hopefully</em> wax rhapsodic about my ability to philosophize/carry a good argument/point out unusual viewpoints. (Dunno about my counselor's, though, since basically I've talked to her like five times ever but I gave her an okay brag sheet and she's gotten kids to nice places, so ~)</p>

<p>My essays are a little... edgy? I feel like I come off a little bit too radical/liberal in them and if the reader isn't very open-minded it might not come across properly; I think that they should be decently solid, though. The Common App essay (which I also recycled for one of the UC prompts, heh) was about how I'm a quirky kid that brings up Batman in lit class (and makes it work). The other UC prompt I wrote about my bloody cultural background (yeah, I know Koreans aren't supposed to have anything other than K-Pop to their culture but we DO okay) and the civil rights movement and about how I plan to disturb the universe (T.S. Eliot reference, heh)</p>

<p>Anyways, super hardcore props if you managed to swim through that large wall of text and thanks in advance I love you all (except those of you who get into colleges I get rejected from)!!</p>

2

<p>I think UC Berkeley is a match-low reach. Stanford is a reach (a bit on the high side). The rest of them, I don’t know much about so I won’t send you stumbling down the wrong path. </p>

<p>GPA, SAT are fine, not much a problem. ECs seem very good to me, although maybe lacking some diversity in awards (in reference to your prospective major, which I assume is something artsy). </p>

<p>For freelance graphic designer, did you set up a company? If so, do mention that.</p>

3

<p>Typo on the SAT score? If its really a 2270 superscore:
USC:Match
Stanford: High Reach
UC’s: In at all but maybe LA and Berk
Chicago(using your 1420 M+V): High Reach/Reach w/ good essay</p>

4

<p>Oops yeah that is a typo, my CR score was 780, not 680 e__e - my total score for that one was 2270, my superscore is 2310 ~</p>

<p>Aaaand I forgot to write that my major is undecided, whoops.</p>

<p>Nope on the company, although if they ask for proof or something I could probably compile a portfolio.</p>

<p>And thanks for your posts, guys, they bring me a lot of relief because I had a random moment of panic today and was worried because I didn’t have any true safeties…</p>

<p>Frankly I really doubt I’ll get into Stanford–I just sent in that app because their marching band is one of my favorite organizations ever–so I’ve made my peace with that, haha.</p>

<p>Hopefully kind of reach-y status of Berkeley will be balanced out by the fact that Prop 30 passed and now UCs will probably take more Cali residents??</p>

<p>But seriously thanks so much for your input, guys!</p>

5

<p>casually bumps</p>

6

<p>I think Stanford is a reach, but you still have a shot; UCLA and UC Berkeley you have a pretty good chance, and all others I would be surprised if you didn’t get in.</p>

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<p>Aaah, thank you! Yeah, Stanford’s kinda up there, I kinda applied just for kicks xD</p>

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<p>Your stats are in range for all of these schools, so you have a shot for all of them. Stanford is of course considered a reach for everyone since admissions is so unpredictable. I think you will probably get into UC Berkeley and USC, but you never know. You’ll more than likely get into the rest. If you do apply Chicago, it would fall somewhere between Stanford and Berkeley. Focus on your essays for Chicago, because they put a lot of emphasis on them. You ECs seem a bit typical for the top schools, but they definitely aren’t bad. You essays sound interesting, so if you portrayed yourself well they could pay off.</p>

<p>Oh and just a side note, I’m assuming you mean you applied SCEA to Stanford, not ED since ED is not offered.</p>

9

<p>Fairly good chance to get into all the UC’s, especially if what you say about Prop 30 is true. I have no idea what Prop 30 is. Keep in mind though, that even though by law UCs are unable to accept based on race, this is not the case for private schools. They will see your race as asian and mark you down for it. Just a side not. I’m not very familiar with the other schools beside UCs, so I can’t give much advice on it. Remember that UCs DO NOT superscore. Only private schools superscore. Best of luck.</p>

10

<p>Yup, Prop 30 raised taxes and that money is gonna go solely to the public education system, so yay for Jerry Brown and billions of dollars to the UCs from the state government, haha.</p>

<p>And yeah, it was that other thing, not EA, I am so good at knowing college-y stuff orz</p>

11

<p>bumpin’ this up</p>

12

<p>aaaand bump ~</p>

13

<p>Lets just say I’m mad that you’re my competition, you have outstanding credentials! </p>

<p>I’d say that UCLA and UCB are matches, but your unweighted GPA might bring you down
UCI and UCSD are safeties
USC might be a low reach or a high match
U Chicago is a low reach
chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1423395-chance-me-ucla-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1423395-chance-me-ucla-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>B’aaaw, thank you, that’s rather sweet ~</p>

<p>My UC GPA is unfortunately kinda low (~4.19 I think?) which presents a problem yes :(</p>

<p>Anyways, gonna go chance you back right now!</p>

15

<p>Match for all except for:
Stanford: reach
La & berk: high match</p>

<p>Chance back
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1423237-chance-me-fordham-i-will-chance-back-quickly.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1423237-chance-me-fordham-i-will-chance-back-quickly.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Given your class rank and the rigor of your classes, i would be very, very surprised if you did not get into all the UC’s. i think USC is likely as well. Stanford is a crapshoot for everyone but it seems like you at least have a shot at it. It’s a longshot though, unless your school typically sends more than one or two kids a year there.</p>

<p>I didnt understand what you meant by your intended major. My comments are based on the assumption that you meant that you applied as an undeclared liberal arts major and that you indicated in yr app that you were interested in either humanities or social science (not math or science). </p>

<p>Does your school have Naviance? You csn usually get a pretty good picture of your chances based on that.</p>

17

<p>@RaySmith2 - I’d chance you back, but I’m afraid I don’t know anything about Fordham D:</p>

<p>@nottelling - err, for intended major, I put undecided/undecided college of letters and science for all of 'em ~ so yup, undecided liberal arts major!</p>

<p>Unfortunately my school does not have Naviance (we’re actually a pretty poor school, lol)</p>

<p>Thanks to both of you! :)</p>

18

<p>You should get into all of those schools except Stanford which is a reach for everyone.</p>

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<p>Aaah, thank you!!</p>

20

<p>up up and away</p>