Hi!
I’m currently a high school junior and over winter break I’ve been looking closely into what I want to major in and what potential colleges I would want to apply to. So far, I’m almost 100% positive that I want to major in chemistry. I’m very interested in jobs more in the science or maybe even medical field and I absolutely loved my honors chemistry class. I am going to be taking AP Chem starting 2nd semester. (Yeah, my high school is weird. We operate on a block schedule and have two semesters like a college.) Because I haven’t nailed down what exact career I’d be interested in yet, even though I do have a couple in mind, I want to minor or at least take several classes in biology as well.
Now that I’m pretty set on my major, I began to search for colleges that are known for having a strong chemistry backbone. And what do you know, but many of the Ivies certainly have well known programs even if chem isn’t what they are necessary known for. I’ve gone through a list and selected about 10 colleges that I would like to apply to. I picked several what I thought would be reach, match, and safety schools. However, I want to know whether my chances of actually getting into my reach schools are so unrealistic that it’s better to save my time and money applying.
To begin, my top 5 reach are
- Harvard
- MIT
- Yale
- Princeton
- Cornell
Obviously to chance me however you’ll need some stats.
I’ve taken the SAT once in August when I was 15. I got a 1560 with a 760 in reading/writing and a 800 in math. I plan on taking it again. I am 3rd in my class (of about 170ish) right now, but based on the other students in front of me I will be 2nd or 1st by the end of senior year. (I have better grades than they both do, but due to circumstances they got a head start in taking AP’s before me so their AP weight is keeping them ahead until I catch up.) Again, my high school is weird, and they don’t give out GPAs on a 4.0 scale but rather as a grade. Mine is 105.1% currently.
So far, I’ve only taken one AP exam (AP World) and got a 5. That was my sophomore year. This year, I’m taking APUSH, AP Psych, AP Calc AB and BC, and AP Chem. Next year, I will most likely be taking AP Gov, AP Spanish Lang, AP Lit, AP Stats, and AP Bio. If I had to guess, I’m very confident in getting a 5 in APUSH and AP Calc BC. AP Psych is most likely a 5, while AP Chem is a 4 or 5. The reason for this is that the only AP Chem teacher in my school does not teach for the AP exam and many very intelligent students were not able to score a 5 with him teaching. This is very disappointing for me especially as I want to major in chem, but to counteract this I plan on self studying during my free time starting in January when my AP Chem class begins.
For AP Subject tests, I took World History and got an 800. I plan on taking the Chemistry one also, and we’ll see how that goes after my self studying.
For athletics, I run cross country and track. I have run for two years and while I have never received a medal, this past year I was 3rd on the team and two years ago I went to states with my team and ran 4th. In track, I went to districts for the 400 and placed 9th (one away from placing). My best accomplishment has been with discus. I have been throwing since 7th grade and as a freshman got 6th in districts and last year placed 3rd, one place away from going to states. I am training hard this winter and hoping for a shot at states this upcoming season. However, to downplay these accomplishments I am also in AA, not AAA, so it is not as competitive. However, based on my performance last season I would have received a medal even in AAA at districts for discus.
As for extracurriculars, I am a class officer of Interact, a volunteer club, and will be an officer of the entire club next year. In addition, I am a member of the Student Council and Prom Committee, as well as the National Honors Society, National Spanish Honors Society, and Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society). I am an active participant in these clubs and am a very strong candidate for officer positions next year. I am also involved with my church and have spent thousands of hours volunteering in the nursery room.
To sum up, I think my applications will be strong and solid but will lack that extra something that would give me a major shot at Harvard or MIT. I haven’t done anything really exceptional except for my abilities in 3 very different events (XC, 400 sprint, and discus) and my high grades. Also, I feel like my leadership and club involvement is lacking but I prefer to be involved deeply in a few versus spread out among many.
I guess what my question is is whether I have a slight shot? Also, I want to apply early decision somewhere to hopefully give me just a little bit more of a chance. My preferred list of acceptance is in order up top. Should I apply ED to Harvard? Or is it a waste? I really, really like Princeton as well, mainly because I feel its a little more fitting and I’d have a much greater chance. Every valedictorian and salutatorian of the last few graduating classes has gone on to an Ivy, including Harvard, Cornell, UPenn, and Princeton, and I think if they, who have more or less the same qualifications as I do, have gotten in, then I should have a chance. I just don’t know if its realistic.