Chance Me! - What Schools would be reaches, matches and safeties for me?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am not quite ready to start the application process, but I was wondering what my chances would be considering the current aggressive nature of college application.</p>

<p>African American</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.75</p>

<p>SAT Scores: 800 Writing, 780 Verbal, 750 Math (A total of 2320)</p>

<p>SAT II Scores: 800 US History, 800 Literature, 750 Writing</p>

<p>ACT: 30</p>

<p>Classes:</p>

<p>AP Macro Economics
AP United States Government and Politics
AP United States History
AP Senior English
AP Statistics
AP European History
Honors Spanish 4
Honors French 2</p>

<p>I currently attend a somewhat challenging boarding school.</p>

<p>My EC's:</p>

<p>4 Year Member of Diversity Club
2 Years Helping Children Internationally (Fiji, Australia)
2 Year Local Community Service at NY Food Pantry
3 Year Member of Debate Club
Chorus
2 Year Member of Scholars Program
Summer Internship at some of the best law firms in NY
2 Year Brown Pre - College Program
Member of National Conference for Diversity (Represented School)
2 Years Tennis, 1 Year JV, 1 Year Varsity
1 Year Member of Varsity Ski Team
Founder and President of Travel Club</p>

<p>I am certain I would get great rec's from my teachers, both of which have some weight to their names.</p>

<p>The Colleges I am Looking At: ( I know, a lot of hard schools D:)</p>

<p>National:</p>

<p>Amherst
Williams
Brown
Cornell
Dartmouth
Georgetown
Notre Dame
NYU
Duke
Northwestern
UCLA
Duke
Pomona
Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon
Harvard</p>

<p>International:</p>

<p>UOE (Edinburgh)
Kings College
UOM (Manchester)
Oxford/Cambridge</p>

<ul>
<li>I know, I know - 20 schools, but I am just so afraid that I wont be accepted anywhere and will find my self in quite the pickle D:</li>
</ul>

<p>Just rate some of the schools I have on my list and tell me where you think I lie ( reaches, matches, safeties )</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>With your academic stats, any of the top schools are feasible for you. Your ECs and especially your internships truly differentiate you from other academically qualified students so thats a huge bonus. Just focus on writing phenomenal essays and you should have a pretty good chance. However, the top schools are somewhat random so dont get your hopes too high.</p>

<p>My thread (chance please): <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610985-chances-for-vanderbilt-unc-nyu-uf-and-duke.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1610985-chances-for-vanderbilt-unc-nyu-uf-and-duke.html#latest&lt;/a&gt; </p>

3

<p>Thanks for the feedback! I am going to chance now.</p>

4

<p>Not to be racist, but solely given your test scores and the fact that you are black, you can go to any school you want. The rest is excellent and is just icing on the cake.</p>

<p>The only thing I would say is be a bit leery of International schools. They are VERY DIFFERENT than in the US. HS in the UK is NOT the same as in the US.</p>

5

<p>I know D:, but I just want to give them a shot, thanks for the feedback though!</p>

6

<p>Your GPA and scores are obviously great, especially compared to the national average stats for African Americans, but your ECs aren’t as good. The internship is interesting, but you really don’t have anything else that shows interest or passion. Being a member of a club doesn’t really mean anything to most of these colleges. Also, I definitely believe you should apply to some safeties, since all of the schools you listed are quite selective. I don’t really want to list out all of the schools so I’m just going to say that most of them are High Match to Reaches, and, like I said, I recommend applying to some safety schools.</p>

7

<p>I get that - what school would you consider a safety (doesn’t have to be one from the list).</p>

8

<p>You are an excellent student and in the range for acceptance for all these colleges. Being a minority may help, but don’t let it lull you into a false sense of security. The colleges on your list are so highly selective that more great students are turned down than accepted. You should most definitely try for any college you are interested in. </p>

<p>“Safety” ( I dislike the term ) refers to a set of colleges where admission is likely (your credentials are at the top of the applicant pool), that you can afford, and that you will be happy to attend. The last two requirements are important so that you can be happy regardless of the outcome. Some of these have honors programs and competitive scholarships that you could be eligible for. </p>

<p>People are going to be impressed with colleges like Harvard, Duke, ( the ones on your list). It is obvious that these are top colleges, excellent choices, and highly desirable. Since you are at a challenging boarding school, these are the colleges your classmates are aiming for and will be talking about. </p>

<p>Your task is also to research the colleges that may not be as popular to your peers, yet have excellent opportunities. Also know that once college starts, much of the peer talk goes away as students make new friends at their colleges. You need to consider some questions. What do you want to study? Where do you wish to go to college? How much is your family willing to pay? What is your home state? (in state colleges are often good values). How large a college? What other aspects of college are important to you- diversity, religious groups, sports, climate, activities, distance from home or family members?</p>

<p>Don’t post personal info here, but with the general ideas, perhaps other posters can make suggestions. Also, your SAT is stronger than your ACT. The equivalent is about a 34-35. Some schools require all scores and some don’t, so you may want to consider only sending your SAT scores to the ones that don’t require all scores. For schools that want all of them, it won’t hurt you to send the ACT. It’s a good score, and it’s the right thing to do. Other posters will hopefully add to the idea of only sending SAT to schools that don’t ask for all. </p>

<p>The foreign colleges may seem exciting, but it is a huge transition to move overseas and attend college in a different culture. The students you are in class with may have an entirely different college preparation. Another way to experience another country is to do a study abroad in college.</p>

9

<p>I understand what you are saying, but when it comes to the foreign colleges I don’t think I am jumping in blindly into them. My parents are not from this country and when it comes to dealing with new environments I am fairly seasoned. I understand the difficulties, but I think they are worth a try.</p>

10

<p>Narrow your choices by doing research on fit and cost. Applying to 20 schools will make your senior year a living hell–essays, financial aid docs, interviews, as well as paying to send your scores to each!!</p>

11

<p>I am not applying to 20, just looking at that many. I haven’t decoded on how many to apply to as yet.
…Bump</p>

12

<p>What is SAT II Writing? I’m sure it’s an error on OP’s part, but I just want to point out.</p>

<p>@OP
I agree that you need a safety school. Also, your ACT is considerably lower than your SAT, so don’t submit your ACT to any colleges. </p>

13

<p>What do you mean you are not ready? If you are senior with this stat, you should have applied EA to some schools already. You better check the deadline for application of these schools as you may have missed some already. Most students with credential like this would have finished the application long ago and received admission notice. You better hurry up. Also, you need to give time to your teachers for writing recommendation.</p>

14

<p>Budget please… I hope you can afford KCL/U Manchester/UCLA full-freight because they will give you no aid.</p>

<p>IMO KCL (assuming King’s College means the one in London) and U Manchester are safeties (maybe Edimburgh). NYU/UCLA at the match level, Cornell/Georgetown at the high match level, everyone else is a reach.</p>

15

<p>@2018dad sorry, I meant Literature.</p>

<p>@Catria, would you say that international schools are harder or easier?</p>

16

<p>Hello. When you say you attend a challenging boarding school, are you talking about Choate/Taft/Hotchkiss level schools? (I assume its not St Pauls or Phillips) Anyway, you really are a very bright student. I am not sure if you want to go to international universities over American universities but I think you will get into couple American schools at least. I think a good list for you would be:</p>

<p>Harvard
Brown
Duke
Georgetown
Cornell
Amherst
Williams
Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
NYU</p>

<p>I think you will easily get into NYU and Carnegie Mellon. I think you have a good chance at all of these schools, except Harvard. I think your racial status and the fact that you go to an elite private boarding school (and yes that helps a lot) can help you get into IVY LEAGUE schools and schools of similar academics. </p>

<p>I think that applying to 10 schools is good because you can have choices. If you can add a little more to ECs and write a well-written essay, I think you could give Harvard ED a shot. Boarding schools really help you a lot with the Ivies. </p>

17

<p>When is say “somewhat challenging” I am talking about a 2nd tier boarding school - so not quite Andover, but its ok; in the same respect Loomis Chaffe is ok (though i go to a rival school).</p>

18

<p>Okay, I know what kind of school you mean. In fact, I know a lot about the school you are attending (a rival school of Loomis). My international friend, an Asian male, got into Carnegie Mellon from it with a lower GPA and test scores than you. Yes, it is just a case but still. Do you know your rank? If you are in top 10% or so, I think you should really go for Harvard ED. Since you are in the New England area, I suggest you to visit some schools. Harvard and NYU is not far from you and if you have some time, try to visit Georgetown also. I think you should also take a look at Yale, Princeton, and Boston College (with BC being a match school). The most important factor in deciding a school is whether you can see yourself there for 4 years. And since boarding schools usually give you college visit days and are somewhat more flexible than public schools, I advise you to visit a lot of schools, even schools you were not thinking about in the past. Dartmouth is in NH but I think its possible for a visit. I used to live close around Dartmouth and have seen many friends not like the location and the weather, same for Cornell. So, take a look at different schools!</p>

19

<p>I’m not sure how you would know about the school I am attending, seeing as Loomis has more than one rival - but thanks for the advise! :smiley: </p>

20

<p>Ignore any comment about how many you should apply to. If you have the resources, go for it. That said, you do need to include some safety colleges (no matter how good you are) and perhaps cut a few that aren’t necessarily suitable for you. The only thing in common in your list of colleges is their high selectivity. You don’t want just to get into a good college, but one that will fit you and your desires and dreams. </p>

<p>For example, I love business. I am considering reach schools like Harvard and UPENN (both great at business) but also schools like U Michigan, where the selectivity is lower, but it still has one of the best business programs. </p>

<p>Your profile is great. You have plenty of experience and leadership, two of three important factors. The third, if you have time to improve on, is competition. Try to get an award or enter a notable competition to prove you’re ready to enter the real world. </p>

<p>Overall, you have a great shot, although it is a lot with luck for the best such as Harvard, so make sure you have a few safeties. Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1613118-chances-for-brown-u-of-rochester-amherst-and-u-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;