Chance Me!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! Just wanted some input regarding my chances of getting into these colleges. I am currently a Junior in high school.

Objective:
SAT I: 1450 (CR/W: 730 M: 720) However, I am taking it again in a few months and I am fairly confident that if I study all summer I can get around a 1550.
ACT: 30 (Not going to send if I don’t have to)
SAT II: Yet to take. I am taking Math 2 in November 2017.
UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.167
Rank: 5/~170 (I think)
AP Tests: AP Stats, AP Bio, AP Lang. Haven’t gotten scores back yet. I am positive I got a 5 on Stats. Not too sure about the others. Senior year I will take AP Chem, AP Lit, AP Calc, and AP Physics I, but I will not get my scores back in time to send to colleges.
Junior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Stats, Anatomy, Precalc, AP Lang, MSA Research (basically a research class for a STEM program I am in)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, LINKS (help kids with disabilities learn/make friends), AP Calc, Psych 200 (dual-enrollment through Lansing Community College), AP Lit, AP Physics
Awards/Achievements: Qualified for round two of Michigan Math Prize Competition, Honor Roll, acceptance into my school’s Math and Science Academy (STEM program for kids who excel in math and science), BPA State qualifier in three events, IDK what else–probably a few more that I can’t think of at the moment.

Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Varsity Tennis (team captain for one year), BPA, Peer2Peer (help kids with disabilities), NHS, Mu Alpha Theta (served as VP for one year), Student Gov, helped start my school’s gardening club (we help maintain the landscape and make things look more visually appealing)
Work Experience: Host at a local restaurant (work 10-15 hours per week)
Volunteer Work: Lots of tutoring (~100 hours), food bank, various other things. Plus, I have recently been helping to refurbish a house that a few adults with special needs will live in and the lady who runs it said she would write me a great college rec letter
Summer Activities: Work. And this upcoming summer I am going to a two-week pre-college program at Harvard (taking a course in Intro to Neuroscience)

Other:
State of Residence: Michigan
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Intended Major: Pre med, Neuroscience, or Biochemistry
Income Bracket: >250,000

Here’s the catch: Earlier this year (junior year) I was suspended for two days for bringing a vape or “e-cig” to an overnight school event. My counselor told me that it won’t show up on my transcript, but I know the common app asks about suspensions and I plan on answering truthfully. I am going to show that I used this as a sort of “wake-up call” to start making better choices both inside and outside of school.

The colleges I am looking at with most interest are UMich, NYU, Cornell, Notre Dame, MichState, and Northwestern.

I know the essays are a very big part as well. I consider myself an exceptional writer, so I am sure I will do well with those. The suspension is what concerns me most and is the primary reason for my writing this. So, with all considered, where do you think I stand? Thanks.

2

You sound like a highly qualified contender at all of those schools! Good on you for taking the high road and self-reporting your suspension. It’s certainly not ideal to have on your record, but I doubt it would take a heavy toll on your application, especially if you used one of your essays to explain yourself. That shows a lot of maturity.

On the common app, do you write a sentence stating the reason for the suspension or is it just a Y/N box you check?

3

@newkidnewtrix I think they actually ask for a detailed description of the event. That’s what I was referring to when I said I was going to show that I used this as a learning experience. I could be wrong though. I’m sure they at least ask for a reason because a suspension like in my case is going to be a lot less significant than, say, pulling a weapon on someone.

4

Also, thanks for your input! @newkidnewtrix

5

Both SAT and ACT scores are similar. For some schools, submitting ACT may waive the SAT 2 requirement. Anyway, it is up to you to focus on which exam. As of now, both scores are right above the 25th percentile of UMich LSA. It should be a match to high match for you from in state. For most of the other schools on your list, you do need a stronger score. MSU should be a low match to near safety.

6

UMich- Low Reach
NYU- Low Reach
Cornell- Reach
Notre Dame- Reach
MichState- Low Match
Northwestern- Very High Reach
Your SAT is a little low, if you can get a 1500 you would be in good position for all of them( except Northwestern, it would still be a Reach).

7

Can I get some input on another matter? In my essay explaining my suspension, should I open up to the admission officers and explain how I was going down a rather bad path by getting involved with the wrong crowd and making bad choices with drugs and alcohol? And then go on to to explain how my suspension made me realize I needed to turn things around. Or would sharing that information make them less likely to accept me because of my admitting to partaking in illegal substance use?

8

If you can, try to keep it to the e-cig. If you weren’t caught and disciplined, don’t mention it, you’ve got enough of a wrong-turned-right story with the vape. It’s very thoughtful to testify to your wrongs, but you don’t wanna raise a red flag by being a possible liability for the university.

9

Also, I’m very glad to hear that you’re not grouped in with generic suspensions! Phew.

10

Bump