Chance Me? :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey everyone! With the whole college application thing coming up, I am kinda nervous, but if you guys can, can you chance me and see if perhaps there's anything I need to improve on before applying? I'm just about 98% sure about applying ED to Dartmouth because I visited and loved everything about it. </p>

<p>Race: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: low-middle
School Type: Private Catholic </p>

<p>SAT I: CR: 730 Math: 800 Writing: 800 Total: 2330
SAT II: 790 Bio (M), 770 Chem, 710 World History, 710 Literature, and 800 Math II
ACT: n/a
APs: 5 on Lit and World History, 4 on US History</p>

<p>GPA: I have pretty much a 4 GPA I think, because my school does it from a 0-100 scale, but I'd be in the top 5% of my class</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload:
AP Bio
AP English Language
AP Calc BC
Constitutional Law, Death and Afterlife, and some other religion courses
Bioethics, DNA Technology
and I'll also be doing the Columbia SHP during the year</p>

<p>ECs
Dance Club and Guitar Ensemble in 9th grade
Integrated Science Association in 9th and 11th and mostly likely I'll get a leadership position next year
Science Olympiad 10th, 11th, and 12th
Biology Club 10th
Math League, Tutoring, and S.A.D.D. in 11th</p>

<p>I also play guitar and soccer outside of school, never tried out for the team so this probably isn't as relevant.</p>

<p>I know a few languages, like Spanish, Cantonese (fluent), and I'm currently learning ASL. </p>

<p>Work/Community Service/Volunteering</p>

<p>I've been working at the NY Hall of Science for the past 2 and a half years, first as a volunteer. I've been promoted twice and I'm most likely being promoted again into a leadership role. I'm also one of the chairpeople of a committee at work for a Virtual Museum we are developing currently. </p>

<p>Hooks: Uhm, none really. I know my ethnicity doesn't really help, but I am a first generation college-goer in my family (my parents were both immigrants), so this might help a bit?</p>

<p>If you guys could perhaps chance me, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>You’re a bubble candidate. I think you’ll get in ED, though. If you apply RD, however, I think your chances are very low because there are just way too many outstanding Asian candidates from NY.</p>

3

<p>Ahaha, I totally understand about the Asian thing. I’m slightly confused though as to what you mean by “bubble candidate”, like a typical candidate? Thanks! :)</p>

4

<p>Although there are indeed a lot of Asian science-oriented kids from NY, I think that your long term involvement with the Hall of Science and the Columbia SHP do set you apart. I also find the strain of bioethics/religion/philosophy in your coursework interesting. It sounds as if you might be the kind of scientist who has an interest in science and society, which would fit in well with the focus brought to campus by President Kim.</p>

<p>If that is the case, I suggest that you consider writing a thoughtful essay on the subject.</p>

<p>Your stats, of course, are fine. It’s the intangibles that will put you over the top.</p>

5

<p>A bubble candidate is someone who might get in or might not. It depends.</p>

<p>I agree with Consolation that Columbia SHP and NYHS are both impressive. However, understand that lots of kids have similar ECs – maybe shadowing a doctor, publishing papers, etc. You’re from NYC – kids from your region are damn impressive. Unfortunately, you’ve got to compete with them.</p>

<p>That’s why I think you’re unlikely to get in RD, but have a decent shot ED.</p>

6

<p>The religion courses at my school have always been a bit “whacky” and different I guess in a way, but I took bioethics to see science and religion together in a way. I might consider that for an essay then. </p>

<p>Thank you so much, both of you! :)</p>

7

<p>BUMP :slight_smile: Can anyone else provide an opinion, or maybe some ways to improve?</p>

8

<p>There’s no point worrying now! Perhaps apply for the Siemens competition in the fall, that would be the next chance to boost a science aspect of your resume.</p>

<p>But your scores and ECs / grades are all great. You’ve done the hard part of the application</p>

9

<p>I like the leadership roles at the activities cited above. That said, where have you taken your Science Olympiad team? Math League? Best way to improve your chances is to create another Extracurricular “spike” on your record where you compete against other schools and win recognition for your teams (individual awards are nice, too). Columbia SHP is OK, but not as attractive as one might think.</p>

10

<p>Your scores are great, so I don’t think you need to worry about those. Your best chance would be to try to seperate yourself from other applicants by writing a stellar common app essay. You need to show your individuality/personality in the essay to make it memorable to whoever is reading it.</p>