Chance please! ~ Are they all too out of reach?!

<p>Hi everybody, I'm currently a senior contemplating which "reach school" to potentially commit ED to. I'm certain that I'll be happy attending any of these institutions so I'm only worried about getting in. Please keep in mind that although my stats are relatively low, I have developed immensely as a student throughout high school and have an upward trend in my records. Thanks!</p>

<p>** Please chance me for these schools. **</p>

<ul>
<li>Harvey Mudd College</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University</li>
<li>Rice University</li>
<li><p>Tulane University</p></li>
<li><p>Which will be toughest for me to get into? (I've listed them in order of my opinion (hardest->easiest). </p></li>
<li><p>Where would I have the best chance of getting in if I Early Decision?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My high school is regularly ranked as the top in the state (Texas) and is listed as one of the top 60 high schools in US News rankings. We are affiliated with a medical school (in top 15 of nation rankings) and have professors who used to teach at the med school as our teachers.</p>

<p>** Academics **</p>

<p>GPA Unweighted: 3.4
Class Rank: Top 25% / class of 190 (No official ranks yet)
SAT: 1970 (640 CR, 650 math, 680 writing [10 on writing] ) - Retaking in October
SAT II: Chem 640, Math I 720 (Planning on retaking in November for regular decisions.. or ED II?)</p>

<p>AP Exams: Chem: 3, Language: 3 </p>

<p>Taking: AB Cal, Statistics, Physics B, Literature, Biology in May '10 (confident I'll get at least 4 in all except maybe a 3 in Lit...)</p>

<p>** Senior Courses: **</p>

<p>AP Statistics
Art Studio Painting
AP Physics B
AP Calculus AB
AP Literature & Composition
(Double period) Health Science [Veterinary Sciences, World epidemiology, Physician Shadowing]
AP Biology</p>

<p>** Honors/Awards: **</p>

<ul>
<li>Health Occupation Students of America:
a. Knowledge Bowl (Anatomy, dentistry, physiology, medical history, etc.)
2nd place in region, 8th in state
b. Health Career Presentation (presented mine on the career of an Anesthesiologist)
2nd place in region</li>
<li>University of Houston PREP Summer Program
a. Citizenship award
b. Highest Academic Achievement, Outstanding student in Computer Sciences
c. Highest Academic Achievement, Outstanding student in Mechanical Engineering</li>
<li>BestBuy @15 Scholarship Finalist</li>
<li>Council of World Affairs Houston: Global Energy Prospect competition finalist</li>
</ul>

<p>** Leadership:**</p>

<ul>
<li>Health Occupation Students of America: chapter president</li>
<li>Student government: senior vice-president, parliamentarian, principal's advisory council</li>
<li>American Red Cross club: vice-president, treasurer</li>
<li>American Chemical Society: chapter vice-president</li>
<li>Vietnamese Student Association: secretary</li>
<li>National Technical Honor Society: officer</li>
<li>Mayor's Youth Council - district representative</li>
<li>High school's health science medical laboratory supervisor and dental laboratory supervisor</li>
<li>Instructor at the learning center where I work</li>
</ul>

<p>** Extracurricular: **</p>

<p>500+ volunteer hours from...</p>

<ul>
<li>hospital / medical center </li>
<li>city children's museum</li>
<li>coordinating/running annual city festivals</li>
<li>charity drives/walks</li>
<li>running blood drives</li>
<li>school club volunteering</li>
<li>tutoring before I started working</li>
</ul>

<p>** Work Experience: **</p>

<p>Tutoring at a local math and reading learning center from 2005-current.
I work with kids ~5th grade - high school age.</p>

<p>Average 10 hours a week</p>

<p>I'm confident that I can make at least a 2100 on my SAT I and 700+ for the Chem and Math II SAT II's, but that would mean I would have to apply regular decision to the schools.. What do you think? </p>

<p>** I REALLY appreciate your feedback! ** I will chance you guys back to the best of my ability if you wish to be :]</p>

<p>Try Tulane.</p>

<p>So far I do not see any really hooks for HMC. Your GPA/class rank is low for Mudd and your science/math classes are not anything extraordinary for HMC applicants.</p>

<p>I’d have to say the chances for HMC are quite slim, unless I’m missing something.</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback guys!</p>

<p>hmom5: I think that’s probably the most realistic school for me to apply to as well. However, their acceptance rate is relatively much higher than the rest of the schools so I’m leaning more towards EA for Tulane… </p>

<p>rocketDA: I agree… I think in the end I may not apply to HMC at all since my ED would probably be better invested in another school where I’ll have a greater chance of being admitted.</p>

<p>So it seems like I should weigh the early decision between JHU or Rice… Which do you guys think is harder to be admitted into? Would I have an advantage in Rice because I am from Texas?</p>

<p>Oh, I just realized I didn’t include this in my profile.</p>

<p>** Background: **
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian-american (Cantonese and Vietnamese)
Intended Major: Pre-medicine; Biochemistry or Chemistry
Financial Background: ~$40k or less
Application status: First generation college student</p>

<p>Any advice/feedback please?</p>

<p>Rice seems unlikely as well.</p>

<p>Thanks for the input~</p>

<p>If I bump up the SAT to ~2100, will my chances change significantly? Or does the GPA weigh it down too much…</p>

<p>Of course a 2100 SAT would help, but probably not enough for HM, JHU, or Rice.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>ps- realize that the competiton at HM and JHU would probably kick your a**. Again, good luck.</p>

<p>Hm… I think I’ve officially decided to take HMC off the list. That leaves JHU competition to kick my butt. Why did you not mention Rice? Is that implying that I’ve a better chance applying to Rice than to JHU?</p>

<p>Agreed that you have the best shot of getting into Tulane; however, you are misinformed that Tulane has a much higher acceptance rate compared to the other schools. To wit:</p>

<p>Harvey Mudd - 36% of applicants admitted
JHU - 25%
Rice - 23%
Tulane - 26%</p>