Chances at all Ivies+Stanford, MIT, UChicago?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hey everyone. I completely understand that chance me threads are worthless but the anxiety is killing me. I am just tried of everyone at my school, my family, and friends constantly telling me “don’t worry, your going to get in”. I rather have people be brutally honest with me. So please just be honest about my chances. Thanks.

Here are my stats:

SAT I (breakdown): 1500
ACT (breakdown): 30 (will not submit)
SAT II: Bio M 760 US History/Chem-700
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.892
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/300
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geo (3), Bio (4), Art History (4), WH (5), Chem (4), Seminar (3), Calc AB (3), US History (5), Lang (4), Psychology(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Courseload: AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Research, AP Calculus BC, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics 1

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
-3rd in State for HOSA Pathophysiology Competitive Event (International Semifinalist/Qualifier)
-3rd in State Biology Merit Exam
-SC Youth Black Leader
-1st in session at State Junior Symposium of Science and Humanities (JSHS)
-2nd in State Science Fair (plus other misc. awards at the fair; first in the Botanical Sciences, first in the Biological Sciences overall, outstanding Achievement Award from the US Metric Association)
-Intel ISEF Semifinalist/Observer (due to being second at State Science Fair)
-Published in a journal by NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education Journal)
-AP+PLTW Recognition Award
-National AP Scholar

Extracurriculars:
Science Olympiad (Founder/Team Captain)

  • I created this club last year. I really wanted to do this to gather students who have a passion for science beyond the classroom. We just started so we haven’t accomplished anything major yet. We are the first science olympiad club in our school district.

School’s Teenage Republicans Club (Founder/Chairman)

  • I really want to highlight this on my application.I created it because I wanted to change the negative stigma that the Republican party has, especially among my generation. It was really hard for me creating this club.There was a lot of social pushback against it in my school because I live in a heavily liberal county. I’m just scared that since many top academic institutions tend to have a liberal slant that my passion for conservatism might hurt my chances.

Vice Chairman of my State’s Teenage Republicans Association

  • This is a very important activity for me too. I and the other officers go around the state and meet with different politicians about getting funding for Teenage Republicans club chapters for different high schools around the state. We also create and host different events for young conservatives around the state. Probably my most important EC.

Green Student Committee (treasurer and chairman of hydroponics department)

  • Our club goes around the school once a week to gather recycling bins and we sort it out for the state recycling company to pick it up. We also created our first school garden, and go to elementary schools around our area to help create school gardens. It’s more of an environmental community service club.

HOSA (vice president)

  • Health Occupational Students of America. I’ve been involved for 3 years. We host lots of community service events and compete at the state and international level.

Peer Tutoring

  • I tutor freshmen students in Algebra and Biology.

Varsity Track (pretty self-explanatory)

Winter wishes Committee (co-chair in 10h grade)

  • It’s a seasonal community service project our school does to raise cans and clothes for the homeless. I was co-chair once in 10th grade.

Science national honor society (President)

  • Very important to me because my passion is for science.

Scholars Academy Symposium (Parliamentarian)

  • A club for students in the magnet program. We do activities ranging from community service to simply social events. I’ve been parliamentarian for the past two years.

Job/Work Experience:
Publix (1 year)
NIH Summer Internship 2017 (specifically National Institute of Drug Abuse; NIDA)

  • I also want to highlight this experience. So far it has been great, and I really want to highlight how much it has shaped my passion for science. I’m still here though, so that might change.

Volunteer/Community service: 500+ hours through Green Student Committee.
Summer Activities: NYLF MED (2015), Plant Sciences Research (2016, NIH/NIDA Internship (2017)
State (if domestic applicant): Somewhere in the South (don’t want to be specific b/c of confidentiality)
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Black (Nigerian)
Gender: M
Income: 100,000K+

Potential Hooks: URM, Published in NCTE Journal (???), NIH Internship (??)

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*PS-sorry for the super long post. Thanks for the feedback!

3

Your objective stats are competitive and it looks like you have a good list of EC’s. URM status will also help.You will however be competing with thousands of (at least over 10,000) other candidates with equally good stats and impressive EC’s on paper for roughly 2000 spots. EC’s don’t need to be complimentary if you have divergent interests and you demonstrate high quality participation in them. So, like for almost call candidates, it will be a reach, whether in the SCEA round or the RD round. Your application will be made or broken based on how well you present your story to Harvard admissions through your application and if that story resonates with the officers who review your file.

That having been said, if Harvard is one of your top choices, and you are confident that your essays, LoR’s and other parts of your application are ready to go, then there is no reason not to apply SCEA unless your very top choice happens to be an ED school where there may be a slight advantage to apply early.

There is really not a downside to the three possible outcomes. Admit, you’re done unless you want to take a shot at some other tippy tops. Deferred, no harm, you just go into the RD pile. Rejected, with your stat’s and EC’s, there is something wrong with your essay(s) and/or LoR’s and you still have time to make changes before the RD deadline for other schools.

4

Beautiful…I’m jealous to be honest. I’m gonna say what everyone else will say. Every school you are going to range from matches (lower Ivy’s) to low reaches (HYPSM). I’m gonna predict you’ll get into a lot of schools, just be aware that the Ivy’s do talk to each other, and one of them may sort of claim you, resulting in not all the other schools accepting you, despite your clear merit.

Honestly…you’re too insecure, and that’s your only downfall. You are going to get into great colleges. You are going to do great things…

Tobster18, it was a pleasure to read your profile. I look forward to seeing what amazing things you will do in the future.

5

@ConcernedRabbit Wow thank you for the positive feedback. My mom says the same thing about my insecurity, I think I’ve been on CC for too long…lol

6

You have a great chance. I would tell you though, and I don’t want to fuel your anxiety, you’re not guaranteed admission and all college admissions to these tippy top universities with sub-10% acceptance rate are a total crapshoot.

I’m going to give you specific feedback that will help you on your app.

I see you’re involved with political groups at both a school and state level. Generally stellar applicants will be involved on a national level. See if there is a Young Republicans of America program you can get involved with given your prior leadership experience in this realm.

What stands out is the HOSA Pathophysiology Event since it’s international, INTEL ISEF, published in a journal. I will say that there is no EC of yours that is particularly jaw-dropping but you have many strong experiences which show versatility and ability to manage your time. NIH internship is not a great hook (if it was paid maybe.)

See if you can boost your SAT. Only if you have time/think it’s worthwhile and think you can score reasonably higher. That will give your app a boost. According to Prepscholar your chances double if you can get a 1560+ from a 1500.

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You’ll end up in an amazing college no matter what. Your profile is good and your ethnicity is a big plus. I don’t need to give much advice.

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@upwardss12 Yeah I am working towards taking the SAT again in August to get a higher score. My NIH internship is paid too btw, but thanks for the constructive criticism.

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Awesome, making me proud, from across a computer screen. Please don’t apply to all the IVY’ s unless you really have the time and energy. Your a high match to low reach for all of these schools, however you need some low matches/ Safeties.
Vandy, Emory, USC, Tufts, BC, BU, your state school

10

Bump

11

stay humble, write some stellar essays, and get those great recs. Pick teachers who love you not teachers in subject areas you think you want to major in. Create a balanced list.

12

Paid internship is a good EC. I think you have a good chance! Good luck.

13

Bump

14

Sorry but the Ivies are not matches for anyone. Your stats are a little low but you have a good chance at all of these schools relative to most others who apply. Where will you apply early to?

My one bit of advice about the Republican club that you founded is to keep it on a low profile. Write a description of the club in the Common App in a very objective way with a small explanation as to why you wanted to create it. Don’t mention that you live in a liberal county. Keep politics out of the EC list and your essays. Admissions officers will value that you had the passion and commitment to make the club.

15

I would leave the republican club off of your application. It just opens up too many questions. Also your stats seem a little weak for many of the Ivies

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"Science Olympiad (Founder/Team Captain)

  • I created this club last year. I really wanted to do this to gather students who have a passion for science beyond the classroom. We just started so we haven’t accomplished anything major yet. We are the first science olympiad club in our school district."

:smiley: SciOly is awesome - good luck!

Your SAT scores look a little lower than the rest of your profile, I agree with everyone else that getting ~50 higher would probably be helpful (if not too important, considering these top schools seem not to take test scores into consideration once they’re above a certain point).

Overall really nice. I think you’ll get into at least 2-3 of these if you’re applying to all. I agree with others though that the high-up ones are still definitely reaches though.

CC doesn’t have a quote function? I can’t seem to find it.

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@collegedad13 @doorrealthe Few questions: (1) Do you really think I should take republican club off my application? I feel like it’s one of the most important EC’s to me. I also wanted to talk about it in one of my essays. I know everyone is very politically divided but I don’t feel OK with omitting such an important part of my identity. (2) So I know you guys said my stats are kinda of low. Should I work on getting a higher SAT 1 score or a higher SAT 2 Subject test score? (for the October SAT test) (3) My plan is to apply to Harvard SCEA.

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Definitely just retake the SAT to get a higher score. You want around a 1540. I don’t think you need to take the club off your application if it is super important to you, but I would not write about it. Anything political is not a subject you want to talk about in your essays

19

This is pretty much in reply to @collegedad13 but I definitely disagree with taking the Republican clubs off of the application. I’m the state chair for a High School Democrats state and it has given me numerous experiences and opportunities that not many other EC’s can. And, it’s real world work! This is something that is important and will show that we’re unlike many of their other applicants, no matter the application reader’s personal political preferences.

20

These schools are all different. What kind of social, environmental and academic atmosphere are you looking for?

For instance, MIT and Harvard are in (very close to…) Boston, so they benefit from what that city has to offer.

Yale features residential colleges and a system where you get to try out classes before committing to them,

Princeton features eating clubs and the senior thesis.

Columbia is smack-dab in NYC and has a core curriculum.

Stanford features California sunshine and its architecture is unique among these schools.

UChicago also features a core curriculum and is known for its intellectualism and rigor.

UPenn, the Social Ivy, is known for its (relative) pre-professionalism,

Dartmouth is known for its rural beauty and Greek life. It features the D Plan.

Cornell, a bit less rural than Dartmouth, is also pretty and is the most populous Ivy.

Brown is on a hill in Providence and is known for its laid-back vibe and open curriculum.

These schools have different strengths, environments, vibes, even academic calendars.

You may apply wherever you want to, but I think you will find the experience more rewarding (and cheaper…) if you choose the schools that fit your preferences best.

And, obviously, while URM status will help and your resume is impressive, none of these is a given. I don’t think any one is less than a high match (better to be conservative in chancing – low reach), so make sure you also scout out and choose some true matches and at least one safety. Make sure you 1) like them and 2) can afford them (run NPC) before applying.

And while Harvard says their SCEA round gives no advantage, the fact that the SCEA admit rate is 4-5 times higher than the RD rate – and athletes and legacies cannot account for all of that – says otherwise.

Among the schools on your list, only MIT does not appear to confer much of a statistical edge in applying early. (REA/SCEA or ED, depending on the school). So if you do develop a clear favorite and it isn’t MIT, go ahead and apply early. Just make sure you have your others apps ready to go.