...Chances at Brown

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Okay..
So I'm probably applying to Brown regular, but might do ED. I'm applying to Princeton (regular) along with Wellesley, Berkeley, UCLA, CU Boulder (father works for admissions there), UC Santa Barbara, and Gettysburg.</p>

<p>So could anyone please guage my chances at Brown (both regular and ED) and the other schools?</p>

<p>I'm an Asian female (Korean adoptee) attending a large public high school in Northern California. I'm planning on being a history major.</p>

<p>My SAT scores are as follows:
680 writing (12/12 essay), 650 math, 650 critical reading
(am taking again on Oct 8 seeing as these are horrible)
780 US History, 640 Biology, 700 French</p>

<p>AP Scores: 5 in USH, 4 in French, English, and Biology</p>

<p>GPA: 4.00 unweighted, 4.83 weighted (for 04-05 school year), 4.5 weighted for all of HS</p>

<p>Honors/AP Courses taken:
Freshman year: English, Social Science (honors only)
Sophomore: English, World History (honors only)
Junior: English Language, United States History, Biology, French 4, Calculus BC (all AP)
Senior: English Lit, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, French 5, Studio Art (all AP)</p>

<p>Other stuff of note:
-ranked 1 out of 540 in class
-Varsity swimming (10, 11 - North Coast Section participant, 12)
-JV water polo (9, 10, 11 - team captain)
-Recipient of the Michael Shaara Memorial Scholarship for the Civil War Institute summer program at Gettysburg College 2005
-President of school's Historical society
-volunteer Civil War living history presentations to primary school students
-History Day in California, state finalist (10)
-History Day in California, county judge (11)
-Advanced Placement Scholar With Honor
-Academic Block with Star (5+ semesters at LHS with a 3.67 or above)
-Principal’s Honor Roll (3.5 GPA or above)
-AATF National French Exam, Lauréat 2004
-Solo & Ensemble Festival “Superior” Rating for brass quintet, 2003
-Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair: 2nd place, Biological Sciences 2002
-Golden State Exam: Honors – Algebra, 2000
-Link Crew: 2004-2005
-California Scholarship Federation: 2003-2004, 04-05
-Art Club: 2003-2004, 04-05 (Historian)
-LHS Symphonic and Marching Band (flute, French horn, mellophone): 2002-2004 </p>

<p>I also have been working as a lifeguard/swim instructor for 2 years at the community pool (avg. 35 hrs/ week)
I have around 250-300 community service hours, mostly from Civil War living history presentations.</p>

<p>Alright.
I'll stop talking now.</p>

2

<p>You must know that your scores are a problem.</p>

3

<p>Yes. I'm a horrible tester. And they are a BIG problem.</p>

4

<p>honestly, i think that you should take your SATs again, and that then you'll have a really good chance of getting in.</p>

5

<p>Is an Asian history major unusual, or uncommon?</p>

6

<p>You have focus, you are unusual, and you seem to have a knack for winning things. You may get into Brown, especially if you can increase those scores. Yes, I think that an Asian history major is rare. Are you a California resident? If not, you need more matches and safeties.</p>

7

<p>Have you tried ACT?</p>

8

<p>Honestly, I doubt whether or not the popularity of a particular major would effect your chances of getting in. Because the schools you're applying to are big names, which are very selective in general. You have nice ECs but your scores are bad. Your SAT's are no where near up to par with the schools you are applying to. And though your SAT2s are not bad, they're probably the exact same as all the other applicants.</p>

9

<p>Yes, I'm a California resident. My school, unlike most Californian schools, isn't very competitive. It's not a great school. Less than 30% go to four years.</p>

10

<p>goodnightmoon:</p>

<p>UCLA: Slight Reach
UCB: Slight Reach</p>

11

<p>Brown doesn't weight SAT's quite as much as the others, but they still matter. I would say if you can get your scores up to 2100 you have a great chance given all your other qualities.</p>

<p>I think UCLA & Cal will be a match b/c of your GPA/rank, despite your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Princeton is a huge reach. Wellesley is a slight reach. You are in at the others (I think, I don't know enough about Gettysburg, bot you're set for the others).</p>

12

<p>Did you study for the SATs at all? If you do a retake, or decide to take the ACT, buy a book and put in a good 30 hours of study first. It may make a big difference. Also, a few people do much better on the ACT than on the SAT without any special preparation. But, don't risk it- study.</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I need to really study. When I sat the March 12 exam, I had barely studied because things were so hectic with swimming and my courses. I've been studying this summer and have been doing better on practice exams, averaging around low to mid 700s per subject. So hopefully those scores will go up.</p>

<p>stambliark41- thanks for your imput. I have interviewed already at Wellesley, and it went well, so hopefully it will increase my chances. Gettysburg is a fairly easy school to get into, since I was at their Civil War Institute as a scholarship student. They take 15 rising seniors per year for the CWI and most of the alums I have spoken to have been given good scholarships when they applied to Gburg.</p>

14

<p>Take the ACT...I did much better...the test just makes so much more sense!!!
I honestly think you should go for it even if your SATs are a little low (I personally, would be thrilled with them)
I also think that your Ec's are impressive. You seem so busy it's no wonder you can't shut yourself in a room for 3000000000 million years to study vocab words for that stupid test:)
good luck!</p>

15

<p>That is really good news that your practice SAT scores are so high. I think that you will do fine next time.</p>

16

<p>your scores wont help you at all but they may not be the end of you either.</p>