Chances at Columbia/UPenn/Cornell/other Ivies

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Race : Caucasian (Immigrated from Russia at age 10)
Sex : Male
Grade : About to be Senior
School : Public, Ohio (but competitive)
Rank : School doesn't report exact rank, but will report that I'm in the Top 5% (class of 431 people)</p>

<p>GPA :
Unweighted - 4.0
Weighted - Don't know yet, but maybe around 4.3 or above</p>

<p>SAT :
Critical Reading - 760
Math - 750
Writing - 760</p>

<p>SATII :
Math 2 - 740
Literature - 730
US History - 720</p>

<p>AP :
US History - 5
Biology - 5
English Language - 5
Macroeconomics - 5
Microeconomics - 5
Computer Science - 5
English Literature - Taking next year
Statistics - Taking next year
Calculus BC - Taking next year
Government - Taking next year</p>

<p>GRADES :
9th GRADE
Web Publishing - A
Science Investigations - A
English - A
Spanish 2 - A
World History - A
Algebra 2 - A
Computer Aided Drafting - A</p>

<p>10th GRADE
Intro to Programming - A
Honors Geometry - A
Spanish 3 - A
AP US History - A
English 10 Honors - A
Computer Graphics - A
Honors Biology - A</p>

<p>11th GRADE
Precalculus - A
AP Biology - A
AP English Lang - A
Honors Physics - A
Spanish 4 - A
AP Economics - A
AP Computer Science - A</p>

<p>12th GRADE - Will take
AP English Lit
Speed Reading
AP Government
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
Hon Chemistry
Music Theory</p>

<p>EXTRA-CURRICULAR/ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER STUFF):
-Macromedia Flash Club : 9th-12th (Co-Founder, Co-President)
-Science Olympiad : 9th-12th (Very active, a lot of medals, Competed at Nationals)
-Academic Challenge/Quizbowl : 10th-12th (Competed at Nationals)
-Junior State of America : 11th-12th
-Speech and Debate : 10th
-National Honors Society : 12th
-One of 3 people from my class nominated for National Council of Teachers of English writing contest
-Writing and graphics published in school literary magazine
-Chosen by teachers to participate in AMC (American Mathematics Competition) (Though admittedly, so were 1/5 of the class)
-National Merit Letter of Commendation (from the NMSQT PSAT tests)
-Some "Rising Star", "Comet of the Semester" awards from teachers</p>

<p>HOOK? :
I came here when I was 10 with almost no knowledge of English and so I'm going to strongly emphasize overcoming adversity, getting ahead in an unfamiliar country, etc.</p>

2

<p>That's not a hook.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, sorry, heh, I didn't quite know what that was. Nevermind that part.</p>

4

<p>Firstly, coming to US at 10 and doing well at school is not that difficult/impressive. There are many students who have come to US much later than you did (during high school and such) with higher GPA and SAT scores (and let's not forget all those international students who have not lived in foreign countries at all but still have super high SAT scores) so emphasizing it as your biggest adversity might work more against you than not.</p>

<p>Well, overall, your GPA/rank is solid, your SAT I's are qualified (SAT II's seem slightly low though), and your EC's are above-average.</p>

<p>I'd say,</p>

<p>50/50 at most of the ivies except Princeton, Harvard, and Yale.
Most likely in at Cornell and Brown</p>

5

<p>You SAT IIs are fine. Once you're in the 700s range for the SAT IIs, other things matter more. The SATs are the main thing you don't want to stay on the minimum for. And, even then, 650s in SAT IIs won't hurt you that much either if everything else is good. You look like a strong candidate, so you will be fine. Just apply and see what happens.</p>

<p>By the way, I don't know how coolness_rookie can say you will be most likely in at Cornell, Brown, or any other Ivy. There is only so much anyone can do when they gouge your chances to schools that evaluate holistically. You may look good based on their stats, but it's always a crapshoot.</p>

6

<p>Great gpa, good rank, good test scores, generic ECs</p>

<p>Everything is a reach.</p>

<p>You need some safety schools.</p>

7

<p>tux08902,</p>

<p>I understand what you are saying, but after all, this is a chances thread. People don't post their stats to read comments like "just apply and see what happens" or "it's always a crapshoot". Those comments are pretty much useless, because they really say nothing for the OP. So what if it's always a crapshoot? The OP asked for his chances at the schools, and such comments clearly do not respond to the OP's original question. When ppl create a thread like this, they want others to actually tell them if they think he or she will get in or not. </p>

<p>With that said, considering the stats of those who got into Cornell and Brown in the past, I think that the OP will most likely get into those schools. Please note that I used the words "most likely", meaning I am merely predicting, not STATING that he will get in.</p>

<p>oh btw, I would have agreed if you said that once SAT II's are above 750+, they don't matter as much. However, SAT II's that are between 700~750 are considered pretty low, especially for students applying to ivies. Have you checked out percentiles for SAT II's? For example, 800 on Math 2c is only 93rd percentile. So, scores in low 700s are average at best at ivies.</p>

8

<p>And yet, SAT II averages at the Ivies and other elites schools are still in the low 700s. I saw the averages on a link somewhere, but I could not find them. Remember, AP scores can always gouge them too if the subjects overlap. The most important thing are your essays if you're within the 50% range of any school. If you write a good essay, then I'd say you have a fair shot anywhere.</p>

<p>However, if I were to quantify, then I'd say you have a fair shot at Dartmouth and Cornell. Brown is a toughy for anyone. With all the other Ivies, you'd need to set yourself apart pretty well.</p>

9

<p>You have good stats and a chance at your schools, but I think writing about adversity and immigrationnwill make them yawn, it's just too common. Unless you swam against currents to get here and worked 80 hours a week to help support your family, give another essay a try.</p>

10

<p>coolness_rookie:
I personally havn't heard of any students, no matter where they're from, that have higher than a 4.0 UW.</p>