Chances at Cornell, Harvey Mudd, USC, CMU for ChemE

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Race: White
Gender: Male
Major: Chem Engineering
School does not rank

W-GPA: 4.16 (excluding freshman year: 4.33)
UW-GPA: 3.899

SAT: 1480 (800M, 680R/W; first sitting, planning on taking it again in October)
SAT Subj: Chem (800), Math IIC (780)

Junior Year Classes: AP Chem (5), APCS (5), AP Lang (3), Spanish 3, Honors Precalc (B+ first sem, A- second)
Senior Year Class Load: AP Calc BC, AP Lit, AP Gov, Honors Physics

ECS: Robotics Team President, Water Polo (year-round), Hospital Volunteering, Lifeguarding summer job, Link Crew, CSF school president, Science Team, Astronomy Club President (don’t think I’ll put this on my app; opinions?), CSF School President

Letters of Rec:
1: AP Chem Teacher (rumors have it that she writes the best letters in the school and she likes me a lot)
2: AP Lang Teacher (she likes me a lot; heard her letters are 7/10)

Schools:
Cornell
Harvey Mudd
USC
CMU

Also, I’m trying to find more colleges in California that are fits/safeties for me. I’m already applying to the UCs, but I’m not particularly interested in them. Opinions? Thoughts? Thank you!

2

Why would you leave astronomy club off? You are planning a STEM major, of course you should leave it on.

You are in a tough demographic spot for Mudd (LOTS is applicants like you). It is very important to get your R/W score up and have well considered essays there). Soft pre-calc grades will not help. You are qualified to be considered, but it will be hard to stand out.

What is your financial situation? Are you applying to Cal Poly?

3

I’m fine financially, and I don’t think I’ll be applying to Cal Poly (they don’t have my major).