Chances at Dartmouth, Columbia, NYU, and Rice

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>For some reason, these seem to be the only colleges I keep going back to.. I can't imagine myself living anywhere else but these four colleges. I know its a stretch, but could you guys could take a look and tell me what you think my chances are? </p>

<p>Oh, and could you recommend some good schools that I'd be a match or reach for?</p>

<p>Dartmouth
Columbia
NYU
Rice</p>

<p>(I have no safetys yet)</p>

<p>Upper NJ, Middle class, both parents
First generation to go to college (my parents immigrated and my dad never got to finish college in Korea).
Asian, female</p>

<p>SATs: 2100 (to be retaken in October)
SAT IIs: Physics, Literature, and French w/listening (Nov)</p>

<p>AP tests taken: Euro- 5</p>

<p>Classes:
Geometry, Algebra II, Honors EMA (trig and precal), Calculus
H English I, H English II, H English III, H English IV AP
H World Civ, H World History, H US his, AP US his, AP European his
H French II, H French III, H French IV (couldn't take AP French because I transfered schools and my new school didin't offer the class)
H Spanish II
H Bio, Chem, H Physics, AP Physics II
Musics, Arts, etc, etc..</p>

<p>GPA: Weighted- 4.43 ish
Rank: Pretty sure I'm in top decitile. No specifics</p>

<p>Clubs:
Community Service Club (9, 10)
Drama Club- set design (10)
Volunteens- (11)
Student Council (11,12)
Hand in Hand (12)
Ski Club (12) <------ Lol.</p>

<p>Leadership:
-Youth Leader of church's HS group. 15 teens ranging from 11-17. I lead basically the whole program since my church is so small. I teach Sabbath School, organize outreach and community service, fellowship programs, etc.
-Praise team leader at church: Piano & vocals.
-Co-leader of a cultural Korean Fan Dance group.</p>

<p>Other stuff:
-Played piano since 6 years old (11 years total). I play classical, improvise my own stuff, etc.
-Flute since sixth grade
-I picked up guitar last year and have been learning on my own
-Had a paid job as an English tutor for a French girl (once a week for about three months)
-Job as Dental assistant and secretary for summer of 9th and 10th grade
-Spent an academic semester abroad in France the 2nd semester of sophmore year. Lived with a host family and attended an actual French high school for six moths. (this is why i don't have rank. international grades)
-Volunteered once a week at a Used Books Cafe of Housing Works (proceeds go to help AIDs victims in NYC who are homeless).
-Many many volunteer events with our Fan Dance group performing, church group singing, just me visiting.. at nursing homes, cancer walks, benefits, etc.</p>

<p>I know my clubs and leadership positions look weak, but I do have an excuse... In the middle of my sophmore year I went abroad for an exchange in France. After I got back, during that summer our family moved to New Jersey. So I've been in a total of three high schools, and its been a little tough on my involvement in school since I've moved around so much.. Also, my first quarter grades for Junior year are a bit off since I had a hard time ajusting to this freakishly competitive school after being at such a laid-back on in Boston (YEA boston!). </p>

<p>I do expect spectacular essays.. writing's always been my strong point (and yet, sadly, as the SATs will testify, math has not been..).
RECs: should be good overall. Who knows. Switching schools doesn't really let you get to know teachers that well.</p>

<p>Let me know what you think!</p>

2

<p>I think NYU is a match, I dont know about other schools</p>

3

<p>It will depend on your retake. As is, dartmouth, Columbia will be VERY tough and Rice will be almost as tough. You'll likely need to up the SAT score to be competitive at these. NYU on the otherhand is a match.</p>

<p>I'll try and recommend other schools similar to these that you might like:</p>

<p>If you like Columbia, I would say Chicago is an easier admit.<br>
If you like NYU (match), BU or GW could be a good safety.
If you like Rice or Dartmouth, Northwestern, Middlebury, or Emory are worth a look.</p>

<p>These are all different so I don't see how you could like them all! But other more slight reach hybrids of these could also be Vassar and UNC-CH.</p>

4

<p>Dartmouth- Rejected
Columbia-Rejected
NYU-Accepted
Rice-Accepted</p>

<p>I'm sorry for being harsh with the Darth and Columb, but those schools are FAR FAR Reaches for ANYONE who applies to them.</p>

5

<p>Thanks to anyone who replied... and I'd rather that you be harsh, than being crushed later on. I suspected that the two ivies would be really big reaches for me... </p>

<p>Anyone else comment?</p>

<p>Oh, and I added Bates, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt to my list, any chances?</p>

6

<p>Adding those 3 schools is what you needed for a well rounded list. Of course you are in Rutgers so that's your for-sure safety. I'd say you have about equal chance at Bates, Vanderbilt and NYU, probably at least 50-50.</p>

<p>Columbia Rice and Dartmouth are your reaches...good list imo.</p>

7

<p>Ok, so here's my rough-final draft:</p>

<p>Columbia
Dartmouth
Rice
NYU
Weslyan
(maybe Vanderbilt)
Bowdoin
Rutgers</p>

<p>I'm also contemplating putting U of Vermont and U Mich as my lower-matches, safetys, but I'd have to fill out seperate applications instead of the common.. :). Maybe.. I think I'm applying Early Action to Rice, so if I get in there, I won't fill those apps out. </p>

<p>I just read the article about the woman's son who didn't get into any Ivies because that's all he picked. So what I NEED to find is a safety that I'm in love with.</p>

<p>Any suggestions?</p>

8

<p>sarah lawrence as a safety !</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
my dad never got to finish college in Korea

[/quote]

This means that you are not a first generation student. Being a frist generation means that your parents have not attended college period.</p>

<p>My concern is at schools Columbia, NYU and Dartmouth are so vastly different from one another I find it hard to believe that you could be equally happy at any one of the 3. Could you elaborate on why you feel these schools are a good fit for you.</p>

<p>If you are talking about Andison, his selection of schools were more than Ivies.</p>

<p>If money is going to be an issue, be prepared to know that you are not going to get the big bucks from NYU so there could be a huge gap in your financial aid package.</p>