Chances at Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Yale

<p>Hi everyone!
I'm a high school junior in a well-rated public school in NJ (graduation to four year college rate is about 95%). I'm reaching that time in my career where college stress is careening towards me at high speed and I'm getting nervous. I've been looking around at some colleges and I find myself pushed towards the Ivys, but I'm also looking at places like NYU and UNC. I'd be indebted to you guys if you could let me know where I should/could be looking with my scores/ECs at this point.</p>

<p>I just joined up, so please let me know if I'm posting this in the incorrect place/in the wrong way. </p>

<p>High school junior
Estimated cum GPA at the end of junior year: 4.3 (weighted)
Estimated cum GPA at the end of junior year: About a 3.8 (unweighted)</p>

<p>PSATs:
Sophomore year: Scores were pretty bad. Above a 200 but I think not more than a 205 or so.
Junior year: 226 (Math 790, Writing 740, Reading 730)</p>

<p>SAT 1's:
March Sophomore Year: (W/690), (R/690), (M/760) = 2140
March Junior Year: (W/800), (R/730), (M/740) = 2270
Composite: 2290</p>

<p>SAT 2's:
Just took them today. I am expecting the following:
Biology M: 700-760
Math 2: 760-800</p>

<p>I haven't taken AP tests yet, but here's what I'm expecting:
AP Stat: 5
AP Biology: 5
AP US History: 4</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Pianist since 3rd grade (not sure I can add this to an application)
Nominated for Boy's State leadership program
(a little more about this: this isn't one of those programs you can pay for to get in; this is a state-funded program for which only two people from my grade are nominated and attending. I will be attending in June)
Conducted water taste test in school (over 100 students/teachers surveyed), and presented results to various town/county officials as well as water company representatives
Captain of JV Tennis Team: 3 years
President and Founder of Microfinance Club: 2 years
The microfinance club is a charitable club that fundraises and sends micro-loans ($100 at a time) to third world entrepreneurs in order to give them an opportunity to earn their keep as well as to stimulate the economy of their developing nation. The loans are zero-interest, and upon their return, we add them to the fund and send them off to a different business.
Computer league member, took part in competitions and did very well
Freelance web development for 5 years (started my own business online, am doing quite well)
Drafted a redesign of a half of a wing of school, submitted proposal and presented to the principal</p>

<p>Awards/Recognition/Contests:
Bell award for oustanding achievement in 11th grade english
NJIT Computer Science Competition 2 years: Placed top 10 first year, top 7 second out of 40+
National Honor Society
National Spanish Honor Society
Took National Spanish Exam 3 years:
- first year bronze
- second year bronze (graded accidentally as a native speaker, when in fact I've only learned spanish in school for about 3 years)
- third year results have yet to return, but assuming silver or gold
Probably a semifinalist for national merit scholarship</p>

<p>All projected/taken APs (grade taken/will be taken):
AP Stat (11)
AP Biology (11)
AP US History (11)
AP Psychology (12)
AP Physics BC (12)
AP Calculus BC (12)
AP Spanish (12)
AP English Lang (12)</p>

<h2>My teacher recommendations will be very good. The english teacher that awarded me the bell award (see above) will be writing one, while my math teacher (who I also had for computer science, and accompanied us to the programming competition (see above)) is writing the other. Both gave positive feedback upon being asked to write the recommendation.</h2>

<p>I'm wondering what my chances are at Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Yale, and any other equivalent schools (e.g. Carnegie Mellon, Cornell) that you may think of.
If you need any other information, please let me know and I'll be happy to give it to you!</p>

<p>Thanks,
Zoopey</p>

<h2>Here’s a better formatted version for those of you who got a chance to look (it seems I missed the edit window).</h2>

<p>Profile:

[ul]
[<em>]17 Year Old High School Junior
[</em>]School has a 4 year college acceptance rate of 96%
[/ul]</p>

<p>Academics:
GPA:

[ul]
[<em>]Weighted: 4.3 (where 5 is an A in honors/AP)
[</em>]Unweighted: About a 3.8
[/ul]</p>

<p>Standardized Testing:
PSATs:

  • [<em>]Grade 10: 200
    [</em>]Grade 11: 226 (W/740, R/730, M/790)

SATs:

  • [<em>]Grade 10: 2140 (W/690, R/690, M/760)
    [</em>]Grade 11: 2270 (W/800, R/730, M/740)
    [<em>]Composite: 2290 (W/800, R/730, M/760)

SAT IIs:
I just took them today, but here are projected scores.

  • [li]Biology M: 700-760[/li][</em>]Math 2: 760-800

AP Tests:
Again, I haven’t taken any yet (will be this comning week). Expected results for this year follow.

[ul]
[<em>]Statistics: 5
[</em>]Biology: 5
[li]US History: 4[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Sports:
JV Tennis 3 years, Captain for 2</p>

<p>Clubs:
Academic Team (Quiz Bowl): Captain
Microfinance Club: Founder, President

[indent]The microfinance club is a charitable club that sends micro-loans ($100) to entrepreneurs in developing nations in order to give them opportunities to expand businesses as well as to contribute to their economies.
Computer League: Participated and succeeded in various ALCS competitions</p>

<p>Interests/Out of School:
Piano: 8 years, recitals/concerts given; alas, no competitions undertaken!
Computer Programming: 9 years of experience; over 10 languages learned, both internet-based and compiler-based
Freelance Web Development: Started a web development business online, took on clients ranging from families to a UN Film Festival website
Water Taste Test Study: Conducted a taste testing study for various types of water in town; presented results to commitee and various town/county officials.</p>

<p>Awards/Honors/Contests:

[ul]
[<em>]Award for Oustanding Achievement in English (Grade 11; each teacher in school can give one award to one student each year)
[</em>]Nominated and Accepted to Boy’s State Leadership Program (This isn’t one you apply for; your teachers/counselors vote for the two people to represent the school in a state-funded 5-day program near the end of the school year)
[<em>]NJIT Computer Science Competition: 2 years (10th and 11th). Placed top 10 each time, second year tied for 6th.
[</em>]National Honor Society
[<em>]National Spanish Honor Society (2 years)
[</em>]National Spanish Exam (3 years): First year bronze, Second year bronze (accidentally graded as native speaker), Third year results have yet to come (Expecting gold)
[<em>]Probable National Merit Scholar
[</em>]Given the opportunity to submit a redesign of part of a wing of the school, presented in front of the principals
[/ul]</p>

<p>AP Classes:

[list]
[<em>]Statistics
[</em>]Biology
[<em>]US History
[</em>]Calculus BC (12)
[<em>]Physics BC (12)
[</em>]Psychology (12)
[li]English Lang (12)[/li]<a href=“12%20Means%20I%20plan%20on%20taking%20it%20next%20year”>/list</a></p>

<p>Recommendations:

  1. English teacher: He’s the one who nominated me for the Outstanding Achievement Award (see above), so I think this will be a very good recommendation.
  2. Math teacher: I’ve had two classes with him now (one in computer science), and he accompanied our team to the computer science competition (see above), so I think this will be good as well.</p>

<hr>

<p>I’d say everything’s these stats are pretty solid, and it clearly shows your interest in computers. Although the thing about HYPSMs are that the acceptances are extremely uncertain. I’d try to get your SAT scores up.
Dartmouth-Low reach
Harvard- Reach
MIT-Low Reach
Yale- Reach/ Possible high match if you try SCEA</p>

<p>Chance back please: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/920676-long-time-lurker-first-time-poster-chance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/920676-long-time-lurker-first-time-poster-chance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Thanks for the opinion!
I do plan on retaking the SATs in October (I can’t make the june date). However, because I’d be taking it in October, I’m not sure I would get the scores back in time to apply ED.
If I got my composite to about a 2330, do you think it would make much of a difference? I don’t think I could get it much higher than that (critical reading’s my weakness!)</p>

<p>I completely agree about HYPSMs…I was hoping to bank on my contests/extracurriculars and especially the boy’s state leadership program to distinguish myself from the rest of the pool. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that for every item I have on my resume, there’s someone out there with an item 3x more impressive; so we’ll see how it goes! :)</p>