Chances at Dartmouth, Wesleyan, Tufts, and Columbia? (Will chance back)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m currently a junior at a small, Pennsylvania public school. My intended major is not set in stone, but I’m thinking of cognitive science/neuroscience, and possibly sociology. I’m very new to this process, so please let me know if anything I put on here is trivial/should not go on an application! I know it’s pretty early, but I’d like to get an idea of what I need to work on. Thank you!

SAT Math: 680 (Will take again and try to raise)
SAT Writing: 730 (Will take again and try to raise)
SAT Reading: 800
Haven’t taken subject tests yet, but intend to take biology, US history, and literature

Will have taken 9 or 10 AP classes by graduation (Biology, US, Lang, Chem, Calc, Stat, French, Lit, Euro, and maybe Physics I)
AP Biology: 4 (This is the only score I have so far.)

Race: Mixed (Asian/White)
GPA: 3.9
Rank: 2 out of 160ish
Will be taking a class at either Lafayette or Lehigh next year

Extracurriculars:
Philanthropy Club/RAAB Foundation Partner (Founding member)
Key Club (Treasurer)
Scholar’s Bowl (Varsity)
Student Government (Executive President)
Madrigal Singers
School Board Student Representative
French Club
French Honor Society
National Honor Society
Odyssey of the Mind (World Finalist/State Ranatra Fusca)
Partners in Action for Community Togetherness
County Chorus
Intern at Hepatitis B research clinic

Volunteer/Other Leadership:
(Some of the above extracurriculars are service clubs that I have done a lot with)
Cops ‘N’ Kids/Books Through Bars Book Drive Project Manager
Math Tutoring
Cops ‘N’ Kids Literacy Program
School Representative at 2015 Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils Region F Conference
Volunteer counselor at science camp for elementary school students

Other:
Part-time job
Neuroscience camp at Muhlenberg College (selective and involves lab work)
Possibly attending the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences (highly selective state-funded program)
Semester-long research project on neuroprosthetics, applied for/got grant and created human interface/neuroprosthetic simulator to go along with the project
Semester-long independent study on the Russian avant-garde movement
French III independent study
(Not sure if I should list these independent studies/the research on an application. Thoughts?)

2

You have a pretty good chance at both Tufts and Wesleyan. You’re qualified for the ivies, but they will be crapshoots (as they are for anyone). Get that math score into the 700s if you can, otherwise you’re right on track. Get great recs, spend lots of time on your essays, and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Don’t forget to enjoy high school too, it’ll be over in the blink of an eye. Good luck!

Please chance me back :slight_smile:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1835256-nervous-applicant-please-chance-will-chance-back.html#latest

3

Thanks! Just chanced you back.

4

I think you definitely have a really great chance at Wesleyan and Tufts, you have really great ECs with lots of leadership and really good grades, and seem to have a rigorous course load. Dartmouth and Brown would definitely be reaches, but you have a good shot at getting in :slight_smile:
Definitely make sure to get those test scores up though, for math you definitely want at least a 700, if not a little higher. Good luck with the rest of high school, you’ll definitely have some great options college-wise!