Chances at Duke, Stanford, and Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello there! I was wondering what you guys would think my chances are at some schools. I think the biggest detriment to my application is my ACT score, but I’m still wondering what you guys would think my chances are…

Demographic: Asian male, low income, good public school
Intended major: Biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, business administration, or economics. (I’m sort of all over the place, aren’t I?)

UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.44
ACT: 31C, 30E, 34M, 28R, 30S (will sit again, but I’m not expecting any big change… Haven’t studied recently…)
Class rank: #1 in weighted and unweighted gpa

Senior year course load:
IB Modern World History
IB Chemistry 2 HL
IB Calculus 2 HL
IB English 12 HL
IB Spanish 5 HL
Government/Economics (required classes)
Advanced Leadership (application based class)

Past IB Exams:
IB Physics SL: 6
IB Mathematics SL: 6
(can only test in 2 my junior year)

IB Exams (May 2017):
IB Chemistry HL
IB English HL
IB History HL
IB Spanish SL

ECs:

  • Worked on my middle school’s site council, helped choose the new principal (participated in the interview for principal candidates).
  • Worked at a bowling alley
  • Worked at a math tutoring center
  • Researched (and paid) at a world renowned research institution -> won first place in a research competition
  • (Vice President) Co-founded a business/pilot program with a goal of teaching youth how to bring an idea to market
  • (Vice President) Co-founded science national honor society at my school
  • (Officer) National Honor Society (70+ hours)
  • School’s Leadership program (250+ hours)
  • (Vice President) Astronomy Club
  • Tutoring Club
  • Speech and debate

Essays:
Decent… I’d say like a 8-9/10. I’m not the best writer, but I definitely put passion into my essays. Still not sure how much of my difficult background I want to put into some of my essays. I’m not trying to throw a pity party for myself.

Recs:
Probably a 8.5-9/10

Possible hooks?:
I’m a first generation college student, first generation American, come from a family of a single parent (mom passed away when 6), and have low income (not sure if any of these will really play a role).

I was hoping you guys could chance me at:
Duke
Stanford
Cornell
University of Pennsylvania
USC

I’m guessing the biggest part of my app that I’m missing will probably be sports or my standardized testing score, but oh well, I tried I guess. Thanks for looking!!

2

Your chances are significantly lowered at all of these schools. USC might be the only one that may be plausible.

3

I meant your chances are lowered because of your ACT score. But hopefully you can do better if you take it again!

4

I’m not really familiar with the IB system so I’ll chance you without considering that part, which may not be entirely accurate, but I thought better a guess than nothing at all. I agree with junior2017 in that your ACT score is below average at all these schools except USC. What kind of research competition did you win? Was it an international competition? To be frank, that’s your only extracurricular that really stands out and will hurt you in the admissions process.

However, if you retake your ACT and get something in the 33+ range, and emphasize your hooks I think you may have a chance at some of these schools. Good luck!