Chances at ED Pomona, as well as UCLA, USC, JHU, Columbia, Stanford, UCSD and Cornell

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi there,
I am a rising senior from a very competitive High school in California. I moved from Iran to the U.S. back in 8th grade without knowing how to speak English. I have struggled a lot trying to learn English to a level of competing with the rest of my peers, but I think I have tried my very hardest in balancing my academic life as well as my extracurriculars while trying to learn a second language. I know Stanford and Columbia are my reaches (just like for everyone else) but just wanted to apply to them because I am feeling lucky. So.. here are the measly stats:
GPA: 3.98 UW, 4.46 W
SAT: 690 CR, 770 math, 720 W (2180)
SATIIs: only took bio and got 740. Took bio and math lvl 2 just past this weekend.
ACT: 32, not gonna submit because it's lower than my SAT
APs: English Language(5 which is funny because English is my second lang), Physics mechanics C (4), Bio (4)
ECs: took a course at Stanford Summer for 3 units. Got an A
Self-taught pianist, my biggest EC since I can play very advanced pieces even though I have never had a teacher before. (By advanced I mean some Chopin etudes and nocturnes, Beethoven movements, Schubert impromptus etc)
Historian at FBLA
Music service club secretary, basically perform for the public for community service
Teach students in Bangladesh English via Skype
About 200 hours of community service (Worked two summers and school years at library, tutored peers for mathematics and bio)
Went back to Iran one summer and taught English at my old school
2 years of JV swimming
LINK crew leader</p>

<p>Basically, I know my gpa, SATs and EC's are not as strong as some of my competition for these schools, but I am really trying to bring out the difficulties of English as a second language and a whole new country into the equation in the essays. As for recommendations, I think they are solid since both teachers really like me. My counselor also knows the troubles I have been through adapting to a new language. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!</p>

2

<p>bump…</p>

3

<p>need some advice, seems like CC doesn’t have a lot of people here today</p>

4

<p>Alright thanks a lot guys for no replies :smiley: Take care</p>

5

<p>are you an American citizen or permanent resident?</p>

6

<p>I think your gpa and test scores are excellent for someone in your position, however, I don’t really see any EC that make you standout. Your EC are decent, just not excellent.</p>

7

<p>Damnnnn… Impressive</p>

8

<p>Collegeboard Jaja, I am a permanent resident currently :slight_smile: thx for the replies. Yes Sugar free my ECs are ok, not great. I try to get involved as soon as I realized that I need ECs for college apps. Back in Iran, believe it or not, but you only need to do well on ONE test to go to college. It’s a nationwide test at the end of your senior. They do not even look at your ECs. I realized that I need to get involved in something when I finished sophomore, which was way over due.</p>

9

<p>Your GPA is good. However, your SAT and your subject tests are on the lower side for those top-tier schools. Remember, your competition is submitting scores of 2250+ and perfect GPAs. It doesn’t matter if you’re a self-taught pianist if you don’t have any awards of recognition to show for it (anyone can say they’re self-taught and can play advanced pieces). Decent AP’s. Ok EC’s.</p>

<p>Having difficulty with English and moving during 8th grade won’t be topics for an impressive essay, nor will it buy you any “sympathy points.” These schools receive thousands of candidates with similar “new language” stories, and it won’t make you stand out.</p>

<p>UCLA: High Match/Match
UCSD: Match/Low Match
Cornell: Low Reach
JHU: Reach/Low Reach
USC: Match
Columbia, Stanford: High Reach</p>

10

<p>That is not a good excuse for your lack of EC’s. You came to the US during 8TH GRADE, which means that you had plenty of time to learn about the US college system during your freshman and sophomore year. It would be a different story if you moved during your sophomore or junior year, but unfortunately, colleges won’t “care” about your lack of expertise in the area due to the time you had to adjust for EC’s.</p>

<p>I can’t emphasize this enough: colleges don’t want to hear the cliche “new language new country” story. That is one of the most talked about topics. DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT. Try to write about something that makes you stand out.</p>

<p>Sorry if I sound so blunt, but I’m just being realistic. I’m not going to sugarcoat something so important in people’s lives.</p>

11

<p>Thx for the honest reply. I will try to improve my SAT scores, but thankfully, I am not obsessed over top tier privates such as the ones I have listed above. I will thank God if I get into a good UC. For the music part, do you think that submitting an art supplement would be good enough? I’ve never entered in competitions but I can film myself playing pieces</p>

12

<p>You can choose to send in art supplements, but I’m not sure if it’ll help unless you’re absolutely stunning. But then again, I don’t know how you play and much about art supplements, so don’t take my word for it.</p>

<p>Here are UC stats:</p>

<p>UCB: Reach/Low Reach: 20-25% chance due to high # of applicants with similar or better stats</p>

<p><a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/[/url]”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/freshman-profile/&lt;/a&gt;
Don’t rely on averages. You must outperform those numbers by 25-50% for you to get a decent shot.</p>

<p>UCLA: High Match/Match: you’ll most likely get in
UCSD, and others: you’ll most likely get in</p>

13

<p>Thx Collegeboardjaja. I don’t think I’m going to be applying to Berkeley because I don’t like the campus vibe that much, but I’ll be happy at UCSD or LA. Pomona is my number 1 choice, which is why I am EDing for it. It’s a reach, but I like to try out my luck.</p>

14

<p>Is it Pomona college?
[Pomona</a> College in Claremont, California - Pomona College](<a href=“http://www.pomona.edu/]Pomona”>http://www.pomona.edu/)</p>

15

<p>Yes that one</p>

16

<p><a href=“http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/e/N/-/-/Pomona.png[/url]”>http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/e/N/-/-/Pomona.png&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>By the looks of the graph (2200 SAT (trivial difference) and 3.97 GPA), you actually have a fighting shot lol. I see as many greens/blues as reds/yellows, which may imply a >40% chance. These liberal arts colleges care more about how you are as a person I think, so really practice for that supplement and write an essay that truly shows who you are (maybe write about music and relate to your immigration experience), and not a typical, cliche immigrant story.</p>

17

<p>Great thanks a lot for the encouragement man. I think ED will raise my chances, but I am not banking on it so I wouldn’t get hurt when the small envelope comes in the mail :slight_smile: I think that should be the approach of anyone applying for colleges, because you will never what might happen specially with privates</p>

18

<p>Any other inputs would be more than welcome CC</p>

19

<p>I think you are in a great position to write an excellent essay. Nail your essays and you’ll have no problems.</p>

20

<p>Yup the essays are the make or break :D</p>