Chances at Harvard/Yale/Dartmouth/Notre Dame?

<p>Hi, I'm a senior at a typical urban public HS--not a bad school, but avg. I'm white Catholic male. I think I might have grades/test scores for some of these schools, but EC's may be a bit lacking. Anyway...</p>

<p>GPA: 4.525 (weigted), 4.0 unweighted
Rank: 1/470 (this may or may not change to 2nd if my main competition gets an A in Calc)
ACT: 33
SAT: 800 M, 730 V
SATII's: Math 2 800, Writing 720 (just retested yesterday), Physics: 670
Chem: also taken yesterday, hoping for 700+
Decent to excellent rec's.
AP's not yet taken, anticipating 5 in Calc, 4/5 in English (school only offers 2 AP courses)</p>

<p>EC's
All things band: Mellophone in marching and Pep band
Jazz Band: Alto Sax 9-10, trombone 11-12
Main instrument F Horn, 3rd chair Toledo Youth Orchestra, 2 chair District Honor Band, 1st chair NW Regional Orchestra, Pit orchestra.
Quiz Bowl--led team to probable first league tournament victory in recent history of school
Math Honorary-president
German Honorary-president
Science Club/Honorary-secretary
NHS
Cross Country 9th grade-JV
Some volunteer work at mission downtown (just a few weekends though)</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
Toledo Blade Student of the Week
Outstanding student award for High School involvement.
Outstanding German student, levels 1-4
Rensselar Medalist
National Merit Commendation letter</p>

<p>2 other things--should I include?
1. I am interested in Rubik's cube-type puzzles, and can solve a cube in about 30 seconds.
2. I have Asperger's syndrome (you can look it up on the Internet if you don't know what it is) and have overcome a lot to get to this point. Should I put this in "Special Circumstances" or better not to include?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any help,
Chris</p>

<p>Excellent chances. I have a few aquaintances and a close friend with Asperger's, and I really admire that you've accomplished so much (I'd be saying excellent chances even without the Asperger's) with such a burden to carry. Good luck.
The SAT 730 math in combination with the 800 V will help. Most people with 800 V's have (like me) much less impressive M scores.</p>

<p>I'd avoid talking about Asperger's...not sure though.</p>

<p>Hmm...and when I mentioned I might have it (the diagnosis I had earlier was tenative, labeling me borderline-autistic), people said I wouldn't really get much sympathy for it. What gives?</p>

<p>to fiddlefrog--thx for the info. I just wanted to mention that I got the 800 in Math, not Verbal.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention above that I participated in a 3 1/2 week exchange in Germany.</p>

<p>-peace out,
Chris</p>

<p>Another question: what does "bump" mean?</p>

<p>-Chris</p>

<p>bump = bring up my post</p>

<p>In at ND, likely at Dartmouth, maybe at Harvard/ Yale. Npt sure about the Aspergers, you might want to ask your guidance counselor or it could make an incredible essay topic. OVercoming it and showing how you will continue to do so is amazing</p>

<p>...bump...</p>

<p>DEF INCLUDE THE ASPERGERS. That would be an amazing essay, I think that's your "hook" (I know, that's such a bad way to say it lol but you know what I mean)</p>

<p>Once posted by ThiticalCrinkin: As for mental Asperger's and other disorders, I really don't think there will be much sympathy unless there is some medical documentation for your condition(s). And I don't think they would accept "bad essay writer" without a doctor's excuse.</p>

<p>...bump...</p>

<p>aaannddd... bump.</p>

<p>and one last time...bump!</p>

<p>Hey Chris.... I too have aspergers syndrome and I'm currently writing my essay about it. Unfortunately my stats arent nearly as good as yours. I have debated whether I should include Aspergers in my essay, because in a way it is a weakness but I realized the good things about it far outweigh the negatives. I plan on majoring in business and I wrote how like it would be hard for me cause business is a people-relation field and I have a hard time interacting but I am doing it so I can face my fears etc...</p>

<p>Why, I never knew bump means that. All I knew all along was that you're pushing your post up, thus, bumping it up.</p>

<p>My cousin has asperger's and is a complete genius. He's only 12 now but I remember when he was 4 and he had all the president's memorized in order, their birthday's, their wives, their birthplaces and everything you could know about them. He's incredible but has a lot of social problems. So Asperger's has a wide range of effects. If yours were more detrimental and you had to overcome them then include it, if not then leave 'em out.</p>

<p>To sycophant:</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm not sure yet if I'm going to include it. I asked my counselor and she said she'd anonymously call the schools & see what they said. </p>

<p>-Chris</p>