Chances at Harvard, Yale, Georgetown... [pretty please!]

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>here are my stats...</p>

<p>Bio: Filipino female, single parented, at humanities magnet public school in inner-city LA, CA.</p>

<p>SAT: 2090 (Math: 740, Verbal: 650, Writing: 700) [I'll be taking it again in October]</p>

<p>GPA: 3.92 unweighted, 4.23 weighted
APs: took Calc AB (5) and Bio (2) as sophomore and Calc BC, US History, Physics B, Physics C, and Comparative Government this year
College Courses: I have take Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science courses at a nearby community college.</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars/Activities/Volunteer Work:
- Class Council [Activities & Fundraising coordinator 9-10, President 11]
- Girl Scout of 10 years <a href="I'm%20hoping%20that%20this%20will%20really%20help%20me!">soon to earn Gold Award</a>
- JSA
- Peer Tutor
- Staff writer for school newspaper
- Repoter on school broadcast news show
- Local Public Library Volunteer
- Counselor at Camp for Epilepsy Foundation
- Intern for City Councilman
- member of City of LA Youth Council
- Presenter at National Service Day Conference
- ACT [Actively Concerned Teens for Active Citizenship Today], Founder and President
- NHS
- Varsity Golf Team</p>

<p>my extracurriculars are my strength and i seem to be pretty weak with my tests [SAT and the AP 2]</p>

<p>what do you think are my chances at these schools:
Harvard, Georgetown, Yale, UCLA, UC Berkeley</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>thanks in advance! (:</p>

2

<p>Speaking as the mom of a girl who DIDN'T get in to Yale (and few of her friends DID): you have a decent shot. </p>

<ol>
<li> Work on that SAT Verbal/writing score. Ivies really value good English/writing skills even more than your math score.</li>
<li> Apply as a female Science major. I don't know if they view filipinas as "minority"--I don't think so, unless you have a Spanish last name. If you're a big Ivy fan, Dartmouth in particular has a "minority women in science" program that runs over the summers.<br></li>
<li> The most interesting ECs you list are golf team (are you really good? if yes, it might be golf that gets you in), interning for LA City Council member, and class president. Write about those in your essays, or write about your immigrant/citizenship experience (a la "Spanglish"). </li>
</ol>

<p>Remember that getting into any Ivy is low-probabability, so don't bother to apply to all of them. They're all looking for the same kid--you'd either get into all or none. So many of the spots go to legacies and athletes and celebs that there are few left for honest scholars. (Although someone has to get the low grades--better them than you!) Be sure to apply to UCLA and Berkeley, too. They're just as good, a LOT cheaper, and don't have the legacy/celeb problem.</p>

3

<p>Which school of Georgetown? People often forget this. What inner-city humanities magnet program? (I happen to live in Los Angeles and go to an inner-city school myself, so trust me, I know ALL about it.)</p>

<p>I think you have a fair chance for Georgetown.</p>

4

<p>wow, thanks!! (:</p>

5

<p>" They're all looking for the same kid--you'd either get into all or none. "</p>

<p>This is not true at all. Just check the various Ivy boards here and you'll see that students may have been accepted to one, but waitlisted or rejected at others.</p>

<p>The Ivies have different personalities and appeal to different types of people. Brown, for instance, has a more laid back student body than does Harvard, which is known for intense Type As.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is known as having a very friendly campus filled with students who are athletic and love outdoor activities.</p>

<p>Princeton is preppier than the other Ivies.</p>

<p>I do not suggest applying as a science major unless that's truly your interest. Don't try to fake an interest in order to get in.</p>

<p>Frankly, most of the Asian applicants whom I see as an H alum interviewer plan to be science majors. This is true for the females, too. It does not make one stand out in the applicant pool at a place like H.</p>

<p>It's far rarer to see applicants of any race or gender who want to be journalists or politicians. Based on what your ECs are, I would not be surprised if your interests lie in those areas.</p>

<p>When it comes to ECs, what's important is breadth, not length. What the colleges will be interested in is what you accomplished in your ECs. What kind of legacy did your leadership leave behind? How did you effect change or touch lives? This can be demonstrated through your essay, recommendations and through what you say during your interviews.</p>

<p>Since I can't read adcom's minds, I don't estimate chances, except to say that as is the case with virtually all applicants to schools like H, Y, you "qualify" for admission in that your stats, gpa and curriculum indicate that if admitted, you'd graduate. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>Yale/Harvard, no.
UCLA.. reach
georgetown, i have no idea, but im guessing match</p>

7

<p>I think that Georgetown is a reach, too, but not as much of a reach as Y, H. The people whom I see now getting into Georgetown have also gotten waitlisted at places like Ivies and may have turned down a top LAC like Williams for Georgetown.</p>

8

<p>any feedback as to why you say that would be really helpful. thanks</p>

9

<p>Georgetown has been hot for the last 15 years or so, since Clinton was president. It used to be a safety for places like the Ivies, but since Clinton, has become increasingly difficult to gain admission to, and increasing numbers of top students have it as a top choice. </p>

<p>Not only is it an excellent university, but lots of high achieving students want to be in D.C., and Georgetown is the best university in D.C. </p>

<p>I think, too, the fact that it offers EA admissions is another attraction for top students.</p>

10

<p>i think what i meant was...
is there anything that you think that i might be lacking, something i need to work on...?</p>

<p>[thanks by the way, you've been really helpful!]</p>

11

<p>If you can raise your SAT score by about 100, you should apply to Georgetown, otherwise...</p>

12

<p>I'd say go more in-depth with your ECs. yeah, you're in JSA, but are you a coordinator? do you organize conferences? if you're just a member, not to be rude, but lots of people will be members of National Honors Society and JSA and all that kind of stuff...but not lots of them will be coordinators, etc. Distinguish yourself.</p>

<p>And, Varsity Golf Team - what awards have you won?</p>

<p>I think you have a good chance for both Georgetown and Berkeley, esp. since you're in-state....Ivies, you never know.</p>

13

<p>I don't think that you need any more ECs. You need to make sure that you are doing things that truly matter -- to you and to your EC organization.</p>

<p>For instance, what is the impact of your being on the LA Youth Council? If you just go to meetings and sit there, and then put your membership on your resume, that's not an EC that will make you stand out.</p>

<p>If you've used your position to make some kind of difference -- have helped get some rules modified or programs started -- then that would be an impressive EC if you centered your essay on it or had a supplementary recommendation from some connected with the council who could attest to your legacy.</p>

<p>The same is true for your internship. If all you did was mindlessly answer the phone or stuff envelopes, that's not impressive. If the experience taught you about politics or advocacy and has led to your being active in a campaign, doing school-related or independent research on an issue, deciding to get on track for a certain career, that could be something that made you stand out on your application -- if you document that through an essay, interview, recommendation, etc.</p>

<p>I am not suggesting that you need supplementary recommendations for all of your ECs. I am saying that it could be helpful to send a supplementary recommendation from one EC in which you made an outstanding contribution.</p>

<p>If this recc comes from the council office, it would be better to have it be written by a staff member who has worked closely with you than by a council member who barely knows you.</p>

14

<p>wow, thank you northstar... </p>

<p>i have been really unsure as to how to present my commitment to my ECs and if a supplement rec from the Councilman would make a difference. you answered all my questions!</p>

<p>you've been a really big help!</p>

15

<p>You seem pretty easygoing, enthusiastic, and honest-- keep that up for the interview and the essays.</p>

16

<p>thanks</p>

<p>also, does anything that i did during middle school count whatsoever?!?</p>

17

<p>up your SAT and subject tests</p>

<p>and you're in JSA, so you're cool</p>

<p>high five to another JSA member. if you live in california and went to any of the conventions, you were bound to have at least caught a glimpse of me.</p>

18

<p>"also, does anything that i did during middle school count whatsoever?!?"</p>

<p>nope :&lt;/p>

19

<p>bump</p>

<p>any further help??</p>