Chances at ives and top LACs?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm wondering what my chances are for:
[ul]
[<em>]Stanford
[</em>]Princeton
[<em>]Brown
[</em>]Pomona
[li]Amherst[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>I am a current junior, but I will include the courses I plan on taking next year.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.99 UW, 4.31 W</p>

<p>AP Courses
[ul]
[<em>]Biology
[</em>]English Language
[<em>]English Literature
[</em>]Physics
[<em>]World History
[</em>]US History
[<em>]Economics
[</em>]Comparative Government
[<em>]Calculus BC
[</em>]Spanish
[li]Environmental Science[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>College Courses (Dual Enrollment)
[ul]
[<em>]Calculus 3
[</em>]Linear Algebra
[/ul]</p>

<p>Class Rank: 15/314
School Type: Public, competitive</p>

<p>ACT
[ul]
[li]Composite: 35[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>SAT
[ul]
[<em>]CR: 760
[</em>]M: 740
[<em>]W: 710
[</em>]Total: 2210
[/ul]</p>

<p>No SAT IIs yet, but I plan on taking US History and Biology in June.</p>

<p>AP Scores are all 4s and 5s, nothing too crazy.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
[ul]
[<em>]Captain of Policy Debate team
[</em>]Vice President of a human rights club that raised and donated $3500 to various charities this year alone
[<em>]Member of vocal jazz ensemble
[</em>]Member of a madrigal choir
[<em>]Member of nationally ranked show choir
[</em>]Student Senate
[/ul]</p>

<p>Honors/Awards:
[ul]
[<em>]Quarterfinalist in State for debate
[</em>]3rd place all state jazz championships
[<em>]Various other debate awards, speaker awards at national tournaments, etc
[</em>]National Merit semifinalist(?) (according to my councilor I will most likely be one)
[<em>]AP scholar
[</em>]NHS
[/ul]</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
Debate camp for 4-7 weeks each summer</p>

<p>Any glaring flaws in my application? Anything I should work on?</p>

2

<p>Biggest thing I’d suggest is test scores. You have a good score, but for the schools youre looking at you may want to bump it up a bit. Also, do you have a significant amount of service hours? Good luck though</p>

3

<p>Nvm I didnt see the 35 on the ACT</p>

4

<p>Another question - should I even submit my SAT score since it is quite a bit lower than my ACT score?</p>

5

<p>You don’t need to submit the SAT1 score. You don’t need to hide either. What is your intended major?
Add Math2 to your SAT2. It only costs you $12 and you should be able to do well.</p>

6

<p>I’m thinking of majoring in either economics or biology, and doing premed.</p>

7

<p>You do qualify to these top schools, however, you should know they are very competitive. Make sure you have several matching schools on the application list plus a safety as well. I really think you should take Math2, Bio, and US History for SAT2. What is your PSAT score and home state?</p>

8

<p>My PSAT score was 215 and historically my state has had a semifinalist cut off around 207-210. I think I will add Math II to my list of subject tests too</p>

9

<p>Are you in Michigan? I am just curious. Your stat is very similar to my D.</p>

10

<p>No, but another midwest state ;)</p>

11

<p>Hey Bahman! I was rejected at stanford, brown, and princeton but admitted to Amherst this year, and we have very similar objective stats (my gpa is lower, however). I also know a few people with your numbers who have been accepted/wait-listed/rejected at each of the schools in your list. Bottom line: you are competitive, but not guaranteed admission to any one of those schools.</p>

<p>Being a junior, you can’t do too much to change your extracurricular involvement. And your grades are pretty much set to be very high, so no room for improvement there. </p>

<p>My advice would be to really work on writing killer essays and getting recs from teachers that can really vouch for you. Also, if you’re set on any one of those schools, apply to its early admission program. Amherst and Brown are early decision (binding), while stanford and princeton are single-choice early action (non-binding). Your chances of admission, particularly at the early decision schools, greatly increase.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

12

<p>I hoping to get more involved in community service type stuff this summer and next year (I haven’t had much time to volunteer this year and last, my school day lasts from 7-5:30ish with activities and such not including homework), will colleges count my lack of involvement in the community up to this point against me?</p>

13

<p>Not really. As long as you show passion in something.</p>

14

<p>Agree with Bill. They really shouldn’t hold it against you, but colleges want to see passion and consistency</p>

15

<p>I also realized that about 90% of applicants to most of those schools submit SAT scores, if I only submit my ACT scores will I be at any sort of disadvantage?</p>

16

<p>No, you will not be at a disadvantage. The ACT should be viewed with the same regard as the SAT. Do well on your SATIIs! Do well on AP tests! Work hard, you can do it!</p>