Chances at Ivies and other Top Schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Greetings all. I am currently trying to earn admission into a top American college. Why, you ask? I want to learn more and understand the way we humans live our lives, and I see great universities as places for me to explore this curiosity. I am a Russian-American male (in case this helps).</p>

<p>If you are so kind, please give me my chances for earning a spot in the class of ‘15 at the following institutions:
Stanford University
Harvard College
Yale University
Princeton University
Cornell University
My match/backups are Rice University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.</p>

<p>My stats</p>

<p>GPA
Unweighted: 3.95/4.00
Weighted: 4.72</p>

<p>ACT: 35
Math: 36
Science: 33
Reading: 36
English: 36
Writing: 12</p>

<p>SAT2
Math 2: 800
Physics: 770
Lit: 800</p>

<p>APs
Micro: 5
BC Calc: 5
Lang: 4
Stats: 5
Music Theory: 5
Spanish: 5
I'm taking both physics c's this year, literature, chemistry, macro, and bio this year.</p>

<p>228 PSAT, National Merit Semifinalist (My application for finalist is due on the 13th)</p>

<p>EC
Philosophy and Law Club - President, (started this club in Sophomore year) - approximately 14 members
I founded this club to debate about the human condition. I have a passion for understanding how humans interact, behave, and control each other. Every week, we meet and discuss current topics in philosophy and government. We will occasionally review court cases and discuss their outcomes. I take a particular interest to those in which the ‘bad guy’ exploits the loopholes.</p>

<p>Math Team - No Positions held - (joined in my Freshman year)
I joined the math team in my freshman year. I’m not really a huge math person but I’ll be able to write on my application that this is one of my passions (I’m a very convincing person, even if I don’t believe in what I’m saying).</p>

<p>Glass blowing - Since the 6th grade I have found a particular interest in glass blowing. I enjoy molding the glass to my needs and spending the time alone. This is truly one of my passions, I feel as if this is one of the few things I actually enjoy and have an emotional connection to. </p>

<p>I’ve participated in Indoor track sophomore and junior years but I didn’t find it very engaging. It was during this time that I took up my other pastime of hunting. About once a month I will accompany my father and uncle and we go hunting. There’s this unique feeling you get knowing that an animal’s life is completely in your hands. It’s that feeling of utter control that drives me to continue my hobby.</p>

<p>I’ve played piano from the age of 12. I limit myself to playing classical music. I attempt to embody its rigid structure and limited emotion.</p>

<p>Essays:
For my Common Application: People like Ted Bundy and Ted Kaczynski are viewed as sadistic, psychopathic murderers; there is no doubt that their crimes were heinous. However, through this essay I tried to demonstrate my creative thinking and ability to approach anything from an unconventional viewpoint (basically playing devil’s advocate here). I discussed the way Mr. Bundy manipulated the human mind and how Kaczynski fought for what he believed in, and how perhaps we can learn something from even the most vile of human beings. I presented a worked up rough draft to a few of my teachers and my counselor and they all said it really showed the way I think.
150 Word Essay: I discussed my involvement with the Philosophy and Law Club, as well as why our discussions apply to modern day society.</p>

<p>Recs:
My teachers love me. This really won’t be much of a problem. Four of them have offered to write my recs.</p>

<p>Disciplinary History
In my freshman year, I was caught lighting the class gerbil on fire. It was actually not entirely intentional, but I was suspended for 5 days. My counselor told me that they won’t mention it on my college application. Hopefully the 5 missed days will not hurt my chances much.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time and I thoroughly look forward to your help.</p>

2

<p>Solid chances. </p>

<p>How did you accidentally set the gerbil on fire?</p>

3

<p>I forgot to mention class ranking. My high school does not rank but I am certain I am in the top 10%.</p>

4

<p>Dude no offense but… you seem to fit the stereotype of psychopath or serial killer…</p>

5

<p>Writing about Ted Bundy and Ted Kaczynski is really edgy and, should word get out about your gerbil adventure, it will undoubtedly disqualify you from acceptance. How will word get out? Perhaps from you yourself - just google “Ted Bundy Ted Kaczynski Yale” and your post comes up second. You’ve already put in enough unique specs in one post to fingerprint your application.</p>

<p>There ARE safer choices for an essay about people who think differently. Think Richard Feynman. Or google Apple’s old "think different’ ad campaign for more names.</p>

6

<p>You say that you puff the glass…what you mean by that…
i bet your emotion not limited when you do that…know what i am saying</p>

<p>also you should right essay about dressing up in the clown suits</p>

7

<p>Seriously you sound like serial killer! Looks like you like to have the power and control at all times and you consider yourself a convincing person, your profile matches a psycho mind. lol
However sounds pretty cool and interesting, your stats are good!!
Avoid the gerbil and if possible edit your post</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>Holy crap.
-You enjoy hunting animals for the “control”.
-You lit a gerbil on fire.
-You idolize Ted Bundy and Ted Kaczynski.
-You claim to be a very convincing person.
I’m sorry but I have to agree with aznbboixnaruto and say that you sound a lot like a psychopath to me.</p>

9

<p>Shadow, AdidasNike, BastionofTruth, let’s not go and upset the nice man. You folks don’t have any pets, do you? ;-)</p>

10

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</p>

<p>LOL!!! Omg…</p>

<p>Great chances.</p>

<p>A bit freaky though.</p>

11

<p>Your essay is really risky. It could either help you or hurt you.</p>

<p>Don’t forget that the people viewing your application are going to have a certain “perception” about you. Be very careful on how you want them to view you because if pretty much 4-5 people on this website find your app a bit odd, then there is no doubt they will too.</p>

<p>And yet, the question remains…will that help you or hurt you? Definitely an eye-grabbing application, to say the least.</p>

12

<p>Huh. funny that I just commented that I’d like to meet a student genuinely interested in glass blowing. Great stats, but I concur with the previous posters, that essay topic is edgy. It also seems more of a persuasive piece rather than a personal statement, Why not something more focused on you? </p>

<p>I’d like to know how you got started in glassblowing, seems cool. Anyhow, you could also write about everyday life, your presidency of Law club, or anything that floats your boat. But again, I would caution against writing against serial killers unless you relate it to your academic or career goals, ex: exploring Ted Bundy’s mysterious mind has sparked my interest in criminology, etc.</p>

13

<p>This is totally off topic but… What happens if you blow into glass and then suck the air back out? Is it poisonous or harmless or what?</p>

14

<p>@BastionofTruth: Don’t forget this:</p>

<p>“We will occasionally review court cases and discuss their outcomes. I take a particular interest to those in which the ‘bad guy’ exploits the loopholes.”</p>

15

<p>you seem…well… odd.
Downplay the “control” aspect and the whole "serial killer"ness thing. Do not do the essay on Ted Bundy and the other guy. You alread are coming off as slightly psychopathic anyways…
But you have strength in numbers (ACT, etc)</p>

16

<p>PAUSE: Let’s review your application.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>YOU ACTUALLY FRIGHTEN ME.</p></li>
<li><p>I hope that all of your schools DO indeed find out about your gerbil fire and then take that into consideration when reading your essay romanticizing the criminal activities of two of the worst serial killers of all-time.</p></li>
<li><p>Start looking at safeties.</p></li>
<li><p>Refer to 1-3.</p></li>
</ol>

17

<p>I believe that I left you all with the wrong impression. Although it may seem that I embody psychopathic tenancies I assure you that I am in fact a very charming individual.</p>

<p>Any more chances, guys?</p>

18

<p>Wasn’t Ted Bundy very charming, too?</p>

<p>Seriously, your stats are fine, but remember that a committee will review your essays and it is likely that SOMEONE will be uncomfortable with your risky theme – and thus be driven to find additional evidence to reject you. The Ivies aren’t looking for the smartest students so much as they are looking for students who exhibit the traditional principles of gentlemanly behavior – being charitable, getting along with others, being humble about your own accomplishments. Merely presenting yourself as a person who likes to argue extreme positions may be enough to turn them off. You have to win their hearts as well as their minds and your variation of the old theme “Hitler did some good things, too” isn’t going to help you succeed.</p>

19

<p>Thank you for your comments, they are much appreciated. Some of them make me legitimately smile. Perhaps you don’t fully understand the way I view the world we live in. However I have not really received much feedback as to my chances at the schools posted. All help is thanked.</p>