Chances at Ivies and UC's?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

This is my first time ever using CC so not really sure what I’m doing but I’m just going to use the format I see the most on here. My top schools are Penn, Dartmouth, UCLA, and USC. I’m applying to Yale and Harvard just because, don’t think I have any real shot. Honestly, I’m starting to feel like all of the schools I listed are huge reaches for me though.

SAT Scores (and # of sittings): 2 sittings, first one 1340 composite, breakdown = 750 read+write, 590 math, 18 essay. second one 1330 composite, 680 read+write, 650 math, 24 essay. superscore; 1400 with 24/24 essay

ACT Scores (and # of sittings): N/A

SAT II Scores (and # of sittings): taking three in January, all above 700 expected

School Profile (Brief): decently sized public, like 1800 kids total

GPA (Unweighted/Weighted): 3.8 UW, 4.8 W

Rank: 36/384

AP/IB Scores: 5 APUSH, 5 AP English Lang

Senior Courseload: AP Lit, AP Comp Sci Principles, AP Chem, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (AP weighted engineering class), Online college-level creative writing class worth three credits, Spanish III Honors, Spanish IV Honors, Critical Analysis of Writing (AP weighted senior only class)

Notable Honours/Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): nothing other than NHS and Tri-M so no

Notable Extra-Curricular Activities: Founder and President of Black Student Union (11th, 12th), Founder and President of UNICEF Club (11th, 12th), Vice President of city’s chapter of Sister Cities, cultural organization that raises community awareness of international issues, conferences with exchange students, global water projects, etc (10th, 11th, 12th), For 9th and 10th I was an award-winning cellist in my schools orchestra, became a freelance musician/composer as an upperclassman. I struggle with a movement disorder that makes it difficult for me to play that worsened at the end of 10th (actually wrote a few supplements about this, one for the UC’s and one for Harvard) but I’ve overcome a lot to play and use it to make unique compositions that work for my style, Founder and Editor in Chief of small scale teen social justice magazine (11th, 12th), Freelance Author, I’ve published a full novel on iTunes, (really meaningful to me, mentioned in Common App essay), have had a literary blog since 10th grade that has 20+ original short stories published, essay collection on black womanhood and many smaller projects (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th), and Varsity Tennis (10th, 11th)

Work Experience: Summer Intern at STEM children’s learning center in Palo Alto, CA (10th, 11th)

Non-Consistent Extra-Curricular Activities (Volunteering, Summer Activities, etc.): Lots of separate volunteer work for UNICEF and Sister Cities, various volunteer hours throughout the year at local performances and Habitat for Humanity for NHS and Tri-M

Passions: Writing. My passion is highly demonstrated throughout my entire application and I’ve made sure to highlight my accomplishments/what I plan to do with it in college and further my future. I’m also extremely passionate about activism for the black community and cultural understanding.

Recommendations: first one is my English teacher who i had 9th grade and who was my mentor for my independent study in 11th where I wrote my novel. I’ve had an extremely close relationship with him throughout high school so I’m sure it was prob at least 8/10 though I didn’t read it so idk. second is my APUSH teacher, he constantly told me how much he loved my writing and I did very well in the class so again didn’t read but I’m sure at least 8 or 9/10. Third one, I actually want to ask peoples opinions on if I should use this one for schools unlike Dartmouth that don’t explicitly recommend it. Its a peer rec from a friend who moved to NC from CA in 10th, he talks about how I brought him out of his shell through my leadership at Black Student Union and helped him embrace his heritage/individuality, how we formed a bond and I helped him study for the ACT and improve his writing/helped him build his confidence and eventually convinced him to apply to college after he was unsure if he was even going to–he’s now been accepted ED to a very prestigious school. I think it reflects on my character and our bond a lot, 10/10

Essays (and content, if you like): 10/10, Common App essay is hands down the best thing I’ve ever written. It’s about the meaning behind my very very strange name and how it influenced the writing of my novel among many other positive character changes, to summarize it

Your Prospective Major: English

State/Country: North Carolina

Ethnicity/Gender: Black Female

Hooks: URM

Strengths/Weaknesses: I feel like I’m relatively strong in everything except GPA, SAT, and maybe major awards. My GPA definitely shows an upward trend though and I’m also in my schools STEM magnet program, requires pretty rigorous engineering classes every year which I’ve passed all w 96 or above, they’re AP level and ive taken 7+ separate AP’s SO far which is why my weighted GPA is a lot higher than my unweighted

2

Can you afford all of these schools?
Remember that the UC’s do not have financial aid for OOS.

3

My dad is a CA resident, so I get in-state tuition. $ isn’t a problem

4

What is your UC GPA? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
You realize that your SAT subject tests will not be considered by the UC’s, since they are past the December deadline?

5

Your GPA is really good and activities are very impressive, but your SAT score is not as good as the rest.
I think you will have more chance on USC and since you are a resident I think you have a good chance for UCLA. Everybody who applies to ivies are so good in everything including in standardized tests, and if the school recommends SAT subject test scores it’s better to have a higher score for them.
Anyway good luck!

6

I don’t think you’ll get into any of the schools tbh. Maybe with the hook but the GPA is bad for Ivies and test scores are too. Maybe UCLA? I don’t think so personally though.
Chance me: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1946391-emory-emory-oxford-wake-forest-davidson-nyu-holy-cross-gw.html#latest

7

Hello fellow North Carolinian! Your EC’s are outstanding. Seriously very impressive. I think everything looks school. What school do you go to/where are you from? Do they have limited APs? Your AP seems a little light. Also the SATs are little weak but not bad at all (test scores aren’t everything) Don’t be too critical of yourself of your GPA! It’s very good. Just play up your ECs in your essays! Good luck :smiley:

8

I would make sure that you are considered Instate for financial purposes. Your father living there may not cut it since you don’t go to high school there and you’re not physically there. All of those schools are reaches, so you definitely need to apply to some matches and safeties. Frankly, you probably only have any chance at all at USC and UCLA.

9

I’m not sure that just having a parent with a CA address is enough to qualify for in-state at the UCs if you’ve been living and going to high school in another state. You’d have to check the residency requirements.

In answer to your question, your test scores are a bit low for those schools. You should make sure you have some good safeties and matches. For writing, I’d look at UVA, Kenyon, and Univ. of Iowa.