<p>Hello everyone. I wanna get a feel for if I'm competitive at schools like JHU, USC, and others with similar acceptance rates. I'm a rising junior. Here are my stats!
GPA: 4.0 UW
ACT: 35 (35 E 34 M 33 R 36 S; 8 W)
SAT: 2220 (800 CR 640 M 780 W)
AP Classes: I'm taking every AP class my school offers:
Junior Year: AP Bio, AP Calc, APUSH
Senior year: AP Chem, AP Stats, AP Gov, AP Lit
ECs:
Varsity quiz team (9, 10, 11, 12) - hoping for captainship next year or senior year
Model UN (9, 10, 11, 12)
Concert choir (10) - president
Theatre - stage managed fall play, directed a one-act. Will continue these things in 11th and 12th.
Member of International Thespian Society (10, 11, 12)
6 years piano
Community service:
Volunteer at library - ~20 hours
Elementary foreign language program - 10 hours</p>
<p>I know my ECs are sorely lacking so far, but I'm definitely working on improving them. Along with continuing the ECs I already have, I will be in my school's symphonic choir junior and senior year, and plan on running for a leadership position. I'm also planning on getting a job and doing lots of volunteer work at a local hospital and/or library throughout the next two years.</p>
<p>Also, I would really appreciate if you guys could suggest some good safety/match schools for me as well, since I really have no idea at this point. I'm from Ohio if that's relevant. Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, I think that you have a very good shot at JHU and USC. If I were you, I’d add schools such as Ohio State, Miami (OH), and Indiana to my list. You seem to be a talented student in and out of the classroom, so that should be a huge benefit to you. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I don’t want to sound snarky but, I don’t like students like you. If you’re focusing on prestige rather than what FITS you, you’re looking at the admission process ALL WRONG. Sure with those grades and that ACT you have a great shot at these competitive schools but when you say something like " and other schools with similar acceptance rates" you have an ever higher chance of ending up at a school miserable. Acceptance rates are VERY misleading as to competitiveness. A school with a 40% acceptance rate could have an applicant pool with 400 valedictorians , 2200+ and 4.0 GPAs whereas, a school with a 5% acceptance rate can have an applicant pool of people with only 1200s and 1.6 GPAs. FIND A SCHOOL THAT FITS YOU!!!</p>
<p>@APsooof, I totally get what you’re saying, but I don’t think I’m just randomly picking schools based on prestige. All of the schools I’m interested in are very selective, but I also know they’re schools I like and think I would fit in at. Thanks (genuinely!) for the advice though, I know it’s easy to fall into the prestige trap and I’ll definitely make sure to keep that in mind. </p>
<p>You do look like you will get into USC. However they are notorious for being a “rich kid” school. Just make sure you have the funds to attend the school. They love families with money.</p>