<p>I need some feedback. What are my chances at these schools?</p>
<p>Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Rice, Tufts, Wash. U in St. Louis, Duke, MIT, Northwestern, Columbia Fu Foundation (Engineering School)</p>
<p>SAT: 720 verbal/760 math = 1480 total
SAT II: 800 Math Level IIC/750 Physics/710 Writing/680 Chem.
GPA: 5.61 weighted (highest GPA is 5.9)
Rank: 20/288 (not included in transcript or applications)</p>
<p>Intended Major: Biomedical or Electrical and Computer Engineering</p>
<p>-8 AP Courses (U.S. Hist, Eng Lang, Eng Lit, Physics B, Physics C, Calc BC, Econ, Spanish Lang) Total (4 Eng. Lang, 4 Physics B, 4 U.S. Hist. on AP Exams)
-all honors courses
-NJ Governor's School of Engineering and Technology County Finalist
-Underclass Achievement Award in Physics AP
-National Merit Semifinalist (Finalist pending)
-National Honor Society (2 years)
-Spanish National Honor Society
-multi-medalist in 2003 Regional Academic Decathlon Competition (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
-Delegate Representing NJ at the National Youth Leadership Forum on Technology
-AP Scholar Award
-Lacrosse (4 years with Varsity letter)
-Bowling (3 years with 2 Varsity letters)
-Academic Decathlon Team (3 years, Fundraising Chairperson)
-Hospital Volunteer (72 hours)
-Spanish Club (3 years, Secretary)
-Interact Club
-Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award
-North Jersey Lacrosse Camp Counselor volunteer (32 hours)
-bunch of Honor Societies like Who's Who, Society of High School Scholars, National Honor Roll which I think are scams, but my parents made me join and are forcing me to include in application</p>
<p>I would say that while JHU, Rice, Tufts, and Wash U. are strong matches, none of those should be considered safety schools. Also I'd put Columbia with MIT as a huge reach.</p>
<p>thanks for the input guys....keep 'em coming. Also, I heard that Columbia's Fu Foundation is much less competitve than the actual college because it's more of a Tier 2/3 Engineering School. I've even read somewhere that it's ED acceptance rate was 50% a couple years ago.</p>
<p>just a random question....how do some people know that they have "EXCELLENT"/"fantasticly awesome" recommendations? I have no clue what my recommendations look like...</p>
<p>and if u're going to answer my question, please comment on my chances as well. Thanks.</p>
<p>The Fu does have a much higher acceptance rate, BUT there are FAR, FAR few applicants. The scores at Fu are also very high so I would say that for you it is possible but a reach. The others are good as well except MIT. I would say it is quite a reach, but you never know. All you can do is apply. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>I think that people comment on the strength of their recs based on how they know their teachers feel about them. For example, the physics teacher who wrote for me has also nominated me for some small awards at school and always stops to talk to me in the hall. Also, I know that I did very well in his class. Therefore I feel confident saying that he wrote a highly complimentary letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>Indytucker- ya but who is to say they can write? lol</p>
<p>to the OP: you are certainly a strong applicant at many schools. You probably have a good shot at Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Rice, Tufts, Wash. U in St. Louis, and Northwestern.</p>
<p>Duke and MIT are the most selective schools you applied to, and may be more difficult based on the way they scrutinize the applications, but nonetheless you have a shot, but like everyone else, dont count on anything because no one is a match for MIT or Duke for that matter.</p>
<p>Some things that will make a difference: the name of your school, the caliber of your essays, the actual nature of your recs, and most importantly, the way you package the application. If the readers get a real sense of you and what your about, and its presented clearly and effectively as a package, not just black-and-white forms, you may stand a better chance at all these schools than is immediately identifiable by your bio</p>
<p>ok awesome. Some more info...my school is very well known and competitive, my essay is very good i think, i know that at least one of my two recs are very strong, and I think I aced my interview for Duke. The half hour to hour long interview lasted an hour and a half because we had so many things to talk about. Plus, I forgot to include that I'm in a special progam at school called the University Program of Engineering and Design. Only 22 people were accepted...The program is based largely on Research Projects and hands-on activities. Our curriculum is mostly the same as normal students, except that we have accelerated science courses and engineering electives.</p>
<p>I was accepted into Duke University ED (Pratt). I just did this forum thing because my friends and I wanted to see the responses that people would give me. For you naysayers out there, I stick my tongue out at you. For you supporters, um thanks?</p>
<p>Hopefully, people who want to go to Duke can compare stats with mine. Plus, I want to show that there is hope for people who don't have perfect stats. I also want to take this chance to tell people to be more optimistic and positive when responding on this forum, especially ranger...you jerk.</p>
<p>Anyways...good luck to all and sorry for misleading you a bit.</p>
<p>I would say your GPA/ECs really pushed them over.. how is it even possible to get a 5.9?!?! Maybe your grading system is different, but still. Congrats! I wish I was you right now, but only a year from now.. if that makes sense (I'm a junior).</p>
<p>basically my school has a very unique GPA system. Just subtract one point from the actual GPA and that would be my GPA on a standard weighted scale. So using a standard weighted system, I would have a 4.61/4.9. I don't know what my GPA would be on an unweighted scale.</p>
<p>Also a word of advice, if your school has the option to not include rank, DON'T include your rank if you're not in the top ten of your class if your class size is moderately large (around 200+) if you're looking to attend an Ivy or Ivy-like college. For example, I didn't include my rank and I was 20/288 which is still top 10%. I wouldn't have included my rank unless I was within 10/288. A general rule is try not to report rank unless you're in top 5%, although there are exceptions.</p>
<p>Also, colleges love to see two things 1)upward trending students 2)taking as many challenging courses as possible, while maintaining strong grades. In my case, I took the hardest courses possible, even if it meant getting a B over an A in a lower class. My freshmen grades were terrible....4 B's and 6 A's and two of my A's were for Phys. Ed and Health and two of my B's were for non-honor courses because honors weren't available. However, sophomore year I got 2 B's and 7 A's, while taking 1 AP Course and as many honors course as possible. Finally, junior year was the pivotal year for me because I got straight A's, while taking 3 AP Courses and as many honors courses as possible. This year I'm taking 5 AP Courses and as many honors courses as possible and I received all A's and a B+ on my first MP grades.</p>
<p>Basically, this showed Duke that I was for real and that I was motivated. I would even say that upward trending is as good as getting straight A's for all four years. I think my sharp upward trend made me stand out as an applicant and ended up being a major factor in my admittance.</p>