Chances at MIT/Stanford/Caltech?

<p>Chance a high school junior please?</p>

<p>GPA: 96/100 (4.1?)
SAT: 1230/1600 (99th percentile in school, taken as HS Sophomore, will be retaken for a much higher grade), 1800/2400 on May 08 Test
School: less then 50% graduation rate, 70% Black 29% Hispanic 1% Other, Average GPA= 2.92</p>

<p>Me:
Hispanic Male, Suburban New York, family income approx. $30,000 for family of 5
Major: Computer Science/Computer Engineering</p>

<p>PSAT: 57CW, 57M, 58W, 90, 98 and 93rd percentiles respectively, highest score in school when taken</p>

<p>APs:
Taken
Global History - 3
Will Take:
English
Spanish
Calculus
Chemistry
US History
Biology, if not cut by next year
(all available APs with the sole exception of French)</p>

<p>All honors classes taken when AP equivalent is unavailable.</p>

<p>SATIIs:
To Be Taken:
Chemistry
Math 1,2</p>

<p>Clubs/ECs:
National Honor Society: Running for President this year, inducted grade 9</p>

<p>Debate Club: Vice President, began grade 10
Key Club member since grade 10</p>

<p>The last two might be cut this year due to funding issues.</p>

<p>Volunteer Tutor grade 10-12</p>

<p>Part time job directly after school at my local library- This prevents me from joining as many clubs as I wish I could, however, I can not quit it as I have to help pay for my family's expenses. My usual work schedule is 3:30-6:00 PM after school, 4:00-6-00 when I have a club (I can't join any more without risking losing my job, though), 5 days a week</p>

<p>Hook: "Rags to Riches", working in a failing school district for years with the lone goal of attending a top academic institution</p>

<p>My SAT grade is low, I realize that, however, I was extremely nervous during the exam and choked. Next time- November 1st- I will do much better. The fact that I was in the 99th percentile is of little solace when I compare my score to the MIT average...I am expecting at least 2000 on my next SAT.</p>

<p>About Me: From an early age I've had a passion for computers. At the age of 13 I modded my first game console, at the age of 14 I began to write web pages, and at 15 I taught myself advanced Windows XP "techniques" and successfully ran a DoS attack on a computer on my LAN. Now, at the age of 16, I am teaching myself Basic C programming, with the goal of preparing me for a career in information technology. I've overcome going to schools where there are fights almost daily, about one school related killing a year and a general lack of interest in school related activities by students who mainly go there to socialize because they either have nothing better to do or can't legally drop out yet. I am determined to succeed in this regard, regardless of what school I go to, but that still doesn't change the fact that I still would rather fulfill my lifelong dream of attend a top academic institution instead of a local college, a dream I've had since a small child growing up in the stereotypical Queens ghettos.</p>

<p>BTW. if there are any recruiters from MIT/Stanford/Caltech or any top tier college reading this, or anyone who can help me in the admission process for them, feel free to PM me :)</p>

<p>As you said, your SAT score is too low even with your background, and your ECs seem to be a bit lacking compared to the average MIT/Stanford student but I think that can be explained away w.r.t. your background. </p>

<p>You should try to work your story into your common application main essay though, and ask your school counselor to provide background on your family/school. Do consider other schools with top CS programs like CMU, etc... They can be very good choices as well.</p>

<p>About the SAT- Im hoping to get at least a 2100...I do feel that I have the potential to do this, and if i do i will have a much better chance at being accepted into a top college...and I have looked into other colleges like CMU, and I'll probably apply there if i'm not accepted at MIT/CalTech under EA...The SAT score is the only thing really holding me back, the only thing i have going for me is that it will be either the 1st or 2nd highest in my school.</p>

<p>Try to apply to other colleges in cs and computer engineering:
Georgia Tech
Umich
UIUC
UT Austin
Va Tech</p>