Chances at Penn, Columbia, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, since I got my PSAT scores I was hoping that I could get some more accurate predictions of my chances. I'm looking at Penn, Columbia, NYU, and Princeton (I have a very extensive legacy there). If you have any suggestions, those would be appreciated. Oh, and I'm thinking of majoring in architecture but I really want to go to a liberal arts scool. Thanks!</p>

<p>Stats:
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Location: California<br>
Graduating year (from HS): 2009
% in class: top 15-20% approx.
High school: very prestigious private, all-girls, high school, sends about 75-80% to "name" schools
Financial Aid?: No
GPA: 4.4 weighted, probably about 3.75 unweighted
PSATs: 760 writing, 800 math, 760 critical reading (I will be a National Merit Scholar)</p>

<p>Freshman year schedule:
Geometry Honors
English I
Latin II
Chemistry Honors
Ancient Civilizations
Ceramics (Beginning and Intermediate)</p>

<p>Sophomore year schedule:
Algebra II w/ Trig Honors
English II
Latin III Honors
AP Chemistry - 4 on the AP and 670 on the SAT II
AP US History - 5 on the AP and 700 on the SAT II
Yoga, Special Studies PE</p>

<p>Junior year schedule:
Precalculus Honors - will take Math IIC SAT II
AP English Literature
AP Latin
AP Physics B - will probably take SAT II in this
AP European History
Dance (III and IV)</p>

<p>Predicted Senior year schedule:
AP Calculus AB
AP English Language
AP Physics C (or AP Statistics)
AP Art History
possibly AP World or Economics
Special Studies in Architecture</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Ballet - performaces 2x a year, 7 hours a week, 8-10th grade
Art classes at local, well known art college - 3 hours a week, 11-12th grade
One of 15 on the board of a non-profit organization started a year ago by students at my school (there are only 2 organizations of this kind in the U.S.), we raise $$ for programs which enrich women's education in our city, we also put on a gala each year, all student-run - 3 hours a week, 11-12th grade
Peer Leader for Confirmation class - 1-2 hours a week, 11-12th grade
Treasurer of Teenage Republicans club</p>

<p>What I did with my summers:
post 9th grade: ballet intensive for 8 weeks
post 10th grade: job as an office assistant and teacher's assistant at a summer school (they are now closed for a few years due to construction, which is why I didn't continue with that job)
post 11th grade: (hopefully, my interview is next week!) job as a co-counselor or arts & crafts assistant or office assistant at a summer camp.</p>

<p>I will probably submit a portfolio of my artwork to colleges too. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>bump bump bump...help anyone??</p>

3

<p>I think you'll get into Columbia. Penn is more of a toss up but you still have a pretty good shot there too. The legacy at Princeton certainly can't hurt, I'd say that's a close one too. NYU is an obvious yes.</p>

4

<p>Thanks! Penn is my #1 choice and I really really love it, so hopefully it will work out for me.</p>

5

<p>I think your chances at Princeton would be good if you told them that they were your first choice. That matters a lot for legacy candidates...if you convey in your application that it is not your first choice, your legacy is essentially negated.</p>

6

<p>CDS32090, I definitely agree. That's part of why I'm happy that they got rid of ED, though. Apparently they used to only really consider legacy when people applied ED, which is why my sister did. It's not my 1st choice (at all) and so being able to apply there regular along with applying to other schools (that I like more) is much better than having to apply early to get more legacy preference.</p>

7

<p>bump! anyone else?</p>

8

<p>Just going to bump this one more time...</p>

9

<p>I hope you have a good chance, becuase first of all, my GPA is almost exact to yours. My freshman, and soph schedule are also identical, and we have the same depth / amount of EC"s, and Penn (Wharton) is my number one choice. And I'm a white, jewish girl. Wow, maybe we are long list sisters. Haha.</p>

10

<p>in at NYU and columbia. </p>

<p>good luck on penn! i know you want it haha...i think you can do it.</p>

11

<p>If Penn is truly your first choice, all you must do is convey that in your essays and I think you get in no problem. Are you willing to apply ED?</p>

<p>Oh, and for Columbia, I think you are in there as well.</p>

12

<p>I'm going to visit Penn again soon, along with Columbia, and whichever one I like more is the one I will probably be applying to ED. The only problem with Penn is that I really hate Philadephia! Anyway, thanks everyone! And soccerstar18, I'm a white, Catholic girl, but we can still be long lost sisters anyway!</p>

13

<p>Don't hate Philly! Why??</p>

<p>I'm going to repeat what everyone else said...you have good chances at all of them. The only thing that could be interpreted as a weakness is your UW gpa, but if you go to a competitive school it shouldn't be an issue. I don't know as much about Columbia or Princeton, but at Penn you should really show interest in your app.</p>

14

<p>Philly was just sort of...dirty to me. I was actually harassed walking with 3 friends one night just from our hotel to the Liberty Bell. And the city is just...meh. I'm a big New York fan though!</p>