Chances at Princeton, Yale, Columbia...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm new here and kind of naive in the college game, so please forgive me if I have no idea what I'm talking about...
I'm a junior right now at a public high school.
I'm currently number 1 in my class of a bit less than 500, but I'm fairly certain that I will drop next year. (grades took a hit after I missed 3 weeks of school after an unexpected surgery/hospitalization...)
GPA: 4.9 weighted, I don't know what it is unweighted/ on the 4.0 scale.
SAT: 2350 (790 CR, 800 Math, 760 W)
SAT II: 750 Chemistry. I'm planning on taking Math II, US History, and Spanish this year.
APs: Haven't taken any yet. I'll be taking Macro/Microeconomics, Lang, and US History this year.
My courses next year include AP Spanish, Calc BC, Physics, Lit, and Psych.</p>

<p>ECs (I'm worried that they're a bit weak):
Volunteering/leadership in church including missions trips
Church praise band and handbell choir
Vice President of a new club that paints murals on the walls at my school, will likely be president next year
NHS
FBLA: 1st place in the region, 2nd place in the state, will be competing at nationals this summer
Volunteered on a project archiving an old newspaper in my area, at the local library
Played the pipa ("Chinese lute") with the orchestra at my local Chinese school for 2 years, but I have since quit so I don't know if I should even include that?</p>

<p>I'm waiting to hear if I got accepted into the NJ Governor's School, which is very selective. But if I don't get in then I'll be going on another missions trip with my church.</p>

<p>I'll be including a visual arts portfolio as a supplement. Should be reasonably good, I'm working alongside students who are applying to top art schools.</p>

<p>Schools: Princeton (dream school), Yale, Columbia (my brother and 2 cousins went... does that count for anything?? lol), Penn, Duke, Swarthmore, Rutgers (state school)</p>

<p>Now I don't know much about many schools but I know that it would be foolish of me to just apply to the ones I listed above. I just don't know of any ballparks/safeties (preferably on the East Coast)... suggestions?</p>

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<p>Oh I forgot to mention that I work as a secretary at my mom’s clinic.
Thanks!</p>

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<p>I’m not too experienced in this field, but you look very appealing as a student.</p>

<p>Valedictorian, outstanding SATs, GPA, you’re at the top of the pyramid in my book.</p>

<p>Do try and get your ECs up though. Your grades are very solid so I’d say just focus on your weakest link (ECs).</p>

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<p>Thanks for your input scshift. I would chance you back but I have no idea, hence why I posted…</p>