Chances at Stanford/Michigan/Brown/etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm Caucasian/male and live in Michigan</p>

<p>Before I apply to more schools, do you think I have a chance for:</p>

<p>Stanford
University of Michigan
Brown
Cornell
Tufts
Dartmouth
U Penn</p>

<p>I have:
30 ACT composite
33 Math
27 English
30 Reading
32 Science
26 English/writing combined</p>

<p>Just Got Raped by the SAT Subject Tests
Chemistry 650<br>
Literature 610<br>
Mathematics Level 2 710</p>

<p>AP Calc: 5
AP US History:3 (class was a joke)</p>

<p>Basically bad at taking tests, am take SAT in December</p>

<p>3.95ish GPA, School doesn't weigh, only ever get "A-"s, pretty sure some colleges drop the minus</p>

<p>Class Rank: 19/250ish, should be better but one of my teachers from the last 2 years was in and out on Chemo and never fixed my grade from 10th grade, noted this on my app.</p>

<p>Classes: basically as hard as I can get it, minus 4 years of band</p>

<p>ECs:
9-12 Cross Country, team ranked top 10 in the nation, letter winner (not good enough to get recuited though)
9-12 Track
9-10 Swimming
9-12 Marching and Symphonic band, section leader, awards and such
10 Raised $4250 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation through eBay
11-12 NHS Chairperson, tutor, volunteer for various events
11-12 Lifeguard at local Pool</p>

<p>So, what are my chances?</p>

2

<p>We are very similar, I am also a caucasian male from michigan with similar GPA, and similar EC's, but I have slightly higher test scores. Also, we are considering many of the same schools. So, I think I have a good idea about your chances.</p>

<p>I believe that you are pretty much a shoo-in at U of M if you get ypur app in soon.
I think that If you went ED to any of the schools besides Stanford, Dartmouth, and Brown, you'd have a solid chance, but without ED, I'd say...</p>

<p>Stanford - Not a great chance - b/c of test scores ( but you never Know)
Brown - Better chance, but you'd have to have a great App - Emphasize Lance Armstrong thing (that goes for all these schools)
Cornell - Solid Chance
Tufts - Solid chance
Dartmouth - Solid/Reach
Penn - Solid/Reach</p>

<p>By "Solid" I dont mean to say that you will get in, I just mean that you will be a fair, average applicant within the pool with as good a chance as everybody else.
Your EC's are extensive, but they aren't very interesting - besides the Lance thing.</p>

<p>But remember, I'm just being extremely critical b/c these are extremely competitive schools. </p>

<p>Just curious, what do you plan on studying? These schools are pretty dissimilar. Ex. Brown vs. UPENN</p>

3

<p>I did apply early to Stanford actually. Thought I might as well use my early app. I wrote about the LAF thing on one of the short essays, the others had a lot to do with Cross Country as a metaphor about hard work. I basically painted a picture of myself as a person who didn't try all that hard in the past, but is trying hard now and wants to help people. It's backed up by basically the hardest schedule I can get and some descent results.</p>

<p>I'm looking into economics or engineering maybe, I was kinda just throwing some names out there of places I've considered.</p>

<p>I was thinking Michigan would be pretty easy, only problem could be rolling admissions, but I know a kid who got his app in very late and did fine.</p>

<p>Stanford I thought my ACT would be slightly low, but SAT IIs aren't required, but I submitted them anyway, which may have been bad. I was kinda going on the averages that are listed for the ACT, they have 28-34 or something like that.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

4

<p>Bump, any other opinions?</p>

5

<p>We are pretty similar. I have a 31 ACT, run cross country, and lifeguard at the local pool. For your sake (and mine too) I hope you get in everywhere.</p>

6

<p>Where did you apply?</p>

7

<p>Early Decision to Dartmouth. I am applying to all of your schools except Stanford, Upenn, and UM plus a couple more like Williams and Colgate etc.</p>

8

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

9

<p>Stop making excuses about your "joke" AP US class and your teacher on chemo. This is nothing personal, but your stats aren't stellar for the schools you are applying to (with the exception of UMich). These are some of the hardest schools in the country to get in. Your ACT is right around or below the 25th percentile at every one of these schools. You have taken 2 APs and your subject tests have an average of below 700. Your gpa is solid and your class rank sound, but get realistic. Cure cancer and maybe you'll get into half of those schools. As it is now:</p>

<p>Stanford - huge reach
Brown - big reach
Cornell - reach
Tufts - reach
Dartmouth - big reach
Penn - big reach</p>

10

<p>Wow, you're just a jerk.</p>

<p>I wasn't making excuses, I was just telling what happened.</p>

<p>I did bad on my subject tests and that was my concern. I have a lot of ECs and I hope that they will balance out the test scores. I know that a lot of colleges are looking for people with motivation in their specific area, which I have. I would hope that colleges would take into consideration those whom are just bad at taking tests, such as myself.</p>

<p>As for APs, I have taken 2 of the 5 AP classes our school offers and am taking one more. I am taking the most advanced classes that our school offers in the areas in which I am interested.</p>

<p>One question:
Would it be more helpful to improve my subject test scores or take the SAT, which I think I will do better on than the ACT?</p>

11

<p>I hate to say it, but I agree with gchris07. You test scores are low for the schools you are applying to. Schools do not care if you have "a lot" of EC. They care about the depth of your EC. Your EC are nothing spectacular and pretty much common at schools like Stanford and Penn. </p>

<p>As for your chances, I again agree with gchris07, but I think Tufts is more of a match/high match rather than a reach.</p>

12

<p>Hate to say this, but given my experience as an Ivy Interviewer:</p>

<p>Stanford: Impossible reach
University of Michigan: Slight reach
Brown: Almost impossible reach
Cornell: Very high reach
Tufts: Reach
Dartmouth: Almost impossible reach
U Penn: Almost impossible reach</p>

<p>test scores will hurt you at the Ivies.</p>

13

<p>Interesting.</p>

<p>I disagree with your assesment of Michigan for sure, my friend applied very late (michigan has rolling admissions) and still got in, he had virtually the same everything as me.</p>

<p>I guess I'll just have to see if my scores hurt me, I'm going to take the SAT (unless retaking Subject Tests would be a better idea), perhaps that will improve my chances.</p>

14

<p>Stanford - no chance
University of Michigan - good chance
Brown - no chance
Cornell - no chance
Tufts - have a chance
Dartmouth - no chance
U Penn - no chance</p>

15

<p>I think you will probably get yourself fried; you need (a lot) of safety schools; with such scores in particular you should be looking in lower categories. That said, the only thing I would change w/ datadriven's assessment is that you may have a slim chance at Cornell.</p>

16

<p>Stanford - no chance
University of Michigan - good chance
Brown - no chance
Cornell - no chance
Tufts - have a chance
Dartmouth - no chance
U Penn - no chance</p>

<p>agreed.</p>

<p>If I were you I would replace the heavy reaches with more realistic schools. These are just random examples.</p>

<p>ex.
Stanford - REPLACE with Emory
University of Michigan - good chance
Brown - REPLACE with Vassar
Cornell - REPLACE with Colgate
Tufts - have a chance
Dartmouth - REPLACE with Middlebury
U Penn - REPLACE with USC</p>

17

<p>Stanford - Mega Reach (Mega>super)
Brown - Super reach
Cornell - Super reach
Tufts - High match
Dartmouth - Super Reach ish
Penn - Super reach</p>

<p>Ur gpa and ec's good
but ur test scores kill chances</p>

18

<p>You all seem to agree that my test scores are weak, so could someone please tell me:</p>

<p>Should I take the SAT and prepare for it very thoroughly</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>Retake the Subject Tests and prepare for them thoroughly (unlike last time)</p>

19

<p>Actually, I could also retake the ACT and the Subject Tests as an alternative, I believe the December 2nd and 9th dates are fine for anywhere.</p>

<p>Am I correct in my assumption that those are the last possible test dates for consideration?</p>

20

<p>Anyone have an answer?</p>