chances at these schools

<p>So I figured I would rally the troops and hopefully get some more imput on my current situation. Some of the schools I am looking at are listed below. Tell me whether they are safeties, matches, reaches, etc. I am thinking of either pre-med or engineering major:</p>

<p>Umass amherst
BU
Brown
Uconn
Darmouth
University of Illinois champaign-urbana (dad is an alum.)
Northeastern
Johns Hopkins
Princeton
URI
rensellaer
Syracuse</p>

<p>I'm a caucasion male and rising senior from a relatively competitive HS in MA. I don't have a alot of time to list my ECs, but I'd say they are average to slightly above average (aka 200 hours at a hospital, varisty cross-country, scouts, district band, etc.). Just completed a music program at Ulowell and I enjoy collecting coins</p>

<p>My SATs (not my forte, but I will retake and do better):
690 math
620 CR
740 writing
plan on taking math iic next year (750-800ish)
chem 680 (should I retake?)
physics 730
might take bio next year</p>

<p>3.99 gpa (uw) and 4/215 class rank
AP chemistry (3). I am taking bio, calc ab, physics b, and MAYBE calc bc next year
o yeah, I won the RPI medal and am a kodak young leader (lol)
What are my chances? If they are non-existent, please provide comments and/or alternative schools to consider which I have a better shot at.</p>

<p>Bring
Up
My
Post</p>

<p>Because I'm in need of advise...</p>

<p>The ivies and Hopkins are way out of reach unless your SAT comes up by a lot! But you have safeties so you'll be fine.</p>

<p>You should retake the chem SAT II, and bringing up the SAT I scores will definitely help. If you achieve somewhere in the 750+ or so in the chem and bring up your SAT scores, JHU should be a reasonable reach, and depending on your scores, the Ivies could become less than a super reach.</p>

<p>P.S.- Do you plan on applying ED? That would help considerable at some of those schools (not really the Ivies at this point).</p>

<p>Yeah, I know my standardized tests score will definitely hurt me in the admissions process. I don't think I'm going to apply ED because I cannot afford to forfeit financial aid :(</p>

<p>RPI, however, sent me a free E/A application form and will waive the application fee because I won the RPI medal. What would you say is a good SAT benchmark which would allow me to be competitive at Brown?</p>

<p>One last question...how many SAT2s will I need to apply to competitive schools? I already have physics and plan on retaking chem. What else should I take?</p>

<p>I'm not quite sure what you would have to have in each category, but well into the 700's will make you competitive for Brown. As for SAT II's, three are strongly recommended (and I would recommend the same!) for top-tier colleges. I do not know about all of the colleges on your list, but definitely expect to do well in three. It is probably a bit of a disadvantage if you don't apply ED, but that does not mean you don't have a chance. I would recommend you take the Math 2 if you're more science and math oriented, however it is quite different from SAT I math, because it goes into a lot more trig, precalc, and later high school math (but no calc). Prepare well and have some confidence!</p>