Hi everyone, I am wondering what you think my chances of getting into some top engineering schools are as a rising junior in high school.
I plan on applying to the following schools (listing top-choice schools first)
MIT
Stanford
UC Berkeley
Georgia Tech
Carnegie Mellon
UMichigan
UIUC
Virginia Tech
I took the SAT once during my freshman year and got an 1850 (660 M, 600 W, 590 R) and plan on taking the ACT later this year (looking at around 35/36 M, 32/33 W, 29/30 R, 34/35 S based on practice tests) and hope to improve those scores as it gets closer to application time. I know that I have to take SAT subject exams; I will probably take math and physics late next year.
My GPA is currently a 4.34 out of 4.0 (weighted) and 3.96 out of 4 (unweighted). So far, I have received straight-A’s in all classes with the exception of Spanish 1, which I took in eight grade and got a B+ in. My school does not rank but I am confident that I am first or second in my class of 450.
My freshman schedule was:
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Geometry
Honors Biology
Honors English
Design and Tech
Spanish 2
Health/PE
Received A’s (93+) in all classes
My sophomore schedule was:
AP Statistics (my school only offers IB classes so I took online) (4 on AP Exam)
IB Math SL 1 (The only IB class offered to sophomores/pre-calculus equivalent)
Honors Government (self studied and elected to take AP Gov. exam; got a 4)
Honors Chemistry
Honors English
Spanish 3
Health/PE
Received A’s (93+) in all classes
My junior year schedule:
IB English Language and Literature HL
IB History: History of the Americas HL
IB Spanish SL I
IB Physics 1
IB Math HL
IB Business SL
IB Theory of Knowledge
AP Computer Science (taking online)
Anticipate on receiving A’s in all except math and history (possibly A- or B+).
Anticipated senior schedule:
IB English Language and Literature HL II
IB History: Topics of the 21st Century HL
IB Spanish SL II
IB Math HL II
IB Physics HL II
IB Theory of Knowledge
AP Macro/Micro (taking online)
Anticipate on receiving A’s in all except math and history (possibly A- or B+).
I predict that my final GPA will be 4.59/4 weighted and 3.93/4 unweighted and I will graduate as an IB Diploma Candidate.
Extracurricular:
I cofounded and presided over the Technology Student Association chapter at my high school since freshman year.
I have achieved:
2014 State Finalist (top 10) in Structural Model
2014 National Semifinalist (top 15) in Structural Model
2015 State Third Place winner in VEX Robotics
2016 Regional Finalist (top 10) in Manufacturing Prototype
My VEX team also made it to the 2016 State competition (50 teams participated).
I also joined the Science Olympiad team during my freshman year (made the states team). The schools in my area are extremely competitive (six are ranked top 200 in the nation including the #1 school in the nation according to Newsweek). By sophomore year I achieved:
3rd Place Winner in Air Trajectory at Invitational.
Regional 5th Place Winner in Air Trajectory at Regionals.
State 5th Place Winner in Air Trajectory at States.
I was also elected the Vice President of my school’s Science Olympiad team (60+ members) for the ‘16/’17 school year and hope to become President by senior year.
I applied and was accepted into the NASA Virginia Space Coast Scholars program, where I partook in a fairly rigorous and intensive four-month online STEM and space course. Based on my success in the course, I was selected for a one-week merit-based scholarship to attend a residential Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility to “learn first hand from NASA professionals and their partners about the latest, cutting edge technologies and missions.”
I was also in Key Club since freshman year and plan on joining NHS next year as well as the Math Honor Society and possibly the Spanish Honor Society. I also plan on tutoring students who are having difficulties in math at my high school.
As far as sports go, I have been on the Varsity Boy’s Tennis team at my school since freshman year. During sophomore year, I received a Conference Honorable Mention award for my winning record and played at the district tournament (top four are selected per school). I also received the Scholar Athlete Award from my school for my academic performance during the season. I hope to become co-captain of the team by next year.
For my junior year and senior year, I plan on essentially doing the same things that I have done during my freshman and sophomore year, only receiving more competition awards. I also plan on becoming more competitive at my county’s Regional Science Fair and hopefully place 1st or 2nd in my science field.
Background info:
Come from middle income family (~$140,0000) – this is almost average in my county
Middle Eastern/First generation immigrant
Non-religious/agnostic
Limited Arabic proficiency
Sorry if I rambled! Please let me what you think my chances are and what you think I should do to improve my chances!