chances at top schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m just looking for chances at these schools (listed highest to lowest reach):

  1. Harvard
  2. Duke (deferred ED)
  3. Georgia Tech
  4. Clemson

I have already applied to and gotten into my other safety, USC.

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1500:790 M, 710 EBRW
ACT: 35 C: 36 R, 36 S, 34 E, 34 M
GPA: 3.3 UW/4.3 W
Rank: 61/293
AP: AB Calc (5), Physics 1&2 (4), World (4), Human (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Chem, AP US Gov, AP Lit, AP Macro, AP Seminar
Major Awards: Furman Scholar, Lander University Junior Fellow, AP Scholar with
Distinction (nothing really significant)

Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Academic Club at school, Mock Trial, Varsity Lacrosse
Job/Work Experience: YMCA Counselor, Grocery store Janitor, Home Depot Cashier
Volunteer/Community service: MCA Counselor in Training 500+ hrs, Operation Christmas Child packaging center, NHS/Beta Club
Summer Activities: Summer Camp counseling

Essays:
Common App: used “teenager” prompt from coalition 8/10
College Specific: 9/10

Teacher Recommendation:
Calc Teacher 10/10: One of the top 5 students she’s ever had
Physics Teacher 8/10: didn’t really work that hard in his class but I really showed interest in the material
Counselor Rec: 8/10, talked with her for about an hour so she create her own “brag sheet”

Other
State: SC
Intended major(s): Engineering (harvard would be economics)
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: African American
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~100k
Hooks: URM applying to STEM field

2

I think you have a good chance!! GPA is a little low, but it seems like its because you’ve been taking hard classes. Harvard/Duke are hard for anyone though, so idk.

3

jclwriting, Does that mean I have a chance?I have the same stats, but a 3.5 GPA and 1510 SAT

4

OP: IMO GPA/rank looks far too low for Harvard (despite hooks). GA Tech is a reach.

5
  1. Harvard Reach - my guess ~15% chance GPA, class rank, competitive major
  2. Duke (deferred ED) Reach - slightly higher than Harvard (maybe 20-25% chance) Early decision helps!
  3. Georgia Tech Match/reach - 50-60% chance
  4. Clemson "Safety" - 75% + chance

Keep this in mind: Once your apps are in - it’s time to breatheeeeee ! Not much you can do while playing the waiting game :slight_smile: It’s so hard to rely on predictions because you never know who will read your app. Hang in there :slight_smile: