Hi everyone! I just wanna know what my chances are going into decisions season and as I’m finishing the rest of my applications, and where I should apply next. I’ve listed my stats below, but from what my friends have told me, a lot rides on the essays rather than the stats.
Academics
GPA: 5.34 weighted, 3.93 ish unweighted
Rank: 20/630 ish
Coursework: All honors and AP
APs include: World (4), US Hist. (4), Eng Lang (5), Eng Lit, Bio, Physics C Mech, E&M, Calc BC, Gov, Econ
SAT: 2200
SAT IIs: Math - 800, Physics - 750
ACT: 36 composite
National Merit Semifinalist (227)
Senior course load: 5 AP, Orchestra, Cross Country
ECs
Orchestra, 4y, Ranked top 200 for TX State
Mu Alpha Theta, 4y, current Club President, coach math basically
Cross Country, 3y, varsity runner, PRs on low end of Div. III times (wasn’t super competitive)
National Honor Society, 2y, current Leadership Vice President, create and host leadership seminars
Several other STEM related clubs, UIL Math/Sci, SciOly
Limited community service experience
Spent summer as intern at BME lab
Self studied piano (10y)
Applied
EA to UChicago, felt like had relatively strong essays
RD to UT Austin (accepted), Berkeley, UCLA
Plan to apply to most Ivies, unsure of others. UNC? UDub?
Planned area of study: Premed
I didn’t have any opportunities to visit campuses to get a feel for the campus culture of the places I’m applying to, so I’m mostly relying on like… YouTube vlogs and tours and experiences my friends have shared with me that do go to those schools. Obviously this doesn’t help much, but it’s what I had to work with. I initially felt that my UChicago essays were strong, but after writing a few more, I feel like they are more “meh” in comparison to some of my better ones. I’m not sure where to go next. Should I post my essays? Are there better ways for me to get a feel about the school when deciding and writing for colleges?