Hi everyone! Was just wondering about my chances to my dream schools.
Asian Male from California
Currently at a 3.94 GPA unweighted
I’ve taken AP Human Geography, APUSH, AP Calculus AB, French 3 SL, English 3 HL, all other classes were honors
Currently taking AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, English 4 HL, French 4 SL
Class rank at 30 out of 600
Superscored SAT at 2200
SAT Biology- 800
SAT USH-800
SAT Math II-780
4 year member at a reputable orchestra (ie need to audition, nationally known)
Volunteering at a hospital for about a year
Member of varsity tennis for two years, jv on the first two
My essay writing is pretty good; I have good advisers for that.
I know all my recommenders extremely well, luckily.
Affording both schools is not an issue, thank you hard working parents.
Other private schools I’m looking at
-University of Michigan Ann Arbor
-Emory University
I figure applying ED wouldn’t hinder me so might as well show that I’m really interested. I know it’s a long shot, but how long? 10 miles or a light year?
I’d say that Chicago is just a regular reach, not a low reach. Your ECs don’t really “stand out” among all the other Asian applicants from California. Duke may be a low reach because of ED, though I honestly don’t know. Michigan is probably a match for LSA and a high match for engineering. Don’t know about Emory.
Thanks for your input! I fall into the category of typical Asian male unfortunately haha but hopefully I can make up for it somewhat with my personal statement because I do have some unique experiences.
Yeah, I mean it’s going to be a bit of a stretch to get in, but you seem like you already know that, so … You have a chance (i.e. you are competitive for all of these schools), but it is possible you don’t get into any. At the same time, it’s possible you get in any of them.
So your writing is stronger than the average of your CR+M, but the difference isn’t considerable.
Your CR+M score is 10 points above the 25th percentile for the Chicago class of 2018 (the most recent year for which the university’s site gives data). That means you’re in range, but you’re certainly going to have a tough time as an asian male from CA.
With that said, your academics are competitive in general. The SAT score won’t help - Chicago really likes high scorers, from what I’ve heard - but it won’t be the reason you’re rejected. The reason you, and I, and most applicants will likely be rejected is simple: there are 5-10 qualified students, and 3 or 4 highly qualified valedictorians/salutatorians/top 5% students for every place in the freshman class
You need to make a more cohesive story on how you are good fit for Global Health. I don’t see any ECs listed that show any interest in public health issues. Also Global health is a co-major, and must be taken with some other major.
@sgopal2 I try to address that in my personal statement for my Common App, as I have several experiences throughout my travels that hopefully helps me create a more cohesive story. And yes, I know it’s a co-major, but in so far as I can see, the Common App only allows me to select one major at a time.
Being well traveled will signal to the reader that you’re from a well-off family. Teenagers become idealistic, typically right after their summer vacation. Readers know this. Being from a family that can afford to take exotic vacations is not particularly convincing as to why you would want to study global health.
Without more substance (ie loads of ECs, awards, or other indicators that you’re passionate about global health), I could see this backfiring on you. There probably is more to your essay that I’m missing.