Chances at USC, UCLA, UCB, Rice, CMC, Pomona, Northwestern, and UCSD? Suggestions for improvement?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>The question above, alone with this: I'm still a junior; how can I improve and increase my chances of acceptance? Obviously, I'm not going to start something just to get in, but small suggestions would be helpful...</p>

<p>GPA: UW 4.0 (academic)-- only As and A+s (no minuses thus far)</p>

<p>I have received two B's, but in PE my freshman year. The GPA above includes, essentially, A-G courses (5 core classes + my elective, band)</p>

<p>Classes I have taken considered "advanced":
Advanced English (9 and 10)
Advanced History (9)
AP European History (10)
AP Biology (11)
AP Language and Composition (11)
AP US History (11)
Precalculus (11)</p>

<p>Senior prospective schedule:
AP Lit
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Gov
AP Calc AB
AP Physics
AP Italian
Adv. Band</p>

<p>Test Scores:
ACT: Composite 34 : M34,E35, S33, R32
SAT II: Bio (M) and Math II-- I'm taking these in May. What scores do you think I'll need?
AP European History (5)
Hoping for either 4s or 5s in AP Bio, Lang, and USH!</p>

<p>Activities: *** denotes leadership position (required election)
1. Italian Club President (9,10,11,12)***
President in 10,11, and 12, cultural activities coordinator in 9</p>

<ol>
<li>American Cancer Society Club President (9,10,11,12)
President in 11,12
Secretary in 9,10</li>
</ol>

<p>Which goes hand in hand with...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Event Chair of Relay for Life- essentially, the top position. (elected to lead committee of students for planning our community's Relay for Life which raises approximately $50,000) (10,11,12) ***
This is pretty significant because we raise more money than Stanford, USC, UCLA, etc. Also, this event is typically run by adults, but has been taken over by students in my community.</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteer for many many hours at an organization in the urban area near me that houses cancer patients (children)-- I work on the living conditions for these patients and their families by making holiday cards, painting, cleaning, organizing, making the place a nice place for the brave kids! I also tutor the patient's siblings. (I'm not sure how many hours, but I know the number should be pretty high...) (10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Intern at my hospital's cancer center, shadowed oncologist, volunteered, too! (I'm not sure how many hours, though, but a lot!) (10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>I've played piano for 11 years, numerous awards from my conservatory! Will submit arts supplement (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Flute and Piccolo which I play in my school's band (first chair), my region's orchestra (first), my school's musicals, competitions (with some awards), and a flute "choir" of mostly professional flautists (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
<li><p>Mental Health Support Group (President and Founder) (11,12)-- founded after personal experience
While this is registered as a club, it is more of a support group for those suffering from depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, etc., or those whose family or friends are suffering from those illnesses. It's a big part of my life and has over 50 members. We meet weekly at various locations and have created an outreach network with a local middle school. We've also organized events at school to raise awareness of mental illness. We also set up weeks throughout the year to help students de-stress. It's all pretty great </p></li>
<li><p>Varsity Tennis (9,10,11,12)- Captain as a Senior</p></li>
<li><p>Hopefully participating in a research program this summer, whether it be a paid program or research with a professor (I applied, but not so sure I'll get in)</p></li>
<li><p>Robotics team member (though, no leadership position) (11,12)-- it was just founded this year</p></li>
<li><p>I've been in the band and marching band for every year and as I said above am the section leader and principal flute. Possibly next year's band president, though I don't know yet. (9,10,11,12)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Work experience. I am not sure which to include. Can you advise?
1. Nordstrom Sales Associate (10,11)
2. Tennis Instructor (Summer and School year--9,10,11,12)
3. I teach piano to elementary and middle school students (11,12)</p>

<p>Recommendations: Planning on getting these from my language and english teachers. However, I'm planning on studying biology. Should I also get one from my biology teacher? They should be very good, really. I'm very involved in the classroom and in helping my peers, which they recognize.</p>

<p>Additional info:
Prospective major: Neuroscience/cogsci (really interested in the crossover between science and language comprehension and understanding as well as mental illness and affects of stress-- physical and otherwise-- on the brain)
Prospective minor: depending on which school, either music or Italian</p>

<p>California resident
Income: >100,000
Trilingual
Mom went to USC</p>

<p>Both parents with Bachelor's, Dad has Master's</p>

<p>I took a human biology class at a local community college, receiving an A. I will take a few classes over the summer if I'm not accepted into a research program.</p>

<p>I know Java and learning Bluejay (self-taught). This isn't really a big deal, but I love it!</p>

<p>Will submit music supplement on the piano (Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique Movement 3)</p>

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<p>WOW! You will probably get into all of these schools! Just make sure to write very good essays and you should be fine.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. You’re so optimistic!</p>

4

<p>UC schools care more about gpas than about standardized testing, so your gpa and act score should give u a fair shot at ucla, ucb, and ucsd. however, i would save rice and northwestern are mid-reach schools since they’re so competitive :)</p>

5

<p>Wow, your extracurriculars are amazing! I didn’t see your sat score though, have you not taken it yet? I definitely think you can get in to all of those. (: However, my boyfriend is a senior and applied to Northwestern and he got a 800 on the math 2. (He got into Yale ea) As he is majoring in engineering he would need that for northwestern. Also all tech and engineering schools have higher requirements for guys. Anyways good luck!!</p>

6

<p>I took the ACT-- not the SAT. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Any other suggestions? I’d really appreciate it :’(</p>

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<p>Bump</p>

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<p>I know UCSD will for sure appreciate your participation in volunteering and interning in a medical related topic because it is infamous for putting science above other fields. Almost 100% of the students at my school who apply to UCSD get in, and their application is nothing compared to your’s. I’d say you have a great chance at UCSD!! :)</p>

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<p>I think you do have a good chance of getting into Berkeley. </p>

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<p>I think you have a strong shot at each of those schools. I mean Cal, Rice, Pomona, etc. are superselective but that doesn’t mean that certain applicants can’t be reasonably confident of being accepted to one or more of them.
Chance me back at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597037-chance-for-top-lacs-ivies-and-other-ultra-selective-schools.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597037-chance-for-top-lacs-ivies-and-other-ultra-selective-schools.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>bump</p>

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<p>Because you are a science major, you should try to get a letter of recommendation from a science teacher.</p>

<p>I think your chances are really good at Rice, and I’ll even go so far as to say that you have a chance for some merit money at Rice. Don’t forget that Texas Medical Center (the biggest medical center in the world) is across the street from Rice. You would have some great opportunities. Good luck to you!</p>

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<p>Thank you:) yes I love Rice and will be applying early!!</p>

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<p>Anyone who seems to know what they’re doing? Maybe @skieurope ? Sorry, no one is making any suggestions and I need some. Thanks :)</p>

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<p>I’m not sure what else I can add. I don’t think that there is anything you should add at this point, because 1/ your EC’s are very strong and 2/it will look like you’re adding for the sake of adding.</p>

<p>Aim for 750+ on the SAT II’s. Spend quality time on your essays to show the strength of who you are as an applicant and what you can bring to each school.</p>

<p>You have strong school choices and with your stats, I feel that you can get into the UC’s. You may have a good reason for including it, but to me, Claremont McKenna seems to fall into the “one of these things is not like the others” category.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>@skieurope why would you say that it’s out of place?</p>

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<p>Thank you, by the way!!!</p>

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<p>It’s a LAC known more for government and economics.</p>

<p>You’re welcome.</p>