<p>I'll cut some time with the introduction. I'm going to be applying to top schools this upcoming season and want to get an idea of my chances. If you couldnt tell already, I have the "ambitionz" to get into a top school.</p>
<p>About me. Brooklyn, NYC born and raised. Half Mexican / Kenyan (people ask me how it happened lol). Also I'm gay...I think that helps? Go to a top tier private school .. think Horace Mann, Collegiate etc.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.12/4.0 .... had a really bad freshman year, experimented with drugs...basically all I'm going to say.</p>
<p>SAT: 1830/2400 . 1220 combined.. never been a great standardized test taker, but I think I dont need nearly as good of a score bc I'm URM right?</p>
<p>EC's: Varsity Lacrosse, Drama Club, Gay Rights Club, Chess Team</p>
<p>Basically I think I have a good shot to get in everywhere given my unique diversity and pretty solid academic performance outside of freshman year. I think its really up to adcoms who realize this and dont put me behind privledged Exeter kids. In any case let me know what you think of my chances!</p>
<p>I think you are too full of yourself and relying too much on your URM status (and when they see the school you attend - which I’m assuming is an expensive private school - that will kind of downgrade how much URM helps you. URM’s are generally favored because they have a tough upbringing and are low income. You don’t fall under that). Sure it helps, but your SAT score is low even for a URM at this tier of schools. Also, I’m not sure exactly how bad your freshman year GPA was, but overall, for these schools, your GPA is horrible. In addition, your EC’s are weak. There are plenty of URM’s that have higher scores and better ECs that will have a much better chance. I think you need to look at schools that aren’t as selective. You can apply to these schools, but don’t count on getting in. </p>
<p>honestly i disagree. I went to a great school, but I was never treated the same way, never hung out at the same country clubs or any of that ****. I think my SAT scores are decent… maybe not uber nerd, but definitely good for a URM.</p>
<p>Also how are my EC’s weak? Do you play any varsity sports, manage clubs – as the lead of course in Othello??? I didnt think soooooooooo…</p>
<p>BUMP, I’d like some comments from real pros not flamboyant amateurs like that guy.</p>
<p>Come on, dont be rude. I don’t usually post on chance me threads but Ill share my thoughts. First, off your stats might be a bit low in terms of SAT and GPA. You could possibly take the SAT again and try to do better. I know students with near perfect SAT scores and perfect GPA that don’t expect to get into the schools you want to go to. </p>
<p>As far as URM and your sexuality, I would assume it helps you, but since none of us are college admissions officers on CC, we do not know how much. I do not think you should rely too much on those to get you in. After all, the number one thing colleges care about is your transcript. Just be yourself and apply to these schools if you wish, but don’t necessarily expect to be accepted (virtually nobody can be expected to gain admission to harvard or yale).</p>
<p>Frankly, I would not bother applying to MIT. You have no math/science ECs and your test scores and GPA are much too low. MIT has no easy majors and can’t afford to take a chance on an applicant who could be at risk of flunking out if admitted.</p>
<p>MIT does practice AA but URM status by itself won’t mean much. As pixels stated it is all about context and opportunity. With your privileged educational background, MIT would have expected you to have taken advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate your passion for math and science. MIT also gives no edge to athletic recruits.</p>
<p>Wow. You’re a real prick. Keep that attitude up and you won’t get accepted anywhere.</p>
<p>First of all, colleges don’t care if you didn’t hang out “at the same country clubs” as your peers. </p>
<p>In addition, yes your ECs are weak for this level of school. Tons of people play MULTIPLE varsity sports, plus many other interesting ECs. </p>
<p>Finally, your SAT score is decent for a URM, but decent doesn’t cut it. You need great scores to have a chance. Add to that the fact that your GPA is far below average, and you’ve got yourself a below average applicant.</p>
<p>You can’t post a chance thread and then be rude to the chance-ers. I happen to agree with pixels even though you called him/her an “amateur”. You’re being rude and you’re relying on URM status too much which,like pixels said, won’t matter much for you because of the school you go to. Don’t attack us for giving an honest opinion…</p>
<p>You need to reset your expectations. Even with a horrible freshman year (let’s say, a 2.0), you’d have a higher GPA if you had gotten all A’s sophomore and junior year. There are many, many URMs applying to the schools you list, and many of them have a) much better records and b) a much better attitude.</p>
<p>SAT I (breakdown):2250- 750 on all three sections
SAT II:700 Math, 760 US History, 800 Spanish
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5/726
AP (place score in parenthesis):World Hist(5), US History(5), English Lang(5), Spanish(5), Calc AB(5), Chemistry(3)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar w/Distinction, National Merit Commended and Hispanic, Tennis MVP
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):Senior Class Officer, Varsity Tennis Captain, a few UIL events, heavily involved in my church
Job/Work Experience:none
Volunteer/Community service: I had a substantial amount of hours for a lot of different things
Summer Activities: Do sleeping and eating count?
Ethnicity:Hispanic
Gender:Male
Income Bracket: 60-70 k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM
Above i have posted the essential stats of a hispanic male who was wait listed at harvard. His SATs are far above average, as is his GPA, and his ECs are comparable to yours, yet he was wait listed. I agree with the other posters in saying that you need to re-evaluate your expectations, as there is NO evidence whatsoever that you should expect to get into all of these schools so easily.</p>
<p>If you write spectacular and truly moving essays explaining your background and life experiences, then you might have a fraction of a chance (but I still doubt it). I want to say that you have 0% chance at Harvard and Yale, but there are always a few lucky ones with bad stats that end up getting in.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, your GPA and SAT really are horrible. Don’t listen to people that say your stats/scores are decent or average for a URM. When it comes to places like Harvard and Yale, it is below average even for a URM. Really try and get that SAT to a 2000+ or atleast retake it and shoot for a higher score.</p>
<p>And I’m surprised no one has mentioned this, but Harvard, Yale, and MIT require SAT II/subject tests. You don’t seem to have any, but those three universities require atleast 2 subject tests (MIT requires math II + science). However Yale will let you send in the ACT as a substitute for the SAT+subject tests. You should consider taking the ACT. You may do a lot better than the SAT since it has a different format and new content.</p>
<p>Your real downfall are your ECs. They are very generic with nothing impressive, and don’t seem to indicate that you have much of a passion for anything. Most of the applicants that make up for poor GPA/scores get in through having some sort of amazing talent or accomplishment. I don’t see much involvement in ECs, or anything that would make you truly unique.</p>
<p>I agree with cellardweller, don’t even bother applying to MIT; you have nothing that would indicate proficiency or interest in math/science. Apply to Harvard and Yale if you feel like it, but your chances are still virtually none. Bowdoin might be a better reach to have. </p>
<p>At this point, I recommend getting a couple excellent letters of recommendation and writing fantastic essays. And make sure to get a few safeties. Good luck</p>
<p>Those schools might overlook your SAT scores but not your GPA. Fantastic essays are overused phrases in CC. Look for a more realistic list of colleges based on your SAT and GPA. Don’t rely on URM status for those schools.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle
I agree that he should definitely have a more realistic lists of colleges due to his poor SAT and GPA. However I disagree when you say “Fantastic essays are overused phrases in CC”. </p>
<p>I have seen quite a few people get into amazing colleges solely because of their essays. They can hold quite a bit of weight and allow the admission officer to see what kind of a person you are. If there is a reason that very qualified applicants get rejected or very underqualified applicants are accepted, it is often due to the essays.</p>
<p>That being said, I’m not sure if that will make enough difference for the OP, but there is no reason for him not to have a couple extreme reaches. I think we all like to dream of being at places like Harvard or Yale at some point (@ambitionz but definitely get some matches/safeties)</p>
<p>SAT128 - I agree with you for the most part on the essays. They do hold considerable weight, although rarely do they make up for a horrible GPA or SAT score. </p>
<p>Also, while I agree that its ok to dream of being accepted by top schools like Harvard, its isn’t ok to ask for people to chance you and then insist that you will get in regardless of what others advise.</p>
<p>@pixels Yeah I think you phrased it best. Any essays he writes still won’t erase his bad GPA or SAT; so he still has virtually no chance. </p>
<p>@ambitionz Don’t be too overconfident. I’m a URM myself (Hispanic) and am not even applying to Harvard partly because the competition is so stiff. URM status only helps a certain amount and does not guarantee admission</p>
<p>@DrGoogle
You’re wrong in just saying “The essays will make a difference between 2 very similar candidates with similar ECs”. That’s typically what a ‘hook’ does; like being a URM or first gen or legacy or something else that gives an extra push.</p>
<p>The essays can make a much more significant impact so that many underqualified applicants can be accepted as opposed to the ones with superior stats (Not necessarily that often, but sometimes).</p>
<p>Yes, it won’t make up for bad grades, but I think you underestimate the significance of the essays. In the OP’s case, his GPA/SAT might be too far on the low side, but I don’t think you should be generalizing that essays just help decide between two very similar applicants</p>
<p>I think kids on CC overestimate the significance of essays. Some posters who were readers also stated the same thing, everything else has to be in the ball park. I could be wrong but I think CC kids tend to over emphasize essays. I’ve been reading CC for 10 years and remember lots of URMs with decent GPA(3.5uw at a competitive school), great SAT(2300+), some only got into Cornell and Stanford(which is one school that might overlook anything).</p>
<p>I think that most kids overestimate exactly what constitutes an essay that would really make a huge difference in the admissions process. While a bad essay can definitely get you rejected or deferred (particularly at top schools where admissions officer really need ways to winnow down the group of applicants), there are very few essays that are truly memorable and that would cause an applicant who otherwise is below average in grades, ECs and/or boards, to be accepted. If you assume that officers are reading over 25,000 essays at many of these schools, it takes a lot to stand out and I suspect that in any given year, very few essays will cause “underqualified” applicants to get in. </p>
<p>Obviously, it’s important to write a good essay that is well-written, heartfelt and provides the admissions officers with a true sense of the applicant. However, I would not assume that even an excellent essay will somehow cause underqualified applicants to rise to the top of the pile.</p>
<p>Edit: I just read DrGoogle’s response above and I completely agree.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle
I’m not saying that the essays will guarantee admission. But I think you are underestimating the difference they can make. They do more than just help decide between two similar applicants. Sure, they rarely work miracles, but they do hold a lot of significance.</p>
<p>And what do the essays have to do with “URMs with decent GPA(3.5uw at a competitive school), great SAT(2300+)”? You don’t know whether or not they wrote bad or good essays</p>
<p>Edit: And why is everyone assuming that I think amazing essays will always allow a person to ‘rise to the top of the pile’? I just think we should atleast emphasize the fact that it very well could make the difference. Otherwise, what do many underqualified applicants have going for them? There really aren’t many opportunities for an admission officer to really see what kind of person you are</p>
They would not have gotten in if they wrote very bad essays. I remember they were worried about their low GPA. But the SAT score indicates that their high schools are rigour enough. Stanford always emphasizes essays. URM gave them a small boost.
SAT128, are you a senior applying for colleges? If yes you are very optimistic. Good luck.</p>