Chances at Yale, UPenn, Princeton, Columbia, Tufts, Georgetown?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Chances at…</p>

<p>Yale?
UPenn?
Princeton?
Columbia?
Tufts?
Georgetown?</p>

<p>So I’m going by only the Common App. I wish I could include soooo many more things, but I’ll try to limit myself to only the things I can put on there.</p>

<p>SAT I: 2350 (760 CR / 790 M / 800 W) - first and only sitting
PSAT/NSMQT: (I’m hoping to get this in there somewhere): 237 (80 CR / 80 M / 77 W)
SAT II: Math - 800, U.S. History - 780. Let’s not talk about the others...
Unweighted GPA (out of 4): ~3.85
Weighted GPA (out of 4.5 AP, 4.35 Honors): 4.18
No school rank</p>

<p>AP:</p>

<p>Calculus BC - 5
U.S. History - 5
English Lang - 5
Music Theory - 5
World History - 5
Human Geography (self-study) - 5
Chemistry - 4
Comparative Government (self-study) - 4
Biology - 4
U.S. Government - 4
Computer Science - 4</p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load: </p>

<p>AP Spanish Lang
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics C
AP Stat
AP English Lit
AP Psych
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics</p>

<p>Awards (5 allowed on Common App): </p>

<p>AP National Scholar, (should have) National Merit Semifinalist, 1st Place NJ Math League (school-wide, ~1,800 students), Scholastic Art and Writing Silver Key, Community Service Gold Award (~400 hours now, +250 for my service trip coming up)</p>

<p>I’m also in Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society and NSHSS, but I don’t know if those count for anything. :/ There are other awards, and most of mine are actually from middle school. But seeing as how “Additional Information” is best used for special circumstances and most colleges don’t want a resume, I feel like I’m leaving out a lot of stuff.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (10 allowed): </p>

<p>Yale Young Global Scholars Grand Strategy (competitive summer program) - might have to Google
NJ Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology (competitive summer program) - might have to Google
Intern at law firm - awesome and informative experience, and I got to do some cool stuff
IRFE Volunteers - teach English to orphans and abandoned children in Peru
Varsity tennis since 9th grade - 1st singles junior year (won tri-county tournament 9th grade, 2nd place 10th and 11th grade).
Marching band + concert band + piano + all other things musical (I want to cram all these together)
Amnesty International Secretary (will probably be VP next year?)
Habitat 4 Humanity Youth Council Member (will be president next year?)
Spanish Club Vice President
Interact and Able Executive + Special Olympics Wheelchair Leader</p>

<p>I’m in 13 clubs total, in a few honor societies, and at NJ GSET I worked in a three-man group to develop a smart pick bins system to increase the productivity of the manufacturing process (and to reduce error) at Silver Line and Anderson, America’s largest window company’s headquarters.</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendation #1: AP English Lang Teacher (already written previously)
Teacher Recommendation #2: APUSH Teacher (same situation)
Counselor Rec: Counselor (???)
Additional Info/Rec: Assistant Principal, President of the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association </p>

<p>Other:
U.S. State/Territory or Country: NJ
School Type: Public High School
Ethnicity: Asian-American
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: ~$150,000</p>

<p>That’s basically the rundown, Common App-wise. I really like all the schools I listed above and many more not mentioned here, but I especially love Yale. Looking to be a Political Science or EP&E major (double major maybe?) and would love some input. :></p>

2

<p>I don’t usually chance people but I must say that your profile is very Impressive and with compelling essays you would definitely have a shot at these schools.</p>

3

<p>Wow, you’re pretty solid. Just some questions, how many AP subjects does your school offer, and what is your class size/rank? </p>

<p>What stands out for me is this: “NJ GSET I worked in a three-man group to develop a smart pick bins system to increase the productivity of the manufacturing process”,
and this: “teach English to orphans and abandoned children in Peru” (I know, I had a stereotypical, slightly condescending ‘helping orphans and abandoned children!’ reaction, but hey, it draws the eyes)</p>

<p>In terms of scores/GPA/rigor you seem fine. You’d have a good shot, with good essays. </p>

<p>Chance me back?:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1676488-chance-me-part-2-yale-scea.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1676488-chance-me-part-2-yale-scea.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Test scores, APs, awards etc are great, but I see zero depth in your ecs. 3/20 are internships and summer programs, and I don’t see a lot of leadership. </p>

5

<p>Well, HvePassion, that is actually one of my concerns, but I just don’t know which clubs represent me best (as silly as that sounds). I have had, at one point or another, a strong connection and fervor for each of those activities. Perhaps it would be helpful if I listed the clubs not previously mentioned as a frame of reference:</p>

<p>Mock Trial
Future Business Leaders of America
Student Council Treasurer
Key Club
Men’s Choir</p>

<p>And as for other activities…</p>

<p>Metropolitan Chinese Culture Camp
JV/Varsity Fencing (only 10th grade)
Founder of The Clairvoyant Scholar (advice FB page and currently failed website)
Article + Editorial Writer/News Poster/Code Writer/Wiki Editor/Event Staff at Dungeon Gaming Network, or Zelda Dungeon (video game fansite with 400,000 FB likes)</p>

<p>That’s about it. I think Mock Trial, FBLA and Student Council represent my interests the most, but FBLA is not super active and I am a new officer for the Student Council. Can someone, anyone, weigh in on these extracurriculars? I have a few that I especially like (those were the ones I originally mentioned), but I feel that they’re just not relevant to the profession I want to pursue…</p>

6

<p>Most of the things were covered above, but I would just like to add very precise comments.</p>

<p>NSHSS is not impressive at all, and could actually hurt. Don’t waste the space with it. Many of the awards are not very helpful. AP Scholar is something they can just see from your scores, as is the National Merit Semifinalist.</p>

<p>Your ECs are quite strong, but make sure that you can tie them together in some way. I think that they’re your strength.</p>

<p>If there is somewhere on the app where you can talk about your summer activities, then you can move those off your EC list and put some stuff in. </p>

<p>When I say tie in, I don’t mean necessarily in terms of subject, but in terms of personality. Do they show that you want to help people? Change the world? Are you curious about trying new things? It’s great to have many interests, but it’s a fine line between having a vast array of interests and just stuffing them in.</p>

<p>I hope this made some sense. Remember you’re crafting a narrative for an admissions officer to use when describing to you to committee. If someone read your app and had to explain you to someone else, what would they say?</p>

<p>“This kid wants to change the world and help people. He has great test scores while spending his time trying to help others” sounds much better than “this kid had really great test scores and does a whole bunch of stuff, like…”</p>

7

<p>Lack of leadership really stood out to me. It would make adcoms think “he is a typical asian, high scores little involvement” (not to be a racist but, I’ve heard adcoms say that on 1 to 1 meetings) You seem to have real passion for certain things you do….DEVELOP THAT. </p>

8

<p>It’s all going to be in the essays and how you present your rather in-depth extracurricular achievements. Because they don’t come off as leadership positions or passions on paper, making the connections in the form of a finely crafted essay or even resumé could push you over the edge on getting in. Also, if you say you are so serious about music, I’m sure a music supplement would help your chances (as long as you are good haha). But I would say if you play your cards right, you have a fine chance at any of these schools!</p>

<p>(You should chance me back also) <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1676122-chance-me-for-upenn-johns-hopkins-vassar-i-will-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1676122-chance-me-for-upenn-johns-hopkins-vassar-i-will-chance-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>I think you should work on a stellar essay and everything’s gonna be just fine. You have great ecas and all.
Please chance back!!! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1677030-chance-will-hit-back-tell-me-where-to-apply.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1677030-chance-will-hit-back-tell-me-where-to-apply.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>NJGSET is impressive. I don’t chance a lot, but you really have a stellar app. Good luck. I can’t really put a label on your admissions, cause it’s a crapshoot. </p>

11

<p>Okay, so a few updates.</p>

<p>I did become President of Habitat and Vice President of Amnesty. </p>

<p>I also submitted my SAT scores to a few colleges, but I kind of screwed up with Yale and UPenn. I thought that they only required two Subject SAT scores to be sent, and that they could still view the rest (after reading online policies and misinterpreting them). I was dead wrong, of course, and need to send my other three Subject SATs for those two colleges in particular because they require all standardized test scores.</p>

<p>I sent in Math II and U.S. History, but World History was 650, Chemistry was 700 and Bio was 690. I neglected to prepare for those, quite frankly, and am worried about two things:</p>

<p>1) Is it bad if I send my SAT score reports twice? </p>

<p>2) And should I send score reports with all my scores on them again (kind of as a redo) or just the scores that weren’t sent in before?</p>

<p>Also any thoughts on how these other Subject SATs will impact decisions from Yale and UPenn?</p>

12

<p>Do what my friend and do restricted early action into Princeton and you may get in.</p>

13

<p>Thing is, I’ve been kind of planning for REA Yale… my supplemental essay is pretty much done (just needs a few more revisions, word changes). Why Princeton though?</p>

14

<p>Also another factor at Yale: they allow extra test scores in the supplement. I’m going to be reporting the 237 PSAT to hopefully balance out the Subject SATs, if that’s even a thing. ^.^</p>

15

Any results? Apply early?

16

amazing
yale reach
princeton reach
upenn low reach
columbia low reach
georgetown high match

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18030162#Comment_18030162

17

To reply briefly to houseofcats, these were my college acceptances and rejections:

Accepted:

UPenn
Duke
Williams
Cornell
WashU
BU Kilachand Honors College
Rutgers Honors College (Presidential Scholarship)
UVa (Echols Scholar)

Rejected:

Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Columbia
Tufts
UChicago
UMich
Dartmouth

18

Congrats!

19

Congrats, great results! Where will you be attending?

20

Thank you! I was planning on attending Duke, but UPenn’s financial aid was basically an offer I couldn’t refuse. That being said, there were a myriad of other reasons behind finally choosing UPenn as my college destination!