Chances - Brown/Yale/Cornell?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey. I've posted a few times before in the Chances thread, but I'm looking for input as I get ready to make decisions on applying. I already have safe/medium schools lined up and I'm trying to figure out my chances for Brown, Yale, and Cornell. I will be applying ED/SCEA to one of these programs and RD to the other two. Thanks!</p>

<p>About me
Going to be a senior
Male
African-American
First generation
Virginia
Political Science/Government Major</p>

<p>GPA
3.73 UW, 4.1 W</p>

<p>SATs/Subject Tests
SAT I: Critical Reading (610), Math (590), Writing (760); Total (1200/1960)
SAT II: Math I (580), USH (700)</p>

<p>^ These are obviously my weak point. I'm going to retake SAT Is in October for the last time and I may or may not take the World History/Literature SAT IIs in November depending on your advice/advice from my counselor.</p>

<p>APs
10th - AP World History (A) - 4
11th - AP US History (A-) - 5; AP English Language (B+) - 5; AP Psychology (A) - 5; AP Spanish Language (A) - 2
12th - AP Comparative Government; AP English Literature; AP Calculus AB; AP Spanish Literature</p>

<p>ECs</p>

<p>Speech and Debate [9-12]
- Team Captain (11 - present)
- Director of Training and Recruitment (10)</p>

<p>Heavily involved in political volunteering [since the age of 10-present]
Internship with State House Delegate in my area [Summer btwn. 10/11]
Internship with major law firm [Summer btwn. 11/12]</p>

<p>Orchestra [9-12]
- 1st Chair Cellist (10)
- Advanced Orchestra and after-school Symphonic Advanced Orchestra (acts as an 8th Pd)</p>

<p>Spanish Honor Society [10-12]
- President (12)</p>

<p>JV Cross Country [9-12]</p>

<p>Class of 2011
- President (9)</p>

<p>Boys State (11)
NHS (11-present)
EHS (11-present)
HHS (11-present)</p>

<p>Student Government (9-present)
- Class Representative (9-12)</p>

<p>Honors/Awards
State Champion, Student Congress (Speech & Debate, 11)
State Champion, Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking (Speech & Debate, 11)
Awarded my local democratic committee's "Volunteer of the Year" (10)
1st Place [Natl. Qualifiers], Student Congress (11)
1st Place [Natl. Qualifiers], Extemporaneous Speaking (11)
Attained highest mark (1) at Solo & Ensemble Orchestral Competitions (9, 10, 11, 12)
1st Place Science Fair in Environmental Management (11)</p>

<p>I would appreciate your input. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>As much weight as your ECs and URM-status add, your raw numbers simply are not good enough for Brown or Yale, and, to a lesser extent, Cornell. These three schools will be significant reaches.</p>

3

<p>^ I’d agree with billabong. You should give it a shot but make sure you have some solid match/safety schools on your list as well.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your input. I would appreciate anyone else’s opinions.</p>

<p>I am trying to get help with the SATs to bring up my scores in the October sitting.</p>

5

<p>Does anyone else have opinions? (Bump) I would appreciate it!</p>

6

<p>well you are african american…so i wouldn’t say you have no chance. URM is a great hook to have. But as of now I would say your SAT scores are a tad too low</p>

7

<p>Thanks. Yeah, I’m going to work on those, but do you believe that those SAT scores disqualify me entirely in case they don’t go up?</p>

8

<p>^Yes, they are really that low.</p>

9

<p>I have looked at some stats regarding other admits with similar profiles than me - and I’ve seen people who have been able to get in with those scores. I wanted to know why you feel that way?</p>

<p>And if anyone else would like to add in their input, again, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

10

<p>I think you are a strong candidate. (:</p>

11

<p>You’re not a strong candidate as your scores are low for those schools but you should still try your chance. Brown likes their candidates to be unique. Write a great essay and tell them what’s good. Best of luck!</p>

12

<p>Your essays must be amazing to make up for the low SATs. I do think you’d get into one of those three though. Visit all three schools and see which one you like the most and do your ED there; if you can’t visit, just do a lot of research.</p>

13

<p>Well thankfully this isn’t the end-all-be-all - I still get to sit the test once more in October.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your input! If anybody else would like to chime in, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>