Chances ED UPenn, JHU, Cornell, Columbia, etc

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So yeah I've already posted but I've settled on a final list. Thx in advance for responses.</p>

<p>Information:</p>

<p>Eth: Indian
Sex: Male
State: NJ
Grad Year: 2009
Major: Biomedical Engineering (probably w/ premed focus)
School: Very Competitive (I am submerged in a sea of Asian nerds daily...it's awful); Sends lots each year to the schools I'm applying to.
Courseload: Counselor has told me she will indicate "most rigorous" on app.
Grading System: (frosh/soph) A- = 90-95%; A = 95%+ :(
(junior/senior) A - = 90-92%; A = 93%+ :)
*GPA is a combo of the two scales so kinda skewed</p>

<p>*Frosh/Soph/Junior GPA: *</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.82; W - 4.16</li>
</ul>

<p>Soph/Junior GPA:</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.84; W - 4.28</li>
</ul>

<p>GPA Summary:</p>

<ul>
<li>This is probably my main weakness. My GPA is a mixture of A’s and A-‘s with two career B+’s (one in AP English and one in Alg II Honors (the most horrendous teacher I have ever had, end of story)). It is still relatively competitive in my school, but I'm worried about Penn and Columbia and how they will see it. If they recalculate it, however, it might not be as bad. </li>
</ul>

<p>Rank:</p>

<ul>
<li>School doesn't submit rank to colleges. Pretty sure, however, that I’m in the top 5% of ~700 students. If I had to guess, I'd say ~18-25/700.</li>
</ul>

<p>AP's (Total of 11):</p>

<ul>
<li>Physics B (4)</li>
<li>Chemistry (5)</li>
<li>Calculus BC (5)</li>
<li>English Language and Composition (4)</li>
<li>Computer Science A (4)</li>
<li>Biology (next year)</li>
<li>Art History (next year, fine art requirement :P)</li>
<li>Economics (next year)</li>
<li>Statistics (next year)</li>
<li>English Literature (next year)</li>
<li>Computer Science AB (next year)</li>
</ul>

<p>*All other courses = Honors (except 2 yrs of Foreign Lang, PE, and 2 yrs of computer-related electives)</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT: M - 800; CR - 740; W - 800; T - 2340 (1540)
SAT IIs: Chem – 800; Math II – 800</p>

<p>Recs:
Counselor - Awesome: I had an interview with her and she had some flattering comments about my personality.
Teachers - One good from Eng more about personality (not the highest eng grade in class unfortunately (B+), but it is considered one of our school's toughest classes). One likely awesome rec from AP Chem teacher.
Supplemental - The professor who mentored me for my research at Rutgers.</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>NJ Science League
- Partipant 10th
- Competitive Testing in Chem I
- Qualifying Test followed by Regional Test each month from Jan. - Apr.
- Qualified last year in Chem I, but not in Chem II this year </p>

<p>NJ Chemistry Olympics
- Competition in chemistry entered in year of AP Chem (11th)
- Club meets every week from Jan. to competition day in May
- Participated in Environmental Chemistry Research Competition</p>

<p>Medical Careers Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- 12th Officer</p>

<p>Science Competitor's Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- Officer 11th; Co-Prez 12th
- Going to be running NJ Science Olympiad team next year.</p>

<p>Junior Statesmen of America
- Member 9th - 10th
- Club Officer 11th and 12th (I write our weekly resolutions, occasionally moderate debates, and speak frequently)
- New Jersey Region Cabinet Member 11th (write debates on state level for regional conventions)
- Possibly Mid-Atlantic Regional Cabinet Member 12th
- Significant involvement in politics/oratory = my other passion besides science. </p>

<p>March of Dimes
- Member 10th - 12th
- Volunteer hours and fundraising
- Tedious but rewarding process = soliciting funds; selling tickets; organizing large-scale cultural show. </p>

<p>Genetics Research
- Summer of 2007 and 2008
- 8 hrs/day, 5 days/wk for ~6-8 wks; unpaid internship
- (2007) Research conducted with drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies); focused on determining the use of RNAi in restricting cancerous overgrowth caused by genetic mutations.
- (2008) Two separate projects in coordination with a PhD and an undergrad: One to determine the function of a certain gene (involving RNAi) and the other to find the phenotype of a certain genetic mutation.
- Possibly working on a paper this summer with another member of the lab, but it wouldn't be published in time for college apps. I am seriously considering a write-up documenting my work and what I've learned. I don't have enough time, however, to submit a paper to Intel/Siemens (fly genetics isn't exactly fast-paced and I can't work during the year...).<br>
- In case it's not apparent, this is my favorite activity by far.</p>

<p>Piano
- 5 yrs
- Non-competitive Hobby</p>

<p>Community Service
- ~ 300 hrs
- Local hospital (oncology), senior center, and March of Dimes</p>

<p>Rec Tennis
- 8 yrs
- Summer camp in summer of 2005 and 2006 at local club
- Non-competitive hobby </p>

<p>Robert Wood Johnson Mini-Medical Program
- Participated in a several week long program at RWJ Medical School consisting of 2 hr Wednesday seminars to talk w/ doctors, students, etc. Nothing big, but it's demonstrated interest right?</p>

<p>Leadership Summary:</p>

<ul>
<li>Current: JSA (Chapter Officer and State cabinet), Science Competitor's Club (Officer)</li>
<li>Next Year: JSA (Chapter Officer and Regional cabinet), Science Competitor's Club (Co-Prez), Med Careers (Officer). </li>
</ul>

<p>Honors, Recognitions, Awards (Kinda Weak, Not Really Sure?):</p>

<p>NJ Science League
- Recognition in 10th grade for regional participation
- Didn't qualify for regionals 11th in Chem II :(</p>

<p>Commendation from Governor/NJ State Legislature
- For our entire chapter which set up a March of Dimes fundraiser that raised thousands of $'s. </p>

<p>JSA Best Speaker Awards
- Several in recognition of various debate performances.</p>

<p>National Latin Exam
- Silver Medal in 9th; Gold Medal in 10th; Gold Medal 11th</p>

<p>National Honors Society/National Latin Honors Society
- 11th </p>

<p>Predicted National Merit Semifinalist
- PSAT: 226</p>

<p>AP Scholar w/ Distinction
- Preceding College Apps. </p>

<p>NJ Chemistry Olympiad
- Didn’t make semifinalist but scored high on the regional test. </p>

<p>NJ Chemistry Olympics
- Silver Medal at NJ State Level for performing experiments related to environmental chemistry, writing a lengthy report, and presenting the findings (two-person team though, and forgive my lack of modesty, it felt more like a one-man job).</p>

<p>Research-Related
- Possibly some recognition related to my research (a name in a report perhaps). Dunno when it might happen though. I got started with this a little late unfortunately (summer preceding junior year). </p>

<p>*My AP Chem teacher is going to mention all the chem-related achievements/activities in his rec. </p>

<p>I'm most concerned about my GPA and how it's going to be viewed. I know I can write decent essays though and I'm going to try to make myself seem less like the typical Asian applicant using them. I'm applying to engineering at all of the following: </p>

<ul>
<li>UPenn ED </li>
<li>JHU</li>
<li>Cornell </li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Duke </li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon</li>
<li>UMich </li>
<li>Boston University<br></li>
<li>Rutgers </li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>ok the fact that i am chancing the longest thread ever, can please please chance me back. please!!! just check .. i am on the first page of 'what are my chances' Good GPA, excellent SATs, ECs a lot</p>

<p>UPenn ED- slight reach
- JHU-high match/reach
- Cornell-high match/reach
- Columbia-slight reach/reach
- Duke-low reach
- Carnegie Mellon-match/high match
- UMich-match/high match
- Boston University-not sure
- Rutgers -no clue... but safety i am assuming</p>

3

<p>read for every school</p>

4

<p>First off as a fellow Indian-American, I envy your stats. I seriously think that you are in good shape.
Upenn, UMich, Rutgers, and Boston University seem like good matches.
Not too sure about the others but Duke, JHU, Cornell, Columbia might be harder to get into.
My cousin got into JHU and he said that it was basically luck as to if your application looks good or not (he got in with a 1300 old score). Good Luck and please help me with my chances on my thread. Thanks and I hope this helps.</p>

5

<p>Dude...you gotta stop making these chance threads dude...this like the 10th one in like 10 days man....</p>

<p>Chance threads aren't gonna to increase your chance of acceptance..so you might wanna chill on all these chance threads</p>

6

<p>actually it's my second one in the past 3 wks...the other one was saturated with responses and I wanted to clearly indicate my final choice for ED.</p>

7

<p>right okay bump</p>

8

<p>STS why do you say its easier to get into Cornell, Columbia, Duke, and Hopkins when UPenn has a much higher ranking (#5, tied with MIT). I think your GPAs great, test scores outstanding, and ECs outstanding. Good luck!</p>

<p>I'm applying to Wharton. Could you chance me?
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/534608-applying-wharton-there-any-chance.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

9

<p>dude,</p>

<p>we can't exactly guarantee your acceptance into the likes of UPenn, Duke, Cornell ect...no matter how many times you post your great resume, we can't exactly improve your chances.</p>

<p>All we can say is that you have a <em>GREAT</em> shot at all of the schools, but still, we can't exactly say IN...</p>

<p>p.s i'm just slightly aggravated by the 3 chance threads i seen from you the last couple of weeks lol</p>

10

<p>Upenn depends on luck. According to your SAT scores, gpa, ec, etc... i think you could get in but you never know cuz i know a lot of ppl who seem they should get in.. but then get deferred.. but i think the least is you'll get deferred.</p>

<p>JHU if ur applying premed is harder to get in, but i dont think ull have any problems. Its a match I think or easy reach.</p>

<p>Cornell is probably a match for you since I'm looking into it and my creditials are no where near yours, but my college counselor says its a match. and i have a pretty reliable college counselor since my school is a college prep school.</p>

<p>Columbia is harder than cornell but easier than Upenn i think. But its gotten harder so its probably a reach.</p>

<p>Duke is easier than both Columbia and Upenn so its probably an easy reach for you.. but I dont think youll have much of a problem getting since I know people with same grades as you but fewer ec's and a worse SAt score who got in.</p>

<ul>
<li>Carnegie Mellon is most likely a safety and you'll get in.</li>
<li>UMich is also probably a safety. And highly suggest you apply rolling cuz then you could not apply to safeties which u'd pick umich over</li>
</ul>

<p>Boston University - easy safety
Rutgers - easy safety</p>

<p>a lot of it also depends on what kind of high school you're coming from...</p>

11

<p>thx for replies</p>

<p>azngod: you gotta get off this site if it's causing you so much anguish to see repeat chances threads lol...</p>

12

<p>okay, bump from the nether regions of this forum...</p>

13

<p>bump..............................</p>

14

<p>any other comments? come on...</p>

15

<p>rejected everywhere because you don't have any street smarts :(</p>

16

<p>lol ok............</p>

17

<p>nah you're aight. I say you get in ED UPenn....and you're done. Otherwise, a strong shot everywhere else (stronger at JHU and cornell than the other places)</p>

<p>Although I suggest you dont do ED unless you're 100% sure you can pay for it. The only school I had ever felt comfortable with considering ED for was princeton (with, at one time, being the only major school to give need-based aid in the form of grants), and then they eliminated it last year.</p>

18

<p>haha, well that's nice of you to give me a serious response thx. I won't qualify for aid b/c of my parents' income bracket (which just breaches the upper limit to qualify for aid). We're paying full...anyway, thx again.</p>

19

<p>although i think you'll get into UPenn ED...</p>

<ul>
<li>JHU-high match</li>
<li>Cornell-high match</li>
<li>Columbia-slight reach</li>
<li>Duke-low reach</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon- higher safety/low match </li>
<li>UMich- you should be in pretty easily </li>
<li>Boston University- safety</li>
<li>Rutgers -safety</li>
</ul>

<p>there you go
and since im also indian, chance me too
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/546077-california-private-stanford-cal-tech-usc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/546077-california-private-stanford-cal-tech-usc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>