Chances for Brown, Caltech, MIT, UChicago, Stanford, etc. (Will chance back w/ detailed comments)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a homeschooled senior, and I didn't see myself posting another "Chance Me!" thread, but insecurity and dread have returned with the upcoming application deadlines. The material below is representative of what can be found on my Common Application. Anyone mind chancing me and offering suggestions?</p>

<p>Testing
ACT - 35
PSAT - 223
SAT Math 2 - 800
SAT Bio E - 730
SAT Lit - 730
AP CalcBC - 5
AP Micro - 5
AP Psych - 5
AP CS - 5
AP Bio - 4
AP Lit - 4</p>

<p>Advanced Courses
-Differential Equations (highest dual enrollment math at local college), Topology
-Calculus-based Physics I & II (highest dual enrollment physics at local college)
-Theoretical Computer Science
-Latin I-V, Linguistics
-12 AP Courses (junior/senior year only)
-4.00 UW GPA</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-Professional Chess Instructor (10-12; paid work)
-Online CS Instructor (12; paid work)
-Volunteer at Local Chess Center (9-12; 500+ hours)
-Competitive Chess Player (9-12; state champion among adults)
-PROMYS Attendee (11; math camp at BU)
-Competitive Programming (9-12; built chess engine)
-PRYSM Co-Founder, Admin, Math/CS Editor, Author (12; online math/science journal)
-Wikipedia Editor (9-12; 2500+ edits)
-Latin Aficionado (9-11; JCL convention attendee)
-Table Tennis Player (9-12; recreational)</p>

<p>Awards
-AIME Qualifier, Score of 7
-NLE: Perfect Paper on Latin V-VI, 3 Gold Medals
-NJCL Etymology/Roman Civilization Exams: Top Score (1 of 1904), 3 Gold Medals
-AP Scholar with Distinction
-National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>Essays/Recs
-Common Application essay about chess-playing friend with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A lot of the local chess players teased him, and I taught him an opening that I created, which he used to beat the kids who teased him.
-Supplemental essays primarily about academic interests and how I've explored them with experiments, projects, etc. A few essays are about how homeschooling has made me an independent/self-motivated learner.
-My academic letters of recommendation should both be strong. Possible additional recommendations from employer and head of PROMYS camp.</p>

<p>Weaknesses
-Light course load freshman and sophomore years
-Lack of ethnic diversity
-No major hooks
-Umbrella program's weighted GPA does not include post-AP courses, but this is explained in the additional information section of the Common Application</p>

<p>Colleges
1. Brown University
2. California Institute of Technology
3. Massachussetts Institute of Technology
4. University of Chicago
5. Stanford University
6. University of California at Berkeley
7. Harvey Mudd College
8. Pomona College
9. Wesleyan College
10. Oberlin College
11. Reed College
12. University of Southern California
13. University of Washington
14. Case Western Reserve University</p>

<p>Thanks for chancing me! :)</p>

2

<p>I’m no expert, but your GPA is high, you have good extracurriculars, and you’ve taken plenty of challenging courses. A light course load for 9th and 10th grade can be overlooked with high grades in junior and senior years. A rising gpa over the years is a much, much better than a dropping gpa.
I’d say you have pretty good chances for all of the schools on your list, although Brown may be tougher than the others. I don’t think you have to worry about it too much; your ACT scores, GPA, and courses are easily good enough for the top-ranking schools. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Forgot to mention: I’m applying to Brown ED, and Case Western Reserve University EA.</p>

4

<p>Your GPA and Test Scores are amazing, and you definitely have enough outside and inside rigorous classes to be considered having a “rigorous course load”. Your EC’s seem like enough, but I don’t know if I am possibly underestimating them. Of course a lot of these colleges would be reaches for anyone(Ivy and Ivy-like), but I think you would have an above average chance of getting in compared to the rest of the applicant pool. I would say just write good essays to follow with your well above average application. Make sure your essays are clever, make a metaphor for yourself, make it interesting. Good luck, you probably won’t need it ;).</p>

<p>(Sorry for the short response, I tend to just say just the general stuff)</p>

5

<p>You also can do EA MIT, EA Chicago and maybe Caltech EA if you do Brown ED. Same with USC, you need to apply early like in Dec to get any merit scholarship. But not to SCEA to Stanford.</p>

6

<p>@DrGoogle: Do you think there is any benefit to applying EA to MIT and Caltech? I had planned to wait until RD for those two so that I could submit grades from my first two dual enrollment classes (Differential Equations and Calculus-based Physics) to demonstrate competency in mathematics and physics.</p>

7

<p>I think you might have a chance at some, but the home schooled aspect does not bode well for admissions. Honest question… Did you really add Wikipedia Editor on Common App.</p>

8

<p>Apply as many EA as you can, once you get into at least one, you can reduce your list. EA MIT is much better because in the RD round, the internationals were added in RD round. If you are deferred in the EA round for MIT, you have less than 6% chance of acceptance in the RD round.
Mine applied to a whole bunch of schools, she got into EA to Michigan(application is free) and Purdue and Fordham.
If you get deferred and then the grades of those courses might help, if you get As. </p>

9

<p>With your stats, Stanford and mit are just about the only reaches. Your course rigor is exceptional, your GPA is perfect, and your ACT is near perfect. You don’t really have a weak spot in your application. That being said, your essays do sound somewhat generic. I might be wrong, but there’s no sample to look at. You should get into every school with ease (sans Stanford and mit) where I think you’ll be seriously considered, but if your essays aren’t superb, probably wait listed. </p>

10

<p>Also could you chance back? @DiscipulusBonus‌ </p>

11

<p>I’ll bet you will get into U of Chicago and UC Berkeley. The question is whether you want to pay OOS for Berkeley.</p>

12

<p>@profitphenom: Can you offer some evidence to support your claim that “the home schooled aspect does not bode well for admissions”? From what I’ve seen, being homeschooled isn’t a problem at any of these schools, and it can even be a positive at some schools like Stanford and Brown. Oh, and yes, I did list Wikipedia Editor on the Common Application.</p>

<p>@DrGoogle: Thanks for letting me know about the MIT international applicant situation. Also, Berkeley OOS will cost about the same as the privates for us.</p>

<p>@AllaroundUVA605: Thanks for the positive chances! Chanced back. :)</p>

13

<p>Hey you chanced me so ill chance back!
Basically you have a fairly strong resume with good ecs and scores that give you a chance at ivies. Since you don’t have that many huge awards/accomplishments like Intel/usamo, it all comes down to your essays. You’ll probably get into #7-14, but 1-6 really depend on how much they like your essays. Good luck!</p>

<p>Edit: just saw that you’re EDing to brown: pretty likely you’ll get in</p>

14

<p>@DiscipulusBonus. I strongly recommend NOT applying to Brown ED (it is binding). Because if you do get in early…you will have to attend. Looking at the list of schools…the best strategic plan is to apply to MIT, Caltech, Chicago and any other public/privates that are EA (non-binding) so that you will potentially get some good news before Christmas…then apply to Brown, Stanford and rest in the regular round. Once all the decisions are in…you can pick the best school that provides the best fit and best financial award…</p>

15

<p>Brown: high match (if ED)
Caltech, Uchicago: low reach
MIT, Stanford: reach
UC Berkeley: high match
Rest are matches and safeties.
Chance back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1665423-downwards-trend-poor-class-rank-high-aspirations-will-chance-back.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1665423-downwards-trend-poor-class-rank-high-aspirations-will-chance-back.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Wow, your resume is highly impressive. A 4.0 GPA and 35 ACT puts you in line with the rest of the competition for those schools. Your acceptance will most likely come down to your EC’s and essays. Since chess seems to have a great influence on you, I would explain that. Why are you so interested in chess? It’s probably not an EC seen very often so I would use it to your advantage. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1685986-can-some-one-please-chance-me-at-vanderbilt.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1685986-can-some-one-please-chance-me-at-vanderbilt.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

17

<p>Great everything! You should be proud of yourself. I think that you have a competitive chance for these schools. </p>

18

<p>this has probably been said before, but the first 5 or 6 are reaches for everybody, no one is certain they’ll get in. That being said, your test scores and EC’s are VERY strong. Applying ED to Brown will probably give you a very good chance at being accepted
chance back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1689030-chance-me-for-brown-upenn-others.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1689030-chance-me-for-brown-upenn-others.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

19

<p>Good testing record and transcript. You are competitive, not its up to whether you are compelling. I think PROMYS will help you a lot, especially if you get that rec. ECs are not jaw-dropping but do show focus and dedication. I think you will get into everywhere except MIT, Caltech, and Stanford, especially if you apply ED to Brown. You’ll probably end up getting into to at least 1 out of those three as well, if you write good essays and your teacher recs reveal more facets to your personality. You are about as ready as you could be for these schools without having major awards!</p>

<p>Chance me back? </p>

<p><a href=“Predict Me! Stanford, UMich, Harvard, MIT, and company - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1687861-predict-me-stanford-umich-harvard-mit-and-company-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

20

<p>You have a fantastic GPA, test scores, and EC’s. You seem like a really passionate, curious kid. I think you should apply ED to Brown. Your chances are definitely the best there. Besides the fact that is ED, three of my friends who had ratings above 2000+ in chess ended up going there, so it looks like they definitely look very highly upon chess. Brown also has top-notch mathematics and computer science departments, as well as a Classics Department that is widely considered the top in the country. </p>

<p>Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1689449-chance-me-for-yale-scea.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1689449-chance-me-for-yale-scea.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;