Chances for class of 2020

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Background info: White Male, urban PA, low income, QuestBridge scholar

Stats: 3.6/4.0 UW 3.95/4.0 W
33 ACT, 780 Math 2, 800 Chemistry
APs: None taken sophomore and freshman year, AP Physics C (5) and AP World History (4), taking Calc BC, Biology, Statistics, Psychology, Lit, and spanish for senior year

  • Most classes are honors if not AP

EC: -Varsity basketball for 3 years

  • President of engineering club
    -Did mock trial for Sophomore and Junior year
    -Started business in by basement that has generated 9,000 within the last 3 years, using for college fund
    -Worked in local bike shop for 4 years, 30 hours+ per week including the school year and summer

Safeties/Low Targets Penn state, RPI, Stony Brook,

Matches: BU, Lehigh, Northeastern

Reaches: Cornell, CMU, Stanford, UPenn, Duke, and MIT

Intended major is Mechanical or Computer Engineering

I know my reaches are really big ones, but a lot of them are through QuestBridge so the applications would be free. I know a lot of people will say that my matches are reaches but by talking to my guidance counselor and looking on Scoir, I have a good chance of getting in. Thanks for any feedback!

2

You are looking great! I’m a current senior at Stanford, and I would not consider a school like Stanford a reach for you. Stanford admissions loves individuals that have challenged themselves with taking AP’s (even if that sacrifices a little GPA) and are involved in unique extracurriculars (especially entrepreneurship). Your last hurdle is nailing the essays - Stanford places enormous emphasis on these! When writing your essays, you should broadly include the many things that you are involved to demonstrate that you are well-rounded, but focus your persona on the one or two things/themes you are really passionate about. Good luck!