Chances for CMU, Cornell, UPenn, and a few others

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm looking for my realistic chances at these schools, because I want to know, from someone else's perspective, if my list is too ambitious. People in my area never really aim this high so I don't have anything to compare to haha</p>

<p>White female applying for engineering
SAT: 2250 (720 CR/770 M/760 W) retook in October, feel like I did better on CR this time
Physics: 780, Math II: 760, Math I: 790
AP: Physics (5) Spanish (5) English Lit (5) also taking Studio Art Drawing, European History, Computer Science, and Calculus this year (more APs than my school offers, taking some online)
GPA: 96.7% (haven't gotten below an A since freshman year, and then it was only A-s and one B+)
School doesn't rank but top 10% for sure</p>

<p>Awards: Bausch and Lomb science award, Wellesley Book Award, best in math two years in a row, CAPT advanced scholar (only one in school, it's a state thing), AP Scholar (only one in school), missed CT national merit semifinalist by one point with a 220</p>

<p>Activities:</p>

<p>FTC Robotics: Captain (12), Coach (11-12), founding member (10)</p>

<p>Stage and production manager (12), lighting technician (10-11)</p>

<p>Done lighting and sound work volunteer for a bunch of renowned dance groups when they come to the area, and the waterbury symphony orchestra</p>

<p>Math and Science Tutoring: I tutor several students after school in math and science. Additionally, I spend one class period every week tutoring in freshman homerooms. I also have taught classes when teachers are out.</p>

<p>Instructor at a nonprofit art center during the summers (9-12)
(Featured in many art shows, submitting art portfolios and playing this up a bit as something to make me stand out in engineering applicant pools)</p>

<p>National Honor Society</p>

<p>Summer@Brown and NC State over the summers for materials engineering</p>

<p>Built a telescope for funsies</p>

<p>Common App Essay: about how I like being behind the scenes and don't necessarily need recognition to feel good about my hard work, primarily about being a lighting operator but connected to goals in engineering</p>

<p>Recommendations: One from my math teacher whose class I've taught a couple times when she's been out, she adores me. The other from my Spanish teacher who helped me study for the AP when my class didn't offer it, and I got a 5. He loves me and talks about me in other classes. Also getting one from the executive director of the art center I work at.</p>

<p>I'm applying to:
MIT - a girl can dream! I know it's a reach for everybody so don't worry about chancing me for this one ;)
Cornell (???) -visited
Carnegie Mellon (???) -visited, stayed overnight
Rensselaer (???) - visited
University of Rochester GEAR program (???)
University of Pennsylvania (???) -visited
Columbia University SEAS (???) -visited
Also UConn, but I know I'll get in</p>

<p>All the ones with question marks I have no idea!!! Do I stand a chance? I realize a lot of these are reaches for anybody, but what I really want to know is if I'm a competitive applicant.</p>

2

<p>bump! anyone?</p>

3

<p>As with any Ivy League it’s a crap shoot, I’ve known people have all A’s 2300+ sats and perfect subject tests and get rejected from three Ivys and get into the fourth. You’re definitely that caliber and it’s worth applying but many qualified people don’t get in to highly selective schools. I would say you are competitive for them all but anything can happen. Since those are all competitive make sure you’re very comfortable with your safety and maybe try a match school or two.
Chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562190-what-my-chances-american-university.html#post16452701[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1562190-what-my-chances-american-university.html#post16452701&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>MIT Cornell Columbia and UPenn are reaches for everyone, but you’re definitely competitive… The one weakness I see is the strength of your school…</p>

<p>If you can tell me the one thing that separates you from everyone else, then I’d say you have a good shot to get into at least one. Good essays can be the difference as well. </p>

<p>If not, go ED somewhere…</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1552312-chance-me-northwestern-ed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1552312-chance-me-northwestern-ed.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Your definitely competitive. Judging by everything I have read you are applying for some type of science or engineering. I am pretty sure you will get into Carnagie Mellon and maybe Cornell. Penn will be a crapshoot. Make sure you have a few safeties you will be happy to attend if anything goes wrong. Please chance me back!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1556170-chance-penn-state-transfer.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1556170-chance-penn-state-transfer.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>I think my passion for the arts sets me apart from most engineering applicants, my creative skill gives me an edge on the problem solving and different style of thinking that is required to design and create new things. I also have a lot of ECs that involve teaching. My crappy school has caused me to reach out and be a mentor in my community. I don’t necessarily think the crappy school is a terrible thing, because I’ve reached out and beyond it.</p>

<p>Thank you guys!!! I’m comfortable with the schools I’m more likely to get into. I really hope I can at least get into RPI, because I love it there. UConn would honestly be fine.</p>

7

<p>bump? anyone else? I just want to get in somewhere! If you think I need more matches, what schools would you suggest?</p>