Chances for Columbia, USC, Princeton, Yale, and UNC Chapel Hill

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I was hoping someone would be willing to give me an idea of my chances for acceptance to Columbia University, USC, Princeton, Yale, and UNC Chapel Hill. Here’s a brief rundown on me:

  • First generation student
  • Korean American (adopted at 6 months old)
  • From the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (rural area with very few apps to competitive colleges)
  • Alpine Ski Racing Junior Olympian (qualified individually and competed in Winter Park, Colorado)
  • Varsity High School Ski Racing Division 1 State Champs (junior year and hopefully senior year)
  • US Sailing Level 2 Instructor (work 44 hrs/week in the summer and was certified in Chicago, IL and Jensen Beach, FL)
  • National Honor Society Member
  • Key Club Member
  • Prom Committee Member
  • Renaissance Committee Master of Ceremonies
  • Freshmen Class President
  • Health Occupations Students of America Chapter Vice President, National Scholarship Recipient, 1st Place in Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking at Districts, Courtesy Corps (volunteer) member, International Voting Delegate
  • DECA Chapter Officer, 1st Place in Hotel and Lodging Management at Districts, 1st Place in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Districts
  • Varsity Tennis Team Captain
  • 4.096 GPA (regular classes are on a 4.0 scale, AP classes are on a 5.0 scale)
  • 1470 Composite SAT (in one sitting 740 ERW 730 M)
  • 5 on AP English Language and Composition
  • Senior year classes: Health (the graduation requirement), AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry (and AP Chemistry Lab), AP English Literature and Composition, and Health Occupations (a class where you spend 2 hours/day 5 days/week at Marquette General Hospital shadowing doctors on rounds, observing surgeries from within the OR, and performing basic patient care (taking vitals, serving meals, assisting in mobility, etc)
  • Junior year classes: Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP Psychology, Precalculus, and World History
  • Have taken 5 dual enrollment classes earning 4 full As and 1 B

I am applying for a Biology major. Applying Early Decision to Columbia. Applying by Dec 1 merit scholarship deadline for USC. Applied Early Action to UNC Chapel Hill.

2

Princeton requires 4 years of HS level foreign language. I don’t see that listed in any of your classes.

3

UNC Chapel Hill has a mandate to take in-state students first, so that’s a reach for any OOS students.

Have you taken or are taking a Calculus class? It’s not an absolute that you need to have the class for college applicants, but most applicants for elite admissions will have either Calculus AB or BC completed/in-progress.

Also I don’t see any Biology class taken either.

The background is unique. A Korean yooper with interesting ECs. An admissions officer might give a thumbs up for admissions, especially at an Ivy.

4

First gen means your parents (adoptive) did not go to college. Just checking to see if that is the case vs being a first gen American.

I have the same questions on foreign language and Calc. If your HS doesn’t offer them, then it would not be a problem.

Have you tried going the athletic recruit route? If you qualify athletically, I think your academics will be fine, even with the missing classes.

5

I have 2.5 credits in a Spanish. Additionally, I have taken biology and physical/earth science freshmen year. And yes, I am a first generation student as in my adoptive parents did not go to college.

6

I haven’t tried going the athletic route. And no calc. I do have 2.5 credits spanish, bio, and earth science in addition to the AP Physics, AP Chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, and health occupations classes.

7

I did take biology and earth science. No calculus as I am taking AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Chemistry Lab, and Health Occupations which add to 5 “math credits” this year as defined by the State of Michigan. I took Spanish for 2.5 credits - all As. How advantageous do you think being a first-gen Korean yooper will be - and will it be more helpful at any specific schools in your mind vs. others? Thanks!

8

I know you already have several reach schools on your list, but have you thought about any of the D3 schools with ski teams like Williams, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Middlebury? (I’m not recommending you apply to all of these, but maybe consider 1 or 2?) You sound like someone who would both ENJOY skiing in college and WOULD BE AN ASSET to a team. I would explore that option.

Best wishes to you!

9

Not at all for Korean or Upper Peninsula, a feather of a tip for first-gen.

With just 2.5 years of FL, I don’t see how Princeton works.

I don’t understand how your GPA stacks up, so are you in the top handful of people in your class? (whether or not your school ranks, everybody knows whether they are at the top!)

I’m assuming that you have a safety or two??

10

A Korean yooper may not confer any special advantage, but I can see a very interesting college essay about how the background/environment formed OP. So if it’s well written, that might be helpful for elite admissions. It’s certainly unusual enough.

I would assume that OP’s safeties are the Michigan directional schools and Michigan State. UM Ann Arbor would be a target as well.

11

Safeties are Wayne State University, Boston University, and University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.

12

Wayne State might be a safety.

BU and University are not. Probably high match/low reach.

13

Edit above-University of Miami. Definitely not a safety.