Chances for Cornell, UIUC, Northwestern, others

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Junior in high school, beginning to consider my stats for when I have to apply later.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Mixed (White/Indian)
Gender: Male
Location: Northern Virginia
Academic Interests: Mathematics, Physics, Engineering
Prospective Major: Engineering Physics... Physics... Applied Mathematics?</p>

<p>Class Rank: N/A (top 10%)
Class Size: ~350</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.22
Unweighted GPA: 3.87
(These are as of the end of Sophomore year. Currently taking all IB courses with straight-A's. Probably closer to a 4.4 W 3.85-3.91 UW by the end of this year.)</p>

<p>PSAT: 214, CR 66 M 72 W 76
SAT: TBD (Taking in March, May, October)</p>

<p>AP Exams:
AP US Government - 4</p>

<p>Academic Rigor: Most Demanding (Full IB Diploma Candidate)
Classes taken:
Grade 7:
A - Algebra 1 Hn
Grade 8:
B - Geometry Hn
B - Spanish 1
Grade 9:
A - Algebra 2 Hn
A - English 9 Hn
A - Biology Hn
A - World History/Geography 2 Hn
A - Spanish 2
A - Computer Graphics
A - Health/P.E.
Grade 10:
A - IB Math HL I
A - English Hn
A - Chemistry Hn
A - AP Government
A- - Spanish 3
A - Business Law/Mgmt
A - Health/P.E.
Grade 11 (Current):
A - IB Math HL II
A - IB English HL I
A - IB Biology HL I
A - IB Chemistry SL II
A - Physics Hn
A - IB History HL I
A - IB Spanish SL I
Grade 12 (Prospective):
? - Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra
? - IB English HL II
? - IB Biology HL II
? - IB Physics SL II
? - IB Theory of Knowledge
? - IB History HL II
? - IB Spanish SL II</p>

<p>Honors:
- AMC10B School Winner - 9
- 4.0+ Honor Roll - 9, 10, 11
- Full IB Diploma Candidate
- (Likely) National Merit Commendation</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities:
- Science Olympiad - 10, 11
- Math Honor Society - 10, 11
- Math Team - 10, 11
- FBLA - 10, 11
- National Honor Society - 11
- Class of 2013 Treasurer - 10</p>

<p>Work Experience:
- Naval Research Laboratory SEAP Internship - 10 - Paid internship, 40 hours/week for eight weeks in the summer. Work relevant to the synthesis of certain liquid crystal material. Possible publication (but I'm pessimistic). </p>

<p>I think that, at least superscored, I will be able to get a 2200+ SAT with a little bit of practice. This year, I may be able to qualify for AIME, and possibly win AMC again. Last year I came in second (to a senior). I'm pretty academically motivated, but I don't do a lot of activities outside of Science Olympiad and Math Honor Society. Not exactly sure where to go from here as far as improving my resume. </p>

<p>I plan on applying to:
Cornell
Columbia
UIUC
Northwestern
JHU
UVA
W&M
VTech
UCLA
UCSD
UCBerkeley</p>

<p>If I have a high enough SAT, I may apply to some highest tier schools like HYPSM, CalTech, UChicago, etc.</p>

<p>Chances?</p>

2

<p>If you score around a 2200, you definitely have the caliber of a HYPSM student. If you keep up with your grades, I’d say that VTech, UCSD, UVA and W&M are all matches or even perhaps safeties in the case of virginia tech(those are schools that I know of). Northwestern and Cornell would be low reaches. Of course for the others it’ll depend a lot on your essays. Best of luck! Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1261160-please-chance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1261160-please-chance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>bump 10char</p>

4

<p>bump 10char</p>

5

<p>bump 10char</p>

6

<p>bump 10char</p>

7

<p>bump 10char</p>

8

<p>Chill with the bumps, dawg. I wouldn’t say you’re exactly HYPSM material just yet–your ECs are a bit vague and bland, besides your naval internship–but you look good for the UCs, your state schools, and UIUC. Cornell and NU are looking matchy, Columbia and other Ivies/MIT/Caltech would be slight-to-big reaches.</p>

9

<p>Have been bumping over a couple of weeks. Are you saying my ECs are bland because I didn’t elaborate on them? Just looking for some feedback…</p>

10

<p>Don’t listen to that kid. You look like a great candidate for many of those schools. I think you’re definitely HYPSM material, especially with that internship. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>Don’t listen to me? Why?</p>

<p>OP/Dawg, just step it up a little bit with the ECs, go HAM on AMC and Science Olympiad (any leadership positions within that?), write some great essays, and you’ve got a shot. I’m not saying high-Ivies are impossible, I’m just saying that you’re a pretty typical candidate–you’re already ahead of the game by having great grades and solid scores, but you need to differentiate yourself a bit more. Your internship is a great start, though.</p>

12

<p>bump 10char</p>

13

<p>Well from what I can tell (assuming you get a good sat score).</p>

<p>Cornell- Low reach/match
Columbia- Reach
UIUC- Saftey
Northwestern- Low reach/match
JHU- Low reach/match
UVA- Match
W&M- Match
VTech- Saftey
UCLA- Match
UCSD- Match
UCBerkeley- Match</p>

14

<p>Will being half Indian decreases the chance I’ll be accepted to some of these schools? Or does being mixed race help?</p>

15

<p>^decrease*</p>

<p>OCD D:</p>

16

<p>bump 10char</p>

17

<p>bump 10char</p>

18

<p>bump 10char</p>

19

<p>For reference, I was accepted ED at NU as a 4.0 Full-IB Diploma Candidate along with a 31 ACT. Not an absolutely spectacular score, but my essays were my strengths and I demonstrated commitment to something rather than maintaining a laundry list of extra curriculars.</p>

<p>With that being said, having the opportunity to be a Diploma Candidate increases your chances everywhere, as long as you have the GPA and extra-currics to go with it. Some may disagree, but when someone has to go through 1,000 applications, those that are Full-IB, anywhere from 5-10% of the pool, will be more taken back by what you’ve done.</p>

<p>Good luck. Start considering one more thing that can put you over the top. A special fundraiser that you run, or developing a passion of yours that you can later demonstrate.</p>

20

<p>Bump.</p>

<p>Thanks all for responses; still looking for further opinion.</p>