<p>Probably major in Economics/Mathematics
GPA: 94.75/100 (strong upward trend) top ~5%
SAT: 660 CR 750 M 690 W -- 1410/1600, 2100/2400
SAT II: 780 Math II, 760 Chemistry, 640 Math I
ACT: 34
APs: Statistics (5), U.S. History (4), Chemistry (4), and English Lang&Comp (3)
Senior course load: AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. Government, AP Spanish, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B</p>
<p>ECs:
National Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society (Treasurer)
Society of AP Scholars (Vice President)
Marching Band (drum major)
Jazz Band
Pit Orchestra
Video Production Club (treasurer)
Varsity Indoor Track & Field since freshman year
Future Business Leaders Academy (summer)
Travel baseball 6+ years
Guitar 10+ years
Counselor/coordinator for a bible school at my local church
Little league umpire
Teacher Assistant at our district's summer music program
Private saxophone tutor
Shadowed at Merrill Lynch</p>
<p>Awards:
All-County Band
All-State Band alternate
All-County Scholar Athlete
AP Scholar with Honor</p>
<p>For my Common App essay I wrote about my dad's battle with cancer and how it has made me stronger. Teacher/guidance recs are solid, and my peer evaluation should be stellar. Let me know if I stand any sort of chance at either school.</p>
<p>Long story, but I know the dean of the business program at a nearby college (which offered me a full ride) and he set me up with one of the Senior VPs at a local branch.</p>
<p>i wouldnt be so sure… first off your SATs are low and the SATII math definitely hurts. also you dont have any stellar leadership in your ec’s. and no offense, but your essay topic isnt particularly unique. i’d say both of these schools are still mid/high reaches. sorry.</p>
<p>SAT is a bit low indeed but hopefully my ACT can make up for it. And yes I know my SAT II Math level I is kinda sucky but with a 780 on Math Level II plus 750 on the math section of the SAT I think they’ll look past it. </p>
<p>I appreciate your input but considering you’re only a sophomore who has yet to take the real SAT, I’m taking it with a grain of salt. Sorry.</p>
<p>Lol jz…SAT is decent for Duke but your ACT really shines. Your ECs are strong, however your essays may hurt you (take this w/ a grain of salt), some Adcoms HATE sympathy cards like cancer, disease, death, etc. If it really made you stronger and it what you wrote is true then Adcoms will see that this actually is very personal, however if you just wrote it to pull sympathy from Adcoms, they will also see right through that.</p>
<p>Overall
dartmouth: Low reach/High Match
Duke: High/Medium Match!</p>
<p>Best of luck to ya!</p>
<p>Chance me back?
“Chance me for Top schools, I chance back”</p>
<p>I have to agree that most college adcoms don’t like people using that negative sympathy cards. But then, I once was deeply touched by an essay from a foreign student telling her brother’s death from a land mine. It started with something like, “I don’t want to let go of his arm but my parents told me that they will need his arm for the burial.” In two minutes, this 40 year old, mean and tough old fart, was in tears. </p>
<p>My point is, if you want to use that sympathy card, use it to its fullest. Make us all cry and feel for you. Make us feel your pain, your challenge and of course your triumph and your lesson learned. Make us want to take you in and hug you. Do that and you can get into many of the top colleges.</p>
<p>Thanks Sameer, just chanced you back. And I knew that choosing this topic would be a risk, but he was diagnosed this past winter. I highlighted that it was difficult to focus on school but that I am now more prepared to face other tough obstacles like college.</p>
