Chances for HYPS... screwed up frosh year

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've been around these forums for a while now but as deadlines approach I'd like a honest assessment of my chances.</p>

<p>State: CA
Ethnicity: Black [100% african american]
Income: Low (<33k)
Gender: Male</p>

<p>In freshman year, for the first semester I went to a really bad inner city public high school, where the average SAT is something like 1200/2400. I missed all the placement exams so I had to take the lowest courses available even though I'd already taken some of them (I had taken Physical Sciences and Algebra before). So, I was disappointed and purposely didn't try [do any hw/studying], which in hind sight was really really stupid. There were a lot of outside factors during the end of eighth grade and the beginning of that year. My grades have been on an upward trend, though.</p>

<p>Pre Algebra- B+
English I- C
Physical Sciences- B-
US History I- D
Spanish I- C+
Band- A+</p>

<p>GPA 2.2 un weighted and weighted [band doesn't count]</p>

<p>We moved 2nd semester to a completely different location, so I went to a new school. I was allowed to test into Geometry and Biology, even though it was the 2nd sem, because I did really well on the placement exams.</p>

<p>Geometry Honors- B+
English I- A-
US History- A (normally a junior class but because I had taken the 1st sem of US History, they put me in this)
PE/Health- A
Spanish I- A-
Biology- A</p>

<p>GPA 3.8, 4.0 weighted. (band and health dont count for any GPA)</p>

<p>Summer: Algebra II Honors- A-, US History I (taken to remediate the D in US History, but the D is still the only one that counts in my GPA)- A</p>

<p>Soph:
Precalculus: A-, A
English II- A-, A-
Spanish II Honors- B+, A-
Chemistry Honors- B, A-
Band- A, PE/Health- A
AP World History- C, B- (really hard teacher), 3 on AP test</p>

<p>GPA 3.5, 3.9 weighted for soph yr</p>

<p>Jr:
Calculus AB AP- A, A+, 5 on AP test
Chemistry AP- A-, A-, 4 on AP test
Macro Economics AP- A, 4 on AP test, Micro Economics AP, A, 5 on AP test
Spanish III- A+, A
English III Honors (taken because English 2 teacher recommended it)- B-, A
Band- A, PE/Health- A
Self took AP Stat and got a 4 [my school doesn't have math beyond BC]</p>

<p>GPA 3.9, 4.7 weighted for junior year</p>

<p>Summer: Physics Honors: A- (taken so I could take Physics C instead of B next year)</p>

<p>Sr:
AP Physics C (year, 1 sem Mechanics + 1 sem E&M)
AP Psych (year)
AP Gov (year, 1 sem Comparative & 1 sem US)
AP Calc BC (year)
AP English (year, 1 sem Lang + 1 sem Lit)
Spanish IV (year)</p>

<p>Overall GPA up to now (including summer algebra 2 + physics, excluding band + health): 3.5 exactly
Weighted (including those same classes): 4.0625
[Sorry if I did this wrong, my school doesn't give us our GPA although it calculates it using the format 4 for any type of A, 3 for B, etc, and +1 point for Honors and AP. My school doesn't rank either, thank god]
Both will go up a lot after this semester.</p>

<p>SAT: First try 2160 (730 R, 710 M, 720 W)
2nd try 2280 (780 R, 800 M, 700 W)
Superscore: 2300
PSAT: 218, Commended
SAT Subject tests: Math 2c, 800. US History, 660 [not sending unless the school requires all tests]. Biology E: 740.
ACT with Writing: 34 (1st and only try)</p>

<p>EC: Math club 3.5 years (joined when I moved to the new school)
AIME qualifier last year (100.5 on AMC 12A, 8 on AIME II)
NHS 3 years
Key Club 3.5 years
~250 hours of service
Basketball 4 years (JV 1 year, Varsity 3 years including this year)
Trumpet 6 years, that's why I picked Band
Track 4 years (Varsity all 4 years) (I run the 100m, and 200m, sometimes Relay, sometimes 400m)
Robotics 1 year (joined this year)
Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction
Math award (jr year)</p>

<p>Other:
Recs from my English teacher who I have this year for AP and who I had for English II. Other rec from my AP calc teacher who I had for AB and I have again for BC. Should be great, they both loved me and I'm doing really well in both of their classes at the moment.
My quarter grades should be good, at the moment I have a B in Gov and a B+ in Spanish but I will try to pull that up.
Essays should be good.
I want to major in math.
I go to a pretty big school, it sends a few kids to various Ivies every year (5-10, 12 I think last year but a lot [~5] of those were from Cornell ED) and a few more to stanford (usually 1 or 2, 3 last year), and a few more to MIT (2 I think last year, both were really genius at physics + math/sci in general), and has a pretty good record with other top schools as well. About 20-30 get into UCB each year i think, don't know exact numbers for that.</p>

<p>Chance for
Stanford EA [first choice]
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Dartmouth
Columbia
Cornell
Brown
UPenn
MIT
Caltech
UChicago
Harvey Mudd
JHU
Duke
UC Berkeley
UCLA
[instate for UC's]</p>

<p>I'm probably not actually gonna apply to all of those schools, because that's a ton, but I do know for sure that I'm applying to Stanford, Harvard Yale Princeton Columbia, MIT Harvey Mudd, and UCB/UCLA. Can you guys suggest some safety schools for me? Also should I submit an art supplement for trumpet (that makes the deadline even earlier for Stanford lol). Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>Respect I wish you the best!</p>

3

<p>I don’t think Stanford looks at freshman grades.</p>

<p>Stanford EA - High Reach
Harvard - High Reach
Yale - High Reach
Princeton - High Reach
Dartmouth - Reach
Columbia - High Reach
Cornell - Reach
Brown - Reach
UPenn - Reach
MIT - High Reach
Caltech - High Reach
UChicago - Reach
Harvey Mudd - Reach
JHU - Reach
Duke - Reach</p>

<p>Don’t be discouraged by what I just wrote above. I’m pretty sure most of these schools would be a reach for most people. It helps that you’re a URM and that your grades improved a lot. </p>

<p>I excluded the top UCs because I have no idea how in-state works.</p>

<p>And for safeties, why not UCSB, UCI, UCD. I’m sure you’d get into those schools, and they’re all very good. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Stanford/Ivies/MIT a reach like they are for everyone, the rest (excluding Caltech) seem to be a combo of low reaches/high matches. I don’t think you really have a shot at Caltech as they are a lot more focused on academic performance, so your low GPA might knock you out, especially since you don’t have many strong science/math-based EC’s (and Caltech doesn’t practice AA); still, you might as well apply.</p>

<p>I recommend adding other UC’s (Davis, SD) and maybe the lower end ones as your safeties, since it’s just checking more boxes (and paying a fee for each).</p>

5

<p>Bump. Only 3 replies?</p>

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<p>OMG you are really a genius… i think u have a good shot to every school (including HYPS) even with full financial aid based on ur academic success and URM, which can help a lot. Your math is even better than me who receive some crazy math education in China… Maybe you should improve your EC, but not a big factor compare to academic achievements. </p>

<p>chance me also pls? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1220514-chance-nyu-stern-uc-berkeley-upenn-wharton.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1220514-chance-nyu-stern-uc-berkeley-upenn-wharton.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and i think when calculating GPA they will use 3.8 as the freshman GPA, and some schools doesnt count freshman GPA. </p>

<p>GOOOD LUCK!!</p>

7

<p>Forgot to mention: I’m also a National Achievement Scholar. I don’t know how much weight this carries since I’m already Commended but didn’t make it to semifinalist.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Funny thing is, I was “tutored” in math by two Chinese-American geniuses last year for AIME. They were both consistent 10+ AIME scorers and I think they made the math summer camp.</p>

<p>How do you suggest improving my EC? I don’t have much time left.</p>

8

<p>reaches on all of em.</p>

<p>UCs better chance add the lower UCs though liek Santa Cruz etc.</p>

<p>chance me back?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1222330-indian-kid-who-sucks-tennis-brown-plme-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1222330-indian-kid-who-sucks-tennis-brown-plme-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Freshman year doesnt count for much, but your great improvement from year to year, however, does. Best of luck!</p>

10

<p>ye because the time issue so u cant improve a lot in EC, but u will be fine even without amazing ECs</p>

11

<p>Since you’re an URM, you probably will get into a lot of those schools, even with your low gpa. Your SAT’s are high, which helps a ton. :)</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>I am considering adding UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis. However, I took off UCLA because according to my mom it’s not that great for physics (my intended major) but it is hard to get in and the application fee is not insignificant for us (we’re poor).</p>

<p>I took the Physics SAT in October. I thought it was easy and I know the curve is good so I am hoping for 800.</p>

<p>I decided to submit an art supplement for trumpet but I don’t know how great it will be. So, I’m not doing it for Stanford (no time)</p>

13

<p>Those are reaches for practically everyone :slight_smile: </p>

<p>The only way you’ll not get in for sure is if you don’t apply so apply to what ever you want to get into :smiley: </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

14

<p>idk what anyone was talking about youll get in being URM, also you have a great resume too</p>

15

<p>Your freshman year grades lack something to be desired, but it’s not terrible! I think that because you are African American, you have a decent chance at these schools(Go minority status!)! You are clearly very smart and very motivated! But at this point you can’t go back and change your frosh grades, my best recommendation is writing really honest and passionate essays about things that matter to you! Good luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1196782-chances-brown-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1196782-chances-brown-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>You have a good chance. Although some schools look at freshman grades, when they see the improvement after the 4 years they won’t view it as a bad thing.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1224930-chance-me-i-am-really-worried.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1224930-chance-me-i-am-really-worried.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

17

<p>You are mostly subpar, but an upward trend and black status may save you.</p>

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<p>I would venture to say that you WILL get into at least 1 of the Ivies/equal caliber schools. Your upward trend helps a lot. I think it’s safe to say you’re pretty much into Cornell. Can you (or anyone reading this) chance my brother, who’s a senior? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1225240-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1225240-chances.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

19

<p>Some people are so MEAN on here! I’m sorry, subpar? That’s a really mean thing to say. And, almost out of jealousy…
ANYWAY, yes, your freshman grades leave a lot to be desired. However, the upward trend is VERY GOOD. That just may be your saving grace. The fact your GPA is so much higher now is going to be a very very good thing when you apply to these schools. I would attempt to attach something about why your grades were so low as part of your additional info section - explain the issues, it’ll help. I mean, I’m not going to give you reach/match statuses for these schools, because they’re all a dice roll basically. So, I think that your scores/motivations/ethnicity are going to be a HUGE benefit to you, and put you as a really competitive person among all of these students. Best of luck to you! </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1225284-chane-me-i-chance-back-ea-uchicago-ivies.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1225284-chane-me-i-chance-back-ea-uchicago-ivies.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;