Chances for Middle & Top-Tier Schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Personal Background:
Hispanic Male, Texas resident.
Intended major: polisci/IR, also interested in Gender/Sexuality Studies & Linguistics.
High school: public magnet school.
Economic status: technically middle class ($60k/yr range), but my parents have an obscene amount of savings which will most likely be revealed via FAFSA.</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA (weighted): 4.5/4
GPA (unweighted): 3.9/4
SAT I: 2330 (800-W, 800-M, 730-CR)
SAT II: 800-Spanish, 760-USH, 700-M1
ACT: 32
APs: 5 5's and 2 4's
CR: 2/116</p>

<p>EC's:
500+ volunteer hours (PVSA recipient)
Four-year national level Speech/Debate competitor, current Varsity Debate Captain, and 2013 National Speech & Debate Tournament Finalist. NFL Academic All-American award recipient. Qualifier for the Tournament of Champions, and a recipient of various local/state-level awards. Coached local middle school students and judged at novice tournaments.
Four-year Theatre participant as both an actor and as a technician, UIL One-Act Play participant, "Best Actor" awards, "Outstanding Thespian" awards for musical and play performances. Also participated in church theatrical productions.
Spanish Honor Society President
National Honor Society Member
U.S. Department of State Foreign Exchange participant
Philosophy Club
International Book Club
Work and experience with founding a student-run non-profit organization (STEM related)
Model United Nations Club, conference staff member and winner of numerous regional awards for delegation.
Interact Club Officer (formerly Vice President), work to coordinate foreign exchange programs and work with local elementary schools and other community organizations.
Paid work: about 8 hours a week in food service for most of Junior year.</p>

<p>I have had a slight senioritis slump, but prior to this year I consistently made all A's and A+'s in rigorous courses--I might end up with a low A in either AP English or AP Physics this semester, but nothing extreme. Recommendation letters from my debate coach and my APUSH teacher should be strong. My essays are a mixed bag in terms of topic and theme, but I have always been told that I'm a good writer, so there's not much to worry about there.</p>

<p>Submitting (or have submitted) applications to: Stanford, Columbia, U Chicago, Rice, UT-Plan II, Duke, Michigan, Tulane, GWU, Fordham, and Trinity. I am considering applying to Yale, Tufts, and Emory, and have also looked at Claremont McKenna and Davidson as options in terms of LACs. Please give me some insight as to what I can expect from these schools, AND if there are any other schools you suggest I apply to.</p>

<p>Thanks, good luck all!</p>

2

<p>I would say you have a good chance at all of those. Obviously Stanford and Columbia are reaches because they’re reaches for everyone, but you have a very impressive resume. You should be a definite yes for Michigan (I’m from there and know a lot of people who do/don’t get in). Wherever you go, it’ll be a good school. As for recommended schools, I can’t say because I don’t know good poly sci/gender studies. Maybe look at Georgetown? I assume it’s location would make it a good place to study poly sci. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>You’re gonna have a great shot at almost any school, honestly. </p>

<p>Strong resume, advantageous ethnicity, seemingly dedicated person</p>

4

<p>Thank you both. I had initially considered applying to Georgetown, but after having the chance to visit last year, I was a little turned off by what I perceived to be a lack of diversity, particularly socioeconomic diversity. Also, it seems to streamline you either into a career as a diplomat or some sort of Federal fellow, neither of which are paths I intend to follow. I’m more interested in the policy/analysis component of both foreign and domestic affairs.</p>