Chances for MIT, UCs, Duke, Princeton, and others?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Not really writing this so much for the chances, because I'm quite aware of what my chances are (pretty sure I can get into all the UC's on my list, Stanford/Princeton/MIT are pretty much reaches for anybody except geniuses, and the rest are all right chances). I'm mainly doing this to help keep track of my ECs and to ask for SUGGESTIONS on what other colleges I should add to my list, but chances would be appreciated too! :) My top choice is MIT, but I don't think I'll get in (still applying though) so I'll probably go for the well-ranked school where I feel comfortable that offers me a good price. I'm in the class of 2014, so after this summer I'll be a senior.</p>

<p>Current list of colleges I'm applying to:
MIT, UCB, UCD, UCSD, UCSB, UCLA, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Harvey Mudd, and Duke
Intended major: chemical engineering (I'm pretty set on this. Possible change to materials engineering.)</p>

<p>Female, Southeast Asian, upper middle class family
I attend a very average high school. Not really surrounded by motivated peers, but I try to make the most of it.</p>

<p>Full IB (fun...not really), no APs offered at my school
IB scores haven't come in yet, but I predict 7 in IB Math SL and 7 (maybe 6, idk) in IB Physics SL.</p>

<p>Junior Schedule: IB Math HL 1, IB Biology HL 1, IB History of the Americas HL 1, IB English HL 1, IB Physics SL, Spanish III (6 classes)
Senior Schedule: Theory of Knowledge, IB Math HL 2, IB Biology HL 2, IB History HL 2, IB English HL 2, IB Spanish SL, IB Music SL (7 classes)</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Cumulative Weighted GPA: about 4.4
Class rank: I'm in the top 1% of class of about 600.</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Scholar (my PSAT score was not good enough for semifinalist for sure, but I know I got a letter of commendation haha)
SAT Take 1: 770 M, 720 W, 710 CR (2200 total)
SAT Take 2: 800 M, 800 W, 680 CR (2280 total)
Superscore is 2310.</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 800 Math Lvl 2, 770 Physics
May take SAT Bio M in October but not sure yet. I'd get at least 750.</p>

<p>ECs:
~500 volunteer hours, mostly from a volunteer job at a local hospital
President and head captain of Academic Decathlon team, along with several individual regional medals in highest division
Co-founder and president of school Science Club team
One of the head editors for school newspaper
Principal chair in school Wind Ensemble
Varisty Tennis captain, went All League, only undefeated player in team
Section leader in marching band
High position in County Honor Band (2nd chair)
Class representative in National Honor Society
Attended COSMOS (California Summer School for Math and Science) at UC Davis last summer. Will probably write an essay about this experience.
Self taught myself HTML/CSS, Javascript, and C++ beginning from age 10</p>

<p>I think my main weakness is my lack of major STEM awards like USAMO or Intel/Siemens.
My essay writing skills are pretty decent. Could probably write good personal statements.</p>

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<p>Bump!
Just realized how crazy long I managed to make my post lol</p>

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<p>not sure whether you are predicting a 7 for your math sl or math hl.</p>

<p>Get:
7 in Math, Bio HL
7 in Physics SL (preferably change this to HL if you can)
at least 6 in all others.</p>

<p>Your ECs are a bit generic.
Thought about coding a program for a project over the summer (for example, I’m going to code a typing software)? Try that; you could put that in your resume.</p>

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<p>Sorry, I should explain: I’ve already taken those SL exams. At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure about how well I’d do on the Math HL exam because many students at my school have gotten bad scores, so I took SL just in case. I did some self studying and it’s really not as difficult as I anticipated so I’m probably going to take the HL exam next year. I’m a junior, so I haven’t taken any HL exams yet.</p>

<p>There is no HL Physics available at my school. I’m going to mention that in my applications. Also, I don’t think my HL scores matter as much because they won’t come in until MUCH after I’ve decided which college I’m going to.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input! I’ll consider the coding project if I have time and yeah, I’m afraid of my SAT and ECs holding me back. :/</p>

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<p>You would be a very competitive applicant for all of them. I’m jealous! Good luck and congrats on your academic career so far :)</p>

<p>Chance me? </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1520514-chance-me-homeschooled-all-12-years.html#post16096227[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1520514-chance-me-homeschooled-all-12-years.html#post16096227&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks! Does anyone have any opinions on good ChemE schools I could add to my list?</p>

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<p>CalTech! Super awesome :D</p>

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<p>I was thinking about Caltech, but… so expensive. xD They don’t offer much money for students in terms of scholarships, I don’t think.</p>

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<p>@cosmogony But their graduates make a hefty sum of money right off the bat; their starting salary is one of the highest. I think Caltech would certainly pay off if you made it in. Also, considering that their admissions rate for females is about three times as high as for males, you’d also have a great chance of making it in.</p>

<p>As far as I know, Stanford likes “entrepreneurial” types, and since your EC’s don’t communicate extraordinarily unique achievements, it might be difficult. Being a middle-class Asian female from California doesn’t help either, tbh.</p>

<p>I would suggest adding Georgia Tech. It has a high acceptance rate, and would probably be a safety for you, but has strong engineering programs, and high graduating average salary.</p>

<p>Suggestions? : <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1508837-chance-princeton-upenn-jerome-fisher-ivies-etc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1508837-chance-princeton-upenn-jerome-fisher-ivies-etc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;