Chances for Stanford, Rice, MIT, Cornell

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm a hs senior from Texas planning on majoring on something along the lines of Mathematics/Astrophysics/Physics with a possible minor in music. </p>

<p>GPA - 3.83 UW
Didn't have much of a rigorous schedule or good GPA Freshman/Soph years. I had a 3.6 through both years only taking 5-6 honors courses. I attend an okay high school which has recently sent 5-10 students per year to top 25 caliber schools.</p>

<p>Testing
PSAT 221
SAT took twice - 2310, 2330 Superscore
R - 770
M - 800
W - 740 - 11e, 760 - 12e
SAT subject
Math II - 800
Physics - 730
Chemistry - 680
AP's taken:
Spanish Lang - 5
US History - 4
Chemistry - 4
pending:
Music Theory - most likely will be a 5 from previous tests I've seen
Calculus BC
European History
Physics C Mechanics
Spanish Lit - same as Music Theory
Computer Science</p>

<p>EC's
This, along with GPA, is where I think my application is lacking the most :(
Inducted into NHS 12
Math/Science teams 11-12, teams advanced to regionals 11th grade, this year TBD
Orchestra 9-12, officer 11-12
All-Region Orchestra 10-12
All-State Orchestra 11 ridiculously competitive in Texas and I barely missed the cut this year
100+ hrs volunteering at music competitions/festivals
80+ hrs CS</p>

<p>Awards
Orch: Musician of the Year - 10th, Outstanding improvement - 11th
AP Scholar
National Merit Finalist
not sure what else to put here, any ideas? I don't really know what would constitute an award to be put on a college app</p>

<p>"Hooks"
Mexican-American, Hispanic ethnicity
first-gen college student
low income single-parent, <$25,000</p>

<p>Applying to:
Stanford
Rice
UT-Austin
Cornell
JHU
MIT
Baylor
TCU</p>

<p>Also, feel free to throw out names of other schools that I could afford with good math/physics programs. Even reach/low chance schools... I just want to weigh my options. Don't forget to chance, thanks!</p>

<p>EDIT: Letters of recommendation will be stellar, my essays are in the process of being revised by some previous teachers.</p>

2

<p>You don’t have to worry about affordability. All the top schools meet 100% of your need which will likely be 100%. You’re a minority, so you’re hooked into all these schools. Expect multiple acceptances from top schools. I’d reccomend applying to UC Berkley, Caltech, Columbia, UVA, and Princeton since they all have stellar physics programs. If you take a language besides spanish, you might want to take an sat subject test in that language to show some depth. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Your grades are phenomenal, but,as you stated, your e.c. are lacking quite a bit. You also seem to be pretty one dimensional(involved in school and school-like activities) maybe pick up an easy sport for fun, just soyou look more well rounded.</p>

4

<p>Haha, I was on the freshman football team first semester of 9th grade but I’ll be the first one to say high school football in Texas isn’t exactly fun when you’re not some sort of athletic freak. I also did select soccer in 9th grade though, I could probably pick it back up and make the varsity team this year.
EDIT: Would joining a sport my senior year make it seem that I’m doing it to beef up my app. or would colleges not care?</p>

<p>As for Berkeley, I was under the impression that the UC’s wouldn’t offer much aid, if any at all, to OOS kids?</p>

5

<p>Any opinions?</p>

6

<p>Bump, anyone?</p>

7

<p>Anybody???</p>

8

<p>Your scores are pretty good, your ec’s are average, but being Mexican American does bring an advantage. good luck!</p>

9

<p>You said you are expecting to be a National Merit Finalist. Have you checked out the threads for full rides or near full rides for NMFs?</p>

<p>With an NMF full ride and being lower income, you can probably get all your expenses covered.</p>

<p>Your ECs are a little thin, so the top schools are going to be very difficult to get into.</p>

<p>You’ll get into Baylor and TCU. Are you top 8% for UT Austin? If so, you’ll get in there also.</p>

<p>Baylor has a very simple scholarship calculator on their website. The top scholarship (which might apply to you) is about $146,000 over four years. You would still need some financial aid, but an easy scholarship helps a lot! [Baylor</a> University | Texas Undergraduate University Admissions, Texas University Undergraduate programs at accredited Baylor University || Scholarship Calculator](<a href=“Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University”>Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University)</p>

10

<p>Thanks. Yes, I am currently in the top 6% I believe. I have checked out the colleges that give out Full Ride/Tuition for NMF, but honestly Baylor is the only one of those that appeals to me, unless I missed some obvious ones. If the school I attend isn’t so generous with NMF, then I would expect to have a lot of my tuition covered by need-based aid or else I’ll probably be in tons of debt.</p>

11

<p>you’re in at tcu, baylor, and ut-austin, the rest are pretty iffy…</p>

<p>might i suggest berkeley??? you only have 12 days so it might not be worth it, but i feel you might fare well there</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1409730-chance-me-top-schools-thanks.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1409730-chance-me-top-schools-thanks.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;