<p>I've already applied to a bunch of reaches and safety schools around New York. But I definitely feel that it would be wrong to not apply to some of the nation's top schools with my stats.
I am applying to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, and Caltech.
I am academically qualified but I have not had any research opportunities or any leadership, which most of my classmates have. First off, I like to say I am an Asian male in New York. My family is a low income family and I am a first generation.
SAT: 770CR 800M 750WR (2320)
SATII: Bio 730 Chem 770 MathII 800
GPA: 3.96
EC: I don't have any leadership and I haven't won any major awards. But I am involved in the math team, swim team, Spanish club, and I play the piano(of course). I am very passionate about teaching and volunteering though and wrote a solid 9/10 essay on that.
Recs: 8/10 for both my teachers. 9/10 from my guidance counselor. All of them know me very well and like me.
TL;DR:How much would the lack of leadership, research, and my demographic hurt me despite my academic qualification?</p>
<p>Already your numbers place you at a significant ( and I mean significant) advantage over the other applications whoo apply to those top schools. While your ECs may be the lesser of those who are accepted, I still think your academics will shine through it. And taking Three SAT Subject Tests help a lot! In addition to you getting good scores ona ll of them. Most kids only take 2, even the Ivy-League Applicants take 2. </p>
<p>Chance me back?<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1722731-chance-me-for-cornell-stern-columbia-upenn-wesleyan-brown.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1722731-chance-me-for-cornell-stern-columbia-upenn-wesleyan-brown.html#latest</a></p>
<p>Being an Asian male with little EC’s puts you at a large disadvantage. Your stats are pretty good, but are not stellar for colleges like Harvard, MIT, Caltech, Yale, UPenn, Stanford. It would be fairly tough to get into those colleges.</p>
<p>However, I would not be surprised if you got into at least one of the other colleges you listed.</p>
<p>Your grades are excellent, but your ECs seem to be a little weak. The fact you’re a first generation will help you out somewhat, but it will be tough for you to get into the Ivys, since they require a lot of ECs. You will most likely get into a school like Northwestern or Caltech (which are places you mentioned.)</p>
<p>chance back?: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1724114-chance-me-for-uc-berkeley-ucla-nyu-usc-columbia-brown-and-bard.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1724114-chance-me-for-uc-berkeley-ucla-nyu-usc-columbia-brown-and-bard.html#latest</a></p>
<p>Thanks guys for your valuable input! I’ve been looking into the admission pages ately. It seems that factors such as rigor of Rigor of secondary school record , Academic GPA, Standardized test scores, Application Essay, Character, and Recommendations are very important. On the other hand, talent is considered, and extracurricular activities are just “important.” Do colleges really consider extracurricular to be as important as it seems?</p>
<p>Haha, was wondering about my chances at these same schools… chance me please?</p>
<p>A bit of info on me…</p>
<p>-currently attending PA public school, in junior year
-4.0 GPA, 4.8 weighted (as of sophomore year)
-Took 3 honors courses freshman year, 3 honors and AP chem sophomore year, and currently 2 honors, APUSH, and APES junior year
-5 on AP Chem Exam, 780 SAT Chem subject test, 193 sophomore year PSAT, 221 junior PSAT
-first SAT I took: 660 math (ugh, usually my highest section! kind of strange by comparison to other scores) 780 CR, 800 writing, 10 essay</p>
<p>-Varsity cross country runner, JV Spring track
-Student Council, Principal’s Advisory Council, Student Curriculum Advisory Council, Spanish Club Executive Council, Human Rights Club, Mock Trial in past, Forensics (first year)
-Senior Girl Scout, have earned Gold Award for hosting a middle school Pi Day
-Summer camp counselor
-play guitar at my church
-a lot of random volunteer work (just for fun!)
-school newspaper editor</p>
<p>-next year’s planned schedule: AP Spanish, an AP English, AP Bio, Honors Organic Chem, Honors Calc, Journalism</p>
<p>-BTW I’m a white girl from a pretty high-income family, so I don’t offer much regarding diversity or anything like that. 
</p>
<p>Thus far, I hope to major in chemistry and minor in journalism or English.</p>
<p>Also, I agree that bibibo…'s ECs are pretty weak, but if your chances would probably be better if you committed to one or two of those activities you already have and, I would assume, enjoy. You could either put more time into them to achieve some sort of high rankings or compete at high levels somehow, or you could show leadership by making some new event or program involving them!</p>
<p>Pretty good SAT/SAT2. I can’t see much demonstrated interest in anything though, especially if you’re listing STEM as intended major. </p>
<p>Depending on how well it shows that you did everything possible from your circumstances though, I’d give you ~10-20% at each of the top schools. </p>
<p>I agree w/ @ineffable. the asian male thing with little ec/awards does put you at a disadvantage</p>