Chances for top tier colleges?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm currently a junior attending a public school (about 2800 students) in a small urban area in PA. I currently just plan on studying for SATs and ACTs but I don't plan on trying to stock up on ECs. My possible majors are: political science, economics, finance, or international relations. I prefer to stay around the east coast.</p>

<p>Chances for: Ivys (specifically Princeton, Harvard, and UPenn), Georgetown, Duke, Dartmouth, Lehigh, Vanderbilt, Stanford, and American Uni.</p>

<p>-GPA: weighted- 4.52 unweighted- i think it's around 3.7 or 3.8 This next semester however will definitely boost it.</p>

<p>-Rank: 32/630 top 5%</p>

<p>-SATs: 1830 CR-570 M:670 W:590 (I know, it's bad. However I took this during Sophomore year and it was my first and only attempt so far. Now I range between 2100 and 2300 on practice tests. I just don't have money to take it again yet)</p>

<p>-ACTs: Will take them in Feb. I've just started studying for them and they aren't bad. Got a 29 on my first practice test, haven't tried another one yet.</p>

<p>-Courses: All honors freshman and sophomore year
APs: sophomore-U.S. History(got a 4 without studying)
junior- Physics B, English Lang., Calc AB and BC, World History, and Government
as a senior I'll have- English Lit, Macroecon., Spanish, Chemistry (possibly Bio) I also plan on dual enrolling two courses at Lehigh senior year. </p>

<p>-EC: I'm afraid this is what will get me rejected at top schools. I am in NO clubs or school activities. I've been asked to join things like NHS but I just don't want to. I do volunteer at hospitals, elderly care homes, animal shelters, schools, and soup kitchens. I'd rather spend my time doing that than stay after school in a club. If I want to work with the public, I hope this will prove my dedication more than dozens of clubs.</p>

<p>-Other Hobbies: I read and write a lot, I specifically write plays. I draw and paint, however I'm not amazing. I've been working on a novel since Freshman year and I've been searching for ways to reinvent the modern engine. Hoping to actually do some physical work with that this summer. </p>

<p>Other:
-Ethnicity: Pacific Islander (100% Togan)
-First generation college student
-Gender: female
-Income around 70,000. Live with 8 other people.</p>

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<p>I would appreciate any comments guys!</p>

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<p>Honestly, you sound like me. I read a LOT and spend a lot of time learning about random stuff on the Internet. Sadly, I don’t have much to show for it. Research, internships, all that jazz… I had no idea high school kids could even do that stuff until I got here.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’ve read that schools actually prefer ECs that are outside of school. Think about it… how many NHS or Key Club or Interact presidents - myself included! - do you think apply to top schools? Now, volunteering somewhere you love, especially if you are in a leadership position, would probably look more interesting or impressive, correct? The important thing to do in an application (and what I should have done better) is to paint yourself as interesting without overdoing it. Better yet, don’t make yourself /look/ interesting, actually /be/ interesting. Just as many applicants are club officers or what have you, so many applicants do the soup kitchen/hospital/what have you routine. Can you take it a step further? You have the time!</p>

<p>You are correct that you’ll need to pull your test scores up (although, since you’re a non-Filipino Pacific Islander, you’re technically an URM and probably have a bit more leeway here). Just keep doing well in school, and (I cannot stress this enough) make sure to do what you love. It will show if you don’t, I promise. Oft-repeated wisdom here is that once your grades and scores are up to par, you can be considered “competitive” for a top school. Beyond that, it’s pretty much up to letters of rec and your essays. These are critical. Maintain good relationships with your junior year teachers, and you’ll be good to go. </p>

<p>Do keep in mind that any chances you’ll get here are simply the opinions of untrained high school kids (and sometimes their parents). That said, I think you’re easily in at American. As for the other schools you mentioned, it’s up to how you present your application as well as a great deal of chance. It certainly helps that you have a hook! And good luck. :)</p>

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<p>Cant chance without SAT/ACT score but you should have at least a 2200+ or 33+.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I’m hoping to stand out more as a person than just as a statistic, and I’m definitely working on those tests grades!</p>

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<p>Agree with Cortana on the ACT/SAT scores to shoot for. YOu have a great number of AP’s (including the planned AP’s). One thing to check: many HS’s have great school-related volunteering clubs. My son works with inner-city elementary children every week (volunteering) through his HS’s volunteer club. Check into that, because in many high schools, you must be in a school club or two to qualify for NHS. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks jennieling! I’ve wanted to join two clubs but I was always too shy to actually join them. I think it’s too late to try and do anything with school related activities, it’ll just look insincere joining a bunch senior year. And NHS at my school doesn’t require you to actually be in any clubs, just do extracurricular activities.</p>