Chances for Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi I am a junior currently and would really like to apply to Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins. The thing is I only will apply to these universities if I actually have a legit and relatively good chance of getting accepted. I don't want to waste my parents' money and my time if I don't have a good chance. Here are my credentials:</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (my school doesn't rank, but probably at least top 10% in my class)
Tests:
SAT- 2290 October SAT (800 M, 760 CR, 730 W). I am retaking this in January and aiming for 2350+.
ACT: 34 February ACT Sophomore year (35 M, 35 S, 35 E, 31 R). I am retaking this in March and aiming for 36.
SAT 2's: Math 2- 800, Chem -760 (thinking about retaking), and I will take Physics, World History, and Bio this June.
PSAT- 235 (80 M, 78 CR, 77 W). So, I am national merit and I am giving these scores in case you guys can suggest any good summer research programs.
AP's:
Sophomore year: AP Biology (5), AP Chemistry (5), AP Calc AB (5)
Junior year: AP Physics Mechanics, AP Envi Sci, AP Lang, AP Calc BC, AP World
Senior year: AP Stats, AP Lit, AP Physics Elec. and Mag, AP Psych, AP Spanish</p>

<p>EC's:
Debate Team- 3 years & many awards (5th in State, 4th in League, top 3 in several invitationals)
Model UN- 3 years & many awards (Several Honorable Mentions and Outstanding Delegate awards, aiming for best delegate this year)
Science Olympiads- 3 years and couple of medals
HOSA- 1st year my school is participating (aiming to make nationals)
Brain Bee- 2 years (aiming to win regionals this year)
Tennis- 2 years JV (aiming for varsity this year) top 3 in the state team
Dance- Indian Classical Dance for 7 years (several trophies and stage performances)
Interact Club- 3 years active member (attended RYLA conference and won third place for skit about suicide)
Math Club- 3 years active member (Top 200 MMPC, 2-time AIME qualifier, aiming for top 100 MMPC and make AIME again and get a 6+ on AIME, probably not going to make USAMO)
Link Crew- 2 years
National Honor Society- 2 years
Your Inner Soul Organization- conducted and MC'ed New Year fundraising nights to raise money to fund education for orphans in India
Research- Spent 7 weeks this past summer researching at Michigan State's lab about Parkinson's disease and mastered basic lab techniques ie. western blot, assays, etc. The mentor and lab members really liked me so they invited me back to do a project where I would be principal investigator. I can enter this into Siemens and Intel. I am also applying for RSI (extremely slim chance of getting in) and HSHSP at Michigan State (prestigious, though not as much as RSI, and high chances of getting in b/c my mentor knows the program director and my mentor basically guaranteed my acceptance as long as I have good grades and scores)
Volunteering- easily 500 hours at nursing home, hospital, and relay for life
Historical Commission- 2 years City government position</p>

<p>Leadership Positions: a bit weak in this area so suggestions would be appreciated
Interact Club: 2 years officer (aiming for president or vice- president senior year)
Debate Team: unofficial captain
Math Club: most likely officer for senior year
Science Olympiads: most likely officer for senior year
HOSA: good chance for officer senior year
Relay for Life: Serve on the planning committee for community event
Historical Commission: Student representative and commission secretary</p>

<p>Additional Info.
Indian female 1st generation
Single parent income of $110 K without income tax or social security funds
Pretty good essays- not the most eloquent writer but really great ideas because i have a unique philosophy and thought process
Relatively good interview skills- I am a pretty good talker</p>

<p>I know people will say that I have a chance, but I don't want to waste the money and energy if I don't have a really good chance. Also, any suggestions for improvement and stuff I can do to improve my resume would be greatly appreciated. Any information about colleges and admissions processes would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your time, and I am really sorry if this is too long.</p>

2

<p>When it comes to ivys, you can be the most perfect student and get rejected. i know a kid who got a 2400 and was rejected from UPENN. That being said, looking at your resume, all i have to say is wow. Good for you, i strongly encourage you to apply, you have a fighting chance. Which is something 95% of people dont have.</p>

3

<p>you’ll get into johns hopkins. the rest are reaches (they are for everyone)</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your replies! Also, @collegebound752, my parents went to a Johns Hopkins admissions officer talk in my local place a few months ago (I couldn’t make it, so I sent them), and my parents said that Johns Hopkins is big on volunteering and they said that the officer didn’t seem too impressed when they said that I did research over the past summer and would do more this summer. Is it true that Johns Hopkins is big on volunteering, b/c I don’t have outstanding volunteering experience? Also, my parents said they don’t care about GPA b/c every school has a different system. Is this true as well? I need to know this b/c I am trying to decide if I should do ED for Johns Hopkins so I can increase my chances of getting in, b/c I know I def have a better chance of getting into JH than any of the other schools. Let me know what you think.</p>

5

<p>any more replies guys?</p>

6

<p>please don’t retake those tests again, man! It can only hurt. Your scores are already above average for every school in the US, not to mention your subjective traits. There really isn’t that much of a difference between scoring a 2290 and a 2350, or 34 and 36. Plus, you have the chance of doing worse which can hurt you at a school that needs your whole testing history.</p>

<p>And you don’t want to come off as someone who’s obsessed with testing. You have a great shot at every college. You don’t need to be perfect. You can spend your time doing much better things than studying for tests.</p>

7

<p>I am also worried about that. The thing is if I had gotten just 10 more points, a 2300, I wud hav stopped even tho my goal was a 2350. But being in the 2200’s, I feel a bit insecure, not just for college apps but also when I am applying to competitive summer programs. </p>

<p>Also, personally, I am happy with a 34, but I am being forced to retake it in March because every school in my state has to. </p>

<p>Also, I heard that schools cannot see your scores unless you send them. I heard that you just cannot lie how many times you took the test because they can find out how many times you took it. Is this not true?</p>

8

<p>I think you will get into all of these schools because of standardized scores, AP’s and EC’s you are amazing! Holy cow. Chance me back please
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597246-chance-me-harvard-upenn-princeton-stanford-will-chance-back-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1597246-chance-me-harvard-upenn-princeton-stanford-will-chance-back-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Honestly you don’t need to retake any of the things that you say you are planning on. Your scores are plenty high enough for them to give you their full 15% acceptance rate. Do well in an interview if you get the opportunity.</p>

10

<p>Do you guys think retaking will hurt me? Because I have already signed up for the January SAT test.</p>

<p>Also r my ECs rly that great? I mean as of now, I don’t know how I will do in HOSA or Brain Bee and tho I can guarantee research over the summer and some sort of project, I can’t guarantee results or awards for the research.
So, awards-wise, I pretty much only hav debate and MUN (i love public speaking). Is public speaking rly a plus for college apps or is the same as everything else?</p>

<p>Also, I forget to tell you guys, my school is very competitive and we hav like 12-15 go to Ivy and top-tier universities (class size 500). I heard that Ivies and top-tier universities like to accept only one or two students from each school, is this true?</p>

11

<p>If your October 2290 was the only time you’ve taken it so far, go ahead, take it again if you truly feel you have room for improvement (improve at least one section).</p>

12

<p>thanks @wimmiett.
any other opinions guys? any more suggestions on how to improve? Also, if I apply to more universities, such as MIT, Princeton, Columbia, & WashU, is there a really good chance that I will get into at least one of them?</p>

13

<p>I am RSI’13, and I can say that your stats look pretty solid. But for something like RSI, it is very foolish to chance. Many people with great stats get rejected. Good luck, though! Your stats do look pretty solid, and I believe you have a good chance at top colleges. :)</p>