Chances for: Yale/Harvard, UChicago, Madison, General Thoughts. Thank you!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>While I know we don't have a crystal ball, I'm a junior who's extremely nervous about college, and looking for some feedback because I sure as heck can't analyze my chances.</p>

<p>ACT: 29 start of freshman year, recent tests show at least a 34 composite. Strong Eng/Reading, weak Sci/Math. </p>

<p>GPA: ~3.7 UW, strong upward trend. </p>

<p>PSAT: 207</p>

<p>Hooks:</p>

<p>-Extremely autodidactic with languages. My goal by graduation, which I'm on track to accomplish, is to get a 5 on the AP Spanish (this year), French, and Chinese tests. The only class I'll have taken at my HS is Spanish VH, as I'm testing into online AP French and college Chinese. I'm thinking this should especially help with UChicago.</p>

<p>-Very involved in LGBTQ activism, going to workshops, serving at camps, lead volunteer project, national projects, etc.</p>

<p>Academics (by graduation):</p>

<p>-14 AP tests total, 3 Honours
-Advanced in English, Spanish, Math, French
-Took extra courses through summer camps, online programs, self-study, etc.
-8 University classes (half of which are language classes)
-Tested into AP French solely through 2 years of self-study.
Senior Schedule: AP: French, Euro, Art His., Calc BC, Bio, Lang., Macro. online, at University: 6th/7th Semester Spanish, 3rd/4th Semester Chinese, two Government classes, Chinese religion, and Comp. Lit. </p>

<p>Clubs:</p>

<p>Gay-Straight Alliance (Freshman member, Soph. and Junior Pres.)
Interfaith Club (Soph Pres.)
International Club (Junior Co-pres.)
French Club (Soph. Member, Junior Co-Pres.)
Creative Writing Club (Soph. Member, Junior VP)
Political Debate Club (Soph. Member, Junior Co-Pres.)
Math League (Competitive, test-based, scored 4th in region)
Yearbook (Freshman editor, quit after that)
Mock Trial (Junior Defense Attorney)
Principal's Student Advisory Council (Junior Member)</p>

<hr>

<p>The Great and Mighty Line Dividing the Less Important ECs</p>

<hr>

<p>Earth Society(Soph. member)
Mariachi Band (Junior member)
String Choir (Soph/Junior Member)
Book Club (Fresh., Soph., Junior Member)
Chamber Orchestra (Junior Member)
Spanish conversation club (Junior Member)</p>

<p>Outside</p>

<p>-Involved with local PFLAG, attended national lobbying conference in D.C.
-Work with state-wide LGBT youth organization, presenting conferences at workshops, served as youth staff at LGBTQ activist camp
-Volunteer with local PAC
-Served on district committees to develop anti-bullying policy and improve health curriculum
-Planning on heavy campaign volunteering (in 2012 presidential election)
-Accepted into prestigious civic leadership event (10/15 total accepted, merit-based, not financial)
-On board of a brand-new, education-focused, student-run nonprofit
-Director of group for transgender youth (resources, projects, etc)
-One of two state reps to national GSA conference
-Viola from 5th grade until graduation, selected for regional Youth Honors Orchestra sophomore year
-Davidson Institute Young Scholar
-Serve on National GSA committee (3-10 hrs a month)</p>

<p>Region: Midwest. White male, if that matters. Also a very strong writer. Thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>Very unique profile! Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Oh, I almost forgot! Rank is in the 60’s or 70’s out of about 450.</p>

4

<p>Your EC’s are really strong. However, GPA/Rank will be a MAJOR hindrance for the Ivies. How high up in rank do you think you can get by the end of the year? </p>

<p>I mean, nothing is impossible, but I’ve talked with a few Yale early admits, and many were strong activists/scientists/what have you in addition to top-notch academics. So it’s not as if excellent EC’s will make relatively weak academics disappear.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the assessment. I’m not sure with rank (hard to quantify), but my last semester GPA was 3.76UW, and I’m trying to get a 4.0 with my 9 (7 at school plus 2 online) classes this semester, so hopefully that upward trend will help a bit. Also the specific grades tend to be strange: my math/science (not going into that field) and lower level classes tend to be my lowest, and my humanities and AP/Honors classes are almost always A’s. So, hopefully that’ll give me a bit of a boost, depending on how much they look.</p>

6

<p>Your outside extracurriculars are quite good, and your scores seem fine (assuming you get that 34 or hopefully higher). Unfortunately, your GPA is going is going to really pull you down, especially in context of the rank. </p>

<p>I think you’re in at Madison, and have decent chances with UChicago because they really value interesting, quirky people and place a high importance on essays. Harvard and Yale will both be high reaches.</p>

7

<p>Not be be a creep, but do you by chance live in Ohio? If not, I think I know your twin, haha.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice! And no, haha, but glad to know I have a twin there.</p>

9

<p>Bangaramabamp.</p>

10

<p>Any other appraisals?</p>

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<p>Harvard and Yale - high reaches (the thing that is pulling you down is your grades)
Uchicago, madison - match</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1294761-chance-me-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1294761-chance-me-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>Take a hard look at common data sets. Not being in the top 10% of your class will make any ivy and most top 25 schools all but impossible.</p>

<p>Your language skills are impressive, but they’re not a hook.</p>

<p>You can analyze your chances very well by looking closely at all the data these schools make available. The only kids getting into Harvard and Yale that were not top 10% are URM impact athletes.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the honest thoughts Waverly, that makes sense. I’ll see where my higher grades this year land me, I might make it into the low top 10%. My chances are definitely very low at Yale/Harvard, and I’m not expecting to get in. UChicago I’m a bit more optimistic about because they seem to view things more holistically and essay-based, which works in my favor.</p>

14

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

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<p>Sorry, just bumping again for any more advice.</p>

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<p>Everything overall is really amazing, but your PSAT and GPA aren’t so hot. On the SAT I’d try to get a 2250+ just to be safe, and the GPA might be a hindrance to you. Other than that wow. I commend you. That many languages. xDDD</p>

<p>I’ve taken Chinese for two years at my school and the only thing I know is nihao. LOL.</p>

17

<p>GPA is a little low–I’m about the same, though :). Your test scores are good, though (34-awesome!), and from the looks of it, you’ll get a good score on your SAT. You’ve also got good EC’s–it’s nice to see that you haven’t spread yourself over a ton of things (I’ve seen that a lot in a lot of these threads). You show interest in music, which is good, as well as language.</p>

18

<p>For Ivies, your stats&scores may lessen your chances of being deferred/wait-listed/accepted/whatever else they do to non-acceptees and non-rejects. But with an upward trend in your GPA and the 34 ACT score, you still have a good chance. :)</p>

<p>The fact that you are fluent in a lot of different languages and are a strong writer will stand out to colleges (and can help ease your weaker math&science side). Your EC’s and other outside activities are definitely Ivy-League caliber; it goes without saying that they’re also extraordinary for any other school you apply to.</p>

<p>If you ace your essays, get some solid scores, and continue with the EC’s you have a good chance at getting into anywhere you apply to. Good luck! :smiley: (Thanks for chancing me!)</p>

19

<p>Thanks gondorri/DevPatel/missiris!</p>