Chances getting into John Hopkins, NYU, etc. ?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Asian male living in CA
Class of 2014, going into junior year
Middle class
High School: ranked #8 last year, but dropped to 150?? according to newsweek</p>

<p>ACT: 29 overall (30 English, 31 Math, 28 Reading, 25 Science)
highest ever - I just took the highest that I've ever gotten on my practice tests (30 English, 31 Math, 31 Reading, 33 Science) avg. 31
My scores usually vary from 27-28.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.55 academic nw, 3.73 weighted</p>

<p>Freshman:
English I: A-/A-
Coord Sci 1: A/A-
Global Persp: A/A
Chinese 3: B/A-
Geometry: B/A-
Water Polo/Swimming: A/A</p>

<p>Global Persp = World History
CS1 = random class that has bio, chem and a little of physics (mandatory)</p>

<p>Sophomore:
English II: B+/B+
H Chemistry: B+/B (weighted)
H Coord Sci 2: B/B
US History: A/A
Algebra 2: A-/A-
Chinese 4: B+/B (weighted)
Water Polo: A</p>

<p>Coord Sci 2 = Biology</p>

<p>Junior (planned):
AP Chemistry
AP Music Theory
AP Chinese
AP Psychology
English III
Pre-Calculus</p>

<p>H = honors, all others are regular</p>

<p>EC's
- water polo (joined freshman year, played field freshman year, now goalie)
- Tae Kwon Do 1st degree black belt
- Piano (11 years)
- swimming (whole life, but not nationally ranked or anything)
- Secretary of Wall Street Business Club</p>

<p>Community Service
- help the desk at water polo tournaments, volunteered at Junior Olympics last year</p>

<p>Schools: John Hopkins, Colombia???, NYU, UCLA, not Ivies but still good schools</p>

<p>I know my grades are not the best. I go to a high school where academics are a big deal. I'm trying to find better community service oppurtunities and EC's and I hope to join more clubs next year. I took an extra academic class (H Chem) and still did a sport even though school doesn't allow that. I pulled some strings. I know this may be a lot, but if someone could tell me my chances of getting in to the schools I named or some other schools, that would be great (feel free to be constructive). If you have questions just ask! If anyone has any suggestions on what clubs, EC's, comm. service I should do please tell me also, thanks so much!</p>

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<p>I think you would make UCLA for sure, also likely for NYU. As for the JHU and Columbia, that’s a question mark. As unfair (and racist) as it is, being Asian and male sets higher standards for you to meet. If you are going into math/science then your math/science grades should be at least A-'s. It is good that you took a wide variety of science courses. The “pulling strings” to get extra classes could even be turned into an essay. You can still improve your chances further, though!
I wouldn’t go overboard on the community service part. Everyone does that and will have so many more hours than you (trust me, people do THOUSANDS of hours…you will not stand out if you start now). What will stand out is if you were to START your own brand new club at school (perhaps relevant to the career field you want. If not a club, then pehaps private tutor volunteer…etc. You need to show true initiative.
Since you have done swimming your “whole life” you really need to write an essay about it. They like consistency, not doing trillions of different activities without dedication. So, don’t join a trillion clubs…they will know exactly what you are up to. I would even drop most of your EC’s but really get super involved in the one or two you like best.
Good like in any case :)</p>

3

<p>Your gpa is low for all those type of schools (except maybe nyu). Also, your act score isn’t fantastic. Though considering you are going into junior year you still have a shot. Raise that gpa (both unweighted and weighted) and that act score. Also, did you try thinking about SAT II subject tests? All those schools are top tier schools are will be hard to get into.</p>