Chances into top schools (unique situation)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm going to be a senior this Fall, and I'm curious about my chances into some top schools. I know many are always reaches, but give me some prediction of what you think will happen if I apply to all of these schools.. please :)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.990 UW (Top of class) out of 225 (Two A- so far, same class)
Junior course load:
Chemistry II
AP biology
Calculus
Spanish III
World History
Physics II
English III </p>

<p>ACT: 31 right now
AP: AP Biology Independent study (No AP Courses offered here)
Senior year course load: DUAL ENROLLMENT at College
Differential Equations/Linear Algebra, Calculus III (multivar)
Calculus-Based Physics I/II
General Chemistry I, II
Programming I, II
Calc 2 audit, Psychology
English IV
Art
* Only kid to ever take this hard of a course load. </p>

<p>Summer courses: Calculus I, Calculus II (six weeks) A, A </p>

<p>EC: Mentoring elementary students (5 days a week, junior, senior), Robotics (12), SADD (10, 11, 12), Lion's Club (10, 11, 12, 35 hrs/yr), Tutoring math/science (11, 12)
Work Experience: <em>20 + hours during school year</em>, 40 + hours during summer
Volunteering: Humane Society (11, 12)
Hospital (Summer 12, 12)</p>

<p>EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES:
*Grew up with cocaine/heroin-addicted parents
*Violent, drug-addicted brother. In and out of jail and our trailer home.
* Father died during exam week last year, lived in a hotel for a few weeks.
* Went to foster care when I was younger
*Abused emotionally and physically
* Sick mother (back surgeries, hip surgeries, anemia, heart failure, blood clotting problems, very disabled, can hardly move)
*Autistic brother
*Single mother multiple times while step dad was in jail for abusing me, drinking, etc.
*Very very low income. I work many hours a week to pay for the classes, textbooks, supplies, gas, car, car insurance, help my family, etc. </p>

<p>All of the extenuating circumstances have led me to become a very caring and understanding person, as well as a persevering student and person. So it's not just a pity story; it's what makes and has made me who I am. </p>

<p>Chance me for these schools?</p>

<p>Will apply QuestBridge for some of these schools. </p>

<p>Princeton
Yale<br>
Harvard
University of Michigan engineering
Caltech
MIT
Stanford
Carnegie Mellon
Upenn
Brown
Northwestern
UC Berkeley
Uchicago
Duke</p>

<p>Thank you :)</p>

2

<p>Are you a CA resident? If not, what state do you live in? All those schools are extremely selective, but I think you have a chance at any of them. You will need to add some safety schools (and, possibly, strong match/low-match ones, also) to your list. Do you have a good guidance counselor or college adviser who can assist you when it comes to framing your application within your personal narrative? That will be absolutely essential. If you are a CA resident, then maybe your adviser can place a judicious call to someone. I would also recommend applying to additional UCs, especially if you can get a fee waiver. You are guaranteed admission based on your position within the top 9% of your school, but that guarantee is for admission to at least one college within the UC system. If you aren’t a CA resident, then you should include your own state’s flagship university. You will probably qualify for an Honors program with a good scholarship. Otherwise, private colleges will pay more attention to letters or recommendation (most public universities do not accept them), so be sure that you have good ones. Good luck! You will get into some terrific college, even if it isn’t one of your top choices, and you will thrive there.</p>

3

<p>if I were an adcom I’d accept you at any of these collleges, what you’ve done with the extenuating circumstances is very impressive.
Just try not to craft it as a pity story, maybe have your guidance counselor explain the poor circumstances more. </p>

4

<p>I am a Michigan resident! (lucky for UofMichigan) My guidance counselor is really nice and likes me a lot. I can almost guarantee that one of my letters of recommendation will be fantastic (from the math professor that I am taking every math course with). He has taking a special liking to me, I believe. </p>

<p>My counselor is aware of some of the extenuating circumstances, but not to an extreme extent. She is aware of the more recent extenuating circumstances. </p>

<p>Thanks. I am just curious what other people would do if they were an adcom. If anyone else has an opinion, feel free to share :)</p>

5

<p>I agree strongly with the comments regarding pity. See if you can get your ACT to a 34. If you do, you should be able to get into at least one of your targets.</p>

6

<p>Wow, can I just say props to you for having such a rigorous course load with all your circumstances? Seriously major props to you. If I were an adcom, I would accept you regardless of your circumstances because of your GPA, EC’s, and course load. But that’s just my opinion though, some people might feel differently. </p>

7

<p>Oooo Thanks, @mads1987 ! I’m going to try to get it higher! However, my main focus is going to be on essays and learning from my classes.</p>

8

<p>I think you have a really good chance at any one of the schools you listed. Your course load is insanely rigorous and you have a great GPA, EC’s and I am sure you will have great recs. My situation is pretty similar to yours, so my advice would be to nail those essays! Don’t make them sound depressing or anything but try and play on the emotional side of your story and talk about all the amazing things you have been able to do in the face of adversity. I have learned that adcoms really admire kids who are just as good as everyone else but have gone through so much more. The only other thing I would recommend is to try and get your ACT a little higher (like 32-34) and/or take the SAT and see how you do on those. Also, for most of these schools you will need SAT subjects (2-3) so try and take Math 2 and physics or chemistry (I am basing those off of what classes you seem to be interested in). Good luck this fall! Chance me back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1657051-what-are-my-chances-for-stanford-mit-caltech-etc.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1657051-what-are-my-chances-for-stanford-mit-caltech-etc.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>That’s a really great goal! Have a look at my chances? I’m not trying to get into an Ivy, just wondering if I have a chance since I’m not top 10% anymore. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1659960-chances-of-being-accepted-to-texas-a-m-university.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1659960-chances-of-being-accepted-to-texas-a-m-university.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>The fact that you have an almost perfect GPA under extremely strenuous circumstances puts you in a situation where you are <em>almost</em> a shoo in to all of these schools. The rigorous math courses shows a talent in mathematics and the work experience during the school year shows diligence and superb time management skills in a horrible environment. I think your ACT is fine (this is coming from a guy who has a 2350 sat) and as long as you write stellar essays you will get in anywhere.</p>