Chances - Ivies, Stanford, Tufts, William & Mary, Duke, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m new to CC, please forgive me if I don’t do this right!

College List:
Harvard
Yale
Stanford
Princeton
(top four are about equal, I don’t really have a first choice. Maybe Harvard or Yale but not by much)
Brown
Columbia (may not be applying, my mom really doesn’t like it for unknown reasons)
UPenn
Duke
Tufts
William & Mary
Georgetown
University of Richmond
Davidson
University of South Carolina
Clemson

I’m a senior. GPA: 5.174/5.875, my school/state has a really weird GPA system. UW: 4.0. I’m third in my class at an extremely competitive school, could move up one class rank but probably not two. I’m a white female and both of my parents went to college and grad school (undergrads at Notre Dame and Davidson, PhD and Masters at Stanford). I’m from South Carolina.

AP Course Load (Past)
Human Geography (9th, 5)
World History (10th, 4)
Music Theory (10th, 5)
US History (11th, 5)
Calculus AB (11th, 5)
English Language (11th, 5)
Chemistry (11th, 5)

AP Course Load (Present)
German (online through a university, not for credit at my high school or the university but I will take the exam)
Calculus BC
US Government
Biology
Psychology
English Literature

SAT: 2310, 800R, 760M, 750W (not superscored)

SAT II: 800 US History, 770 Chemistry (I know I need another for Georgetown, probably Math II or Lit)

ACT: 35, 35E, 33M, 35R, 36S (26W, which is what I get for not studying) (not superscored)

Extracurriculars:
Orchestra (cello) since 5th grade, section leader for about half that time. Founded program teaching free private lessons to underprivileged kids to help keep them in music. Academic team/quiz bowl 9-12th, state champion 10th, president 12th. Volunteer at local animal shelter as often as possible. Region orchestra member 10 and 11, alternate 9, probably member 12. Helped found GSA at my school.

Honors:
National Honor Society, National Beta Club, AP Scholar with Distinction (I think?? I know I was one exam shy of the highest one this year), National Merit Semifinalist (hasn’t been released yet but I was two points off a perfect score in a low scoring state so I think I’m good), Mu Alpha Theta

Hopefully I got everything, please tell me if there’s something else I should include.

2

Forgot to add - right now I’m looking at potential majors of Linguistics, Chemistry, Music, Cognitive Science, or Psychology. I’m particularly interested in the intersections of any of them (i.e. psychology/cognitive science of music or linguistics, etc.) If anyone knows schools that have particularly strong programs for any of the above or have good interdisciplinary programs, I’m open to suggestions for that too!

3

You’re good statistically, but your ECs are very ordinary. They will make you blend into the crowd at top schools like the Ivies. Make sure your essays are unique; if you pull that off you’ll have a decent chance at top schools.

4

I would say that member “ap012199” should have been more uplifting on your ECs. What I would suggest is you emphasize the music program you founded – devote space to that as it is more unique … and most assuredly get emotional about it! – and minimize a few of the other traditional ECs especially if you know one of the persons submitting a recommendation for you is bound to mention it (eg, a music teacher could carry the burden of mentioning the orchestra).

You are from South Carolina. You can look up how many folks are from South Carolina at places like Yale. Not many. So you have that regional representation deeply in your favor.

I would agree with your mom. I know how popular Columbia is with students these days. But the reality is something else.

Definitely apply right away to either of your two top choices. And tailor each essay answer for that school. Don’t give us a generic answer.

I worked in the admissions office a billion eons ago at Yale. I would say at first glance you are a great candidate. But what is more important is whether you feel in your bones that you would like Yale and fit in.