Chances: NYU, UCs, BU, UMN(Twin Cities)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

International student with US citizenship (passport). Applied to Boston U, NYU, UMN Twin Cities, UCs, majors are listed below.

  • SAT I: 1360 (670 R+W, 690 M), essay 16
  • IB Diploma predicted grades: 40/45 (HL Biology: 6, HL Chemistry: 6, HL Business: 7, SL Math: 6, SL EnglishA: 7, SL SpanishB: 6, Theory of Knowledge: C, Extended Essay: B)
  • Class rank/size: school does not rank
  • GPAs: school doesn't do GPAs, only IB

Regular decisions for all:

  • Boston University: Chemistry: Biochemistry
  • New York University: Biochemistry
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Undecided in College of Biological Sciences. Hook: legacy.
  • UC Berkeley: Undeclared (intending business administration)
  • UC Davis: Undeclared (social sciences)
  • UC Irvine: Business administration
  • UCLA: Undeclared (social science)
  • UC San Diego: Undeclared (social science)
  • UC Santa Barbara: Undeclared (letters and science)

ECs:

  • Immunology research internship at local university (1 week)
  • Community service: teaching English to local students + chairwoman of the club (2 years)
  • Varsity soccer team (4 years)
  • Medical internship (2 weeks)
  • STEM club + leadership (~6 months)
  • Community service: helping the homeless (2 years)
  • School magazine editor (~10 months)
  • Community service: building project (1 week)
  • Piano (3 years)

Honors/awards:

  • Business competition award
  • ABRSM Piano grade 7

Recommendation letters:

  • Chemistry
  • Business

Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian
School: Private

I also want to transfer into biochemistry or chemistry for the UCs if admitted.

Thank you in advance!

2

I would say your SAT is a weakness as many of those schools are very competitive. That score hovers just over the 25% mark for UC Berkeley. However, for some of the less competitive schools you listed, you should be a competitive candidate. Your ECs are good, but not outstanding. However, I’d say you have a fair chance at some of the less competitive UCs and are around an average candidate for many of the schools you listed.

3

@banjoca is right, I have something for you to think about though. Your profile looks like the stereotypical profile of someone from my high school graduating class (and many of my friends went to Top 20 schools), doing whatever you can to impress colleges. But what are you doing to impress yourself? Are you becoming really really good at one thing? Because people (and colleges) want specialists, not experts. Someone can come argue with me and say “Well what if you’re not well rounded, don’t people want you to be an all-around person?”. Well, sounds really appealing but no. Why would you want someone that’s mediocre at everything? Ask yourself this. Go find your specialty, because it seems like you are just trying to fill your applications with things to write.