<p>Dear fellow members,
I was wondering about my chances of getting into (hopefully with scholorship):</p>
<p>Cornell
Dartmouth
Emory
Johns Hopkins
Penn
Rice
USC
A&M
UT
Washington Univ in ST Louis
University of Chicago </p>
<p>Gender: Male
Grade: 2nd semester of Junior year
Race: Asian
Public School in Dallas, TX rated Silver Medal by US News
GPA: 5.09 W (After 1st semester of Junior)
Class Rank: 65/595 (After 1st semester of Junior)
PSAT: 191 (did not study at all...which i highly regret)
SAT I: Not yet taken. Taking it in May 1
AP: Not yet taken. Taking it in May</p>
<p>COURSES (Averages are mostly high A+ to couple A-; one or two B)
Freshmen: 5 Pre-AP Courses (English, World Geography, Biology, Geometry, Spanish II)
Sophmore Year: 2 AP Courses (Computer Science, World History) + 4 Pre-AP (English, Algebra II, Spanish III, Chemistry)
Junior Year: 5 AP Courses (English, Physics B, Calculus AB, US History, National Academic Decathlon) + Lab Aide and Junior Early Release
Senior Year: Planning to take 5 AP Courses (Environmental Science, Calculus BC, Art History, National Academic Decathlon) + AP Early Release + Senior Early Release</p>
<p>ACTIVITIES (“+” sign meaning “ongoing until senior year”)
2 years – National Academic Decathlon
3 years – National Honor Society
8 years+ – Violin Experience
2 years – Small business selling/building/fixing computers through eBay
4 years+ – Church Orchestra
3 years+ – Church Youth Leader
Shirt design nominated for National Academic Decathlon</p>
<p>WORK EXPERIENCE/VOLUNTEER (“+” sign meaning “ongoing until senior year”)
5 years+ - Work/Volunteer hours 3380+ hours (yes, every single Saturday since 8th grade until Junior year. Will be more at the end of senior year)
1+ Year - Graphic Designer at telecomunications/consulting company
5 years+ - Manager of the restaurant</p>
<p>First Generation College
First Generation American</p>
<p>RECOMMENDATIONS
Expecting great recommendations from Calculus, Biology, National Academic Decathlon teachers (not sure how many are exactly required)</p>
<p>Rank and Sat’s could be a tad higher. EC’s are greeeaaaat. Though I don’t understand why you’re gonna just drop out of half your clubs come senior year.
Scholarships is hard for everyone at ivies esp… but first generation college student’s gonna really bump you up. Write a kickass essay and you’re good for most of what you’ve mentioned (though ivies seem to be a crapshot for everyone anyway)
If early release thing is you doing jr. snr. at once, you’ll def get in.</p>
<p>i’m really planning to increase the ranking through the 2nd semester and 1st semester of the senior year…wish me luck!
really? i was bit afraid whether EC was mundane compared to others…
oh i won’t be dropping out of the clubs, i just counted the senior year into the calculation.
and early release is like:
if there were total of 7 periods of classes everyday, if i had a junior early release, i would be able to go home after 6th period and not 7th. ahaha…</p>
<p>Cornell - Target
Dartmouth - Target to reach
Emory - Low Target
Johns Hopkins - Target
Penn - Target to reach
Rice - Target
USC - Target
A&M - ?
UT - Low Target
Washington Univ in ST Louis - Target
University of Chicago - Target</p>
<p>I think you’re in great shape. Great extracurriculars (especially the community service and violin!) But GPA/SAT are not that great for some of those top schools, esp. Dartmouth, Penn and John Hopkins. WashU also concentrates a lot on GPA–work on it! </p>
<p>Whew, I just took sat for first time today! what an experience!</p>
<p>EDIT:</p>
<p>ACTIVITIES
3 Years - Health Occupational Students of America
2 Years - Participated in Relay for Life
2 Years - Participated in National MathCounts
Participated in Welcom Home Troops in National Honor Society</p>
<p>BITS AND PIECES
I came to US around 5 years ago and moved one or two schools.</p>
<p>Cornell - target
Dartmouth - high target
Emory - target
Johns Hopkins - low target
Penn - high target
Rice - target
USC - target
A&M - low target?
UT - low target?
Washington Univ in ST Louis - low target
University of Chicago - high target</p>
<p>There is a lot of bad info here. Most of these schools take less than 5% who are not in the top 10% of their HS class making them all but impossible if you’re not an athlete unfortunately. With SAT scores higher than your PSAT, USC and similar should be your reaches. </p>
<p>Scholarships at most of these schools do not exist, just need based aid. For merit at the schools like USC which offers it, you need to be national merit or otherrwise at the top of their pool.</p>
<p>Agreed with Redroses. Your chances are more in-line with the following analysis:</p>
<p>Cornell - Reach
Dartmouth - High Reach
Emory - Low Reach
Johns Hopkins - Low Reach
Penn - High Reach
Rice - Low Reach
USC - Low Reach
A&M - Match
UT - Match
Wash U - Reach
Chicago - High Reach</p>
<p>Thanks so much for more detailed analysis. Dear phuriku, does low reach more easier to get into high reach? and reach easier than low reach? I was bit confused by the labeling…thanks in advance!!!</p>