Chances: Penn, Columbia, Tufts

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I'm really not a fan of these chance threads. I think they're horribly pretentious. I'm also really curious to see where I stand. </p>

<p>I'm a Caucasian female interested in studying economics. Fortunately, I have three schools that I really love-- Penn CAS (not Wharton--I want a traditional undergraduate experience) Columbia, and Tufts. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I can get into all (or any of them). If I apply early decision, it will probably be to Penn. </p>

<p>The Data:
As I said before, Caucasian female attending a good (top 50 in the state, but not great) public high school in Northern NJ.
SATS: 2330 (one sitting only), 800 CR, 800 W, 730 Math
SAT IIs: 790 US History
750 Math I
? Chemistry
? Literature
AP Scores: 5 US History, 5 Chemistry, 5 Lang and Comp, ? Spanish, ? Micro Econ, ? Macro Econ, ? AB Calculus, ? Environmental Science, ? Lit and Comp
GPA: 4.6 weighted, 3.9something unweighted
Rank: 2/328</p>

<p>ECS: (abbreviated list, without specific leadership or years) (in school) Marching band, National History Day Competition (2x State Winner/National Qualifier), Science Olympiad (leadership roles), Science Club (leadership), Drama Club (Leadership roles), literary magazine, National/Spanish Honor Society. </p>

<p>Awards: (pathetic) NJ History Day, Science Olympiad state competition placement, History Club Member of the Year (schoolwide), VFW Voices of Democracy Essay Contest Winner (townwide), various schoolwide awards in science/mathematics. </p>

<p>Essays: I'm fairly confident in my writing, but my topic-- about one of my teachers/Science Olympiad coaches who passed away in a car crash--is probably not the best choice. </p>

<p>OUT-OF-SCHOOL/VOLUNTEERING: Completed individual service project involving veteran interviews, service award for volunteering at local community theater</p>

<p>OTHER CLASSES: I haven't had an opportunity to do any summer programs/classes because I always work during the summer. However, I was accepted into the Columbia Science Honors program for my senior year, which means I'll be taking Saturday noncredit, elective classes next year. </p>

<p>WORK EXPERIENCE: Summer camp counselor for autistic campers (two summers), intern/employee in Medical Billing Office (one summer)</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks a lot :) I'll try to rank anyone who ranks me, but I don't really know a lot about the process, so I don't know how useful my take will be =)</p>

2

<p>Columbia = hi/mid reach
Penn = reach
Tufts = match</p>

<p>Very good academics, mediocre EC’s I’d say</p>

3

<p>Ouch about the ECs, but thanks anyway for the feedback :slight_smile: Hopefully they look less pathetic on a comprehensive resume. I did also neglect to mention three years of volunteering with the Earth Club, as well as a peer mentoring program I will be joining next year (it has competitive, senior-only entry). </p>

<p>Unfortunately, all the honor societies as well as this peer mentoring program at my school are senior-only. Add that fact to the unfortunate fact that many of my activities, such as Model UN, died as a result of the NJ educational budget crisis, and I’m pretty much screwed as far as looking like I’ve been consistently involved. </p>

<p>I always knew that Columbia was going to be a reach, but I thought I’d have at least a decent shot at Penn … :/</p>

4

<p>Oh and there’s more. The other schools I’m applying to are TCNJ, Rutgers New Brunswick, William and Mary, University of Maryland at College Park, and Northwestern. I know I’m probably in Rutgers simply because both of my parents went there and my dad is a visiting professor in the MBA program, I’m probably in TCNJ, and I just wrote two great essays for Maryland this afternoon. What about the other schools?</p>

5

<p>You got into Columbia’s SHP? That test was really tough. The only easy part was the math. But then again, I’m only a rising sophomore, and I hadn’t prepared at all.</p>

6

<p>I’m in SHP too :slight_smile:
I wouldn’t say your ECs are mediocre. You just haven’t won any national/international awards which seems to be a requirement here on CC lol. I think you have a really good chance at Penn ED and Tufts is probably a match. For RD, Penn would be a reach and Columbia would be a slightly higher reach.</p>

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<p>Since Columbia and UPenn are basically reaches for anyone, you have a shot also! Your EC’s are okay, your awards, by your own admission are “somewhat lacking” (my words). Good luck, you are a solid applicant.</p>

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<p>I only got into SHP for my senior year, which isn’t really that big of an accomplishment as getting in for sophomore or junior year. And I didn’t get in before I did get in, so I actually took that test twice :/</p>

<p>The good thing about trying out for it more than once is that the test is almost exactly the same, save the hard math part, year after year. I have a good memory, and I could recall specific questions being the same exact number.</p>