Chances? This is really awesome

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Um let's see: stats..</p>

<p>male, Half white, half korean, Houston TX
Junior
Class Rank: around 50th percentile, just below (I know its bad, our school doesn't give class ranks)
School=EXTREMELY Competetive... (a few years ago, was ranked #1 in nation for old sat median, which was 1460, also is best school in state)
I'm not bragging or anything, in fact i hate it...
my GPA numerically is around 88.3, but supposedly translates to a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. I'm hoping to get it raised to 89 (possible) or maybe a 90. </p>

<p>PSAT: 215
SAT: 2190 (only have taken a practice one, which i didn't take seriously.. expect to get 2250+ for sure)</p>

<p>Classes
English III AP (aced practice test)
French IV AP
World history AP-(5)
Us History (planning on taking AP)
Physics
Precalculus</p>

<p>Next yrs load:
Psychology AP
Modern European AP
Physics II AP
Calc AB AP
English IV Honors
French V AP</p>

<p>so far, only 1 SAT II: World History, = 720
planning on taking Math IIb and English</p>

<p>ECs
Athletics, Wrestling
2X letterman
2x Prep State Placer (3rd '04, 4th '05)
3rd conference '05
conference not held in '04
Most Improved '04</p>

<p>Table Tennis Club Founder</p>

<p>Community service
250+ hours
Presidential Gold Award</p>

<p>Also i hope this is a huge hook:</p>

<p>Worked on research paper last summer which is currently being submitted to Cancer Research dealing with gene expression (my name is on it)</p>

<p>Working THIS summer with a Doctor at Rice University in Nanotechnology... Nobel Laureate caliber lab, hope to get reccomendation. </p>

<p>Trying to get on Texas National Team for wrestling, don't know how that will work out...</p>

<p>Ive been told i'm a really good writer, so i think i will do well on essays</p>

<p>How do I look for any of these?
U of Chicago (#1 choice... Early decision?)
Rice
Davidson
Harvard
Cornell (#2)
Caltech
Duke
UC Berkeley
Harvey Mudd
Notre Dame
Columbia</p>

<p>I know my grades are low, but Im hoping test scores and competetiveness of school will help.. also looking at the research papers to help with the science schools...</p>

2

<p>You can get into University of Chicago, they do have a high acceptance rate...right...your SAT is just fine for Chicago</p>

3

<p>bump master flex</p>

4

<p>pleasehelpme, I don't think my opinion matters, but I would say you have as good of a chance as anyone with the schools you are applying to. Your GPA is the only thing bringing you down, but being from a competitive school it hopefully won't be an issue.</p>

<p>How did you get such a good research project? I would love to do something like that but my school does not push anyone being that involved for some reason.... Funny, I want to go to Rice ED, and I come from the midwest. You want to go to the midwest ED (Chicago is an awesome school), and you come from houston. :) Best of luck</p>

5

<p>U of Chicago: match
Rice: match/reach
Davidson: ?
Harvard: reach
Cornell: ?
Caltech: reach
Duke: reach
UC Berkeley: immpossible I'll explain why below
Harvey Mudd: match/reach
Notre Dame: match/reach
Columbia: reach</p>

<p>UC is purly based on stats. SATs and GPA/ rank goes a long way. I know u have major hooks but UC r not gonna notice that. I dont think they even give3 consideration to ur essay</p>

6

<p>I don't consider U-chicago easier than Duke. They're both reach. You seem to be BIG into wrestling but your EC seems pretty random and it doesn't really convey what kind of person you are. The cancer research will help but it just seems that you did it for the heck of admission (spending two months of research wouldn't really help... hardcore people with research as their hooks spend a year if not longer). Essays will definately help. Good luck. and congrats on your achievements; they look very good.</p>

<p>(Your EC simply says, 250+ hours of comm. service, wrestling, research, and table tennis. You'll need to elaborate and present it well in the app. 250 hours of comm serive of what?)</p>

7

<p>doesn't chicago look more for uniqueness? I know my grades are low, but I'm hoping that they might see thru it</p>

8

<p>Chicago looks for uniqueness and bright students. I'm thinking that with that GPA, it'd have to be one heck of an essay. Chicago's high admission rate is deceiving.</p>

9

<p>88 doesnt sound too bad?.. I think its enough especially when he is from a competitive HS. </p>

<p>and does anyone know why U-Chicago has a near 50% admit rate and yet highly qualified applicants are still rejected?</p>

10

<p>As mentioned above, UChicago doesn't look just for bright kids, they need to show enthusiasm for learning and be unique. I think that's what I love about UChicago since its my first choice.</p>