Chances UPenn, JHU, Cornell, Duke, etc

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>This is a repost b/c I didn't get enough responses last time. Thx.</p>

<p>Information:</p>

<p>Eth: Asian
Sex: Male
State: NJ
Grade: Junior
Major: Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology; possibly economics (as a minor)
School: Very Competitive
Courseload: Counselor will select 'Most rigorous'</p>

<p>*Estimated Frosh/Soph/Junior GPA: *</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.85; W - 4.19</li>
</ul>

<p>Estimated Soph/Junior GPA:</p>

<ul>
<li>UW - 3.89; W - 4.33</li>
</ul>

<p>Rank:</p>

<p>School doesn't rank, probably top 5% of class of ~700.</p>

<p>AP's (Total of 10):</p>

<ul>
<li>Physics B (4)</li>
<li>Chemistry (Taking)</li>
<li>Calculus BC (Taking)</li>
<li>English Language and Composition (Taking)</li>
<li>Computer Science A (Taking)</li>
<li>Biology (next year)</li>
<li>Art History (next year, required aka being forced into it)</li>
<li>Economics (next year)</li>
<li>Statistics (next year)</li>
<li>English Literature (next year)</li>
</ul>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>PSAT: 226
SAT: M - 740; CR - 730; W - 800
SAT IIs: Taking: Chem, Math II, and possibly Bio or Lit</p>

<p>Recs:
Counselor - Awesome: she knows me well.
Teachers - One good from Eng, more about personality (not the highest eng grade in class unfortunately, running a low A-). One awesome from AP Chem teacher.
Supplemental - Either another teacher very familiar with me or JSA advisor (who is very fond of me). Also research mentor (which should be awesome).</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>NJ Science League
- Partipant 10th-11th
- Competitive Testing in Chem I and Chem II
- Qualifying Test followed by Regional Test each month from Jan. - Apr.
- Qualified last year in Chem I, but not in Chem II this year </p>

<p>NJ Chemistry Olympics
- Competition in chemistry entered in year of AP Chem (11th)
- Club meets every week from Jan. to competition day in May
- Two-person group writing research paper on chemical process</p>

<p>Medical Careers Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- Reasonably involved; designed a lengthy PP presentation on the difficulties of pursuing a medical career to bring some reality into the picture (lol, it's funny how so many freshmen/sophs come into the club with overly glamorous opinions about medicine; I guess I mighta been that way too though ). Anyway, I enjoy presenting to audiences and the people appreciated what I had to say so it's all good. </p>

<p>Science Competitor's Club
- Member 10th - 11th
- Officer 11th
- Random science competitions; not much in terms of results.</p>

<p>Junior Statesmen of America
- Member 9th - 11th
- Club Officer 11th (I write our daily resolutions, occasionally moderate debates, and speak frequently)
- New Jersey Region Cabinet Member 11th (write debates on state level for regional conventions)
- Significant involvement in politics/oratory = my other passion besides science. </p>

<p>March of Dimes
- Member 10th - 11th
- Volunteer hours and fundraising
- Tedious but rewarding process = soliciting funds; selling tickets; organizing large-scale cultural show. </p>

<p>Genetics Research
- Summer of 2007; going back 2008
- 8 hrs/day, 5 days/wk for ~6-8 wks
- Research conducted with drosophila melanogaster; focused on determining the use of RNAi in restricting cancerous overgrowth caused by genetic mutations.
- Personally, this is my favorite activity; I'm in love with research and that's part of the reason I'm considering medicine.</p>

<p>Piano
- 4 yrs
- Working on some ABRSM tests. We'll see.</p>

<p>Tennis
- 8 yrs
- Private Lessons/Non-competitive hobby at local club</p>

<p>Community Service
- ~ 300 hrs
- Local hospital, senior center, and March of Dimes</p>

<p>Honors, Recognitions, Awards, Programs (Kinda weak right now):</p>

<p>Robert Wood Johnson Mini-Medical Program
- Will participate in a several week long program at RWJ Medical School consisting of seminars to talk w/ doctors, etc.
- Semi-Competitive application process (~20% acceptance)</p>

<p>NJ Science League
- Recognition in 10th grade for regional competition
- Didn't qualify for regionals 11th in Chem II; only 4 out of 30-40 students make it and only the best of the best try out. I didn't have time to study mostly b/c of English HW; and, though that's not a reasonable excuse...that's my excuse...</p>

<p>National Latin Exam
- Silver Medal in 9th; Gold Medal in 10th; test for 11th approaching</p>

<p>Commendation from Governor/NJ State Legislature
- For our chapter setting up a March of Dimes fundraiser that raised thousands of $'s.</p>

<p>JSA Best Speaker Awards
- Several in recognition of debate performance.</p>

<p>National Honors Society/National Latin Honors Society
- 11th </p>

<p>Predicted National Merit Semifinalist
- PSAT: 226</p>

<p>Pending
- Other Competitions Planned/Participating: USNCO (need to study hard for this one, coming up in March), Chemistry Olympics, AMC (took it last year, will take again this year; hoping to get to AIME), Siemen's Westinghouse/Intel (with additional research conducted over next summer)</p>

<p>**As you can probably tell, I don't lack passion in what I do...just proficiency. I'm trying to take as much iniative as possible to participate in competitions and win some big recognition, but the cutthroat nature of my area is damn awful. I'm also worried about not having a dedication to an instrument or sport, but between my classes (which give out way too much HW), clubs, competitions, and community service, I don't have much spare time. However, I take pride in the fact that I only involve myself in what interests me, so I think I'll be able to write decent essays (except for piano maybe :P, but that's an Asian thing). </p>

<p>Anyway, please tell me if I'm being realistic in considering some of the following schools and corresponding chances. Gimme RD and ED for the schools I specified b/c I'm not sure where I want to ED yet. Thanks! :</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I won't be applying to all these schools, but I want chances for all of them.</p></li>
<li><p>UPenn (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>JHU (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>Cornell (RD and ED)</p></li>
<li><p>Duke</p></li>
<li><p>Northwestern</p></li>
<li><p>U Michigan</p></li>
<li><p>U Berkeley (OOS, obviously)</p></li>
<li><p>UVA</p></li>
<li><p>Wash U STL</p></li>
<li><p>Brown</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia</p></li>
<li><p>Boston College</p></li>
<li><p>NYU</p></li>
<li><p>Rutgers (Safety?)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>you've got great stats.....haven't you received anything from isef, siemens, etc.? All of these schools would be match or safety except for brown, columbia.BTW, what is OOS?</p>

<p>P.S. A question to all of you....I think I'll get some ****ty recs from teachers because, idk, i just don't get along with many people ;( Do you think this will will affeect me negatively??? I mean, they won't be that bad, but i'm sure they won't say "best of career," or even "best of year." which you absolutely need.........</p>

3

<p>ok, more chances plz.</p>

4

<p>ok bump again...</p>

5

<p>Come on plz comment...</p>

6

<p>dude, get a life! you are an extremely impressive candidate and have a chance almost anywhere (excluding a few women's colleges). your not even a senior yet!!! I have a bad feeling your going to be throwing up in anxiety every day during your senior year if this is how you act right now. I'm growing kinda tired of your many posts and bumps on multiple forums and threads all asking for CHANCES!!1111!!1!!!11! Keep up the good work but stop being an obsessive tool for YOUR OWN SAKE. </p>

<p>sorry if this is a bit harsh, but i see way too many qualified (but no one is guaranteed in today's world of college admissions) applicants going crazy: "will i get in or wont I???" maybe this is a culmination of annoyances regarding typical CC'ers, but cmon man, RELAX!</p>

7

<p>Hey whats up I am just like you, an asian junior with around a 4.3 GPA</p>

<p>anyway, I believe Johns Hopkins and WashU @ STL are hard as hell, this girl at my school got a full scholarship to Stanford but couldn't get in either, so that might be difficult for u...</p>

<p>UMichigan is easy, you'll definitely get into Rutgers, pretty good chance at UVA and BC, you'll definitely have a chance at cornell</p>

<p>I think Northwestern, Brown, and Columbia might be kinda hard for u,u might wanna work on leadership, just like me (i have like one officer position)
dunno about Duke or UCB, UCB is teeming with smart asians</p>

8

<p>wow fragaholic...shouldn't you go irritate ALL of the people posting on this forum? I mean isn't getting an idea of one's chances the whole purpose of this forum? Calm down man. We're just worried/harmless!</p>

9

<p>My advice to you here would be to work on your leadership positions. As a Freshmen at Cornell, I can say that I met many people here whose stats are probably lower than yours. I would say that since you already have established respectable academic career, keep up the good work but don't worry about further improving your success in academics. Rather, focus on becoming the president of your clubs or the debate champion of the state or somethin like that.</p>

10

<p>ok thx bump.</p>

11

<p>In response to post 8, yea yea, sorry for the rant and the "irritation." But if you felt as i was ganging up on you, i did write:</p>

<p>"but i see way too many qualified (but no one is guaranteed in today's world of college admissions) applicants going crazy: "will i get in or wont I???" maybe this is a culmination of annoyances regarding typical CC'ers"</p>

<p>I made a point in YOUR thread because you have been fairly persistent in comparison to other posters, will have a great chance at many schools mentioned (and fair chances at the rest), and most importantly because you posted on the board for the school which I will be attending next year.</p>

<p>There was no animosity in what i said (ok maybe that's not true ;)) and i do wish you all the best as I mentioned in other threads. Also note, other posters agreed with me when I posted a similar, earlier (and nicer) message in the other topic, so I'm not the only one.</p>

12

<p>lol, after checking your history, it does seem like you met me all over this site a few too many times haha. Gratz on Hopkins...hope I'll be following you. As for responses...I would like a few more opinions...I really do want to be brutally criticized so I can go into next year with the lowest possible expectations...Of course, I'm not looking for people to try and be funny by telling me I have no chance at all either. Anyway, a few more responses wouldn't kill anybody?</p>

13

<p>Bump...please give me some opinions! Come on guys!</p>

14

<p>i think you'll look pretty awesome on paper. you have an incredible amount of ECs. the ivies, duke, washu may be a bit of a stretch, not really sure. i think you'd have a good shot if you could get an science award, since you'll be majoring there. i'd recommend focusing on one or two of your science ECs to get an award, i.e. a plaque from nj science league, UNSCO semifinalist (is it semifinalist? i'm a USABO person, so i wouldn't know). </p>

<p>of course, you are free to disregard my advice, since i am a high school junior who also hasn't been accepted to any colleges. :)</p>

15

<p>I'm trying for the awards = mad hard + no time...it's not that I can't do it, I'm just kind of swamped with other stuff plus not entirely motivated to compete (it's just my nature I guess). Some awards I will be trying for (in order of date) include: AMC/AIME; National Latin Exam (Gold); USNCO (yes, the recognition that the above average person can earn is semifinalist. beyond that is impossible but for a select few); NJ Chemistry Olympics; (Tentatively) Dupont Essay Comp; Intel Science Talent Search; Siemen's-Westinghouse Competition. We'll see what happens I guess. Oh, by the way, I'm planning on founding a speech and debate club in my school to complement the JSA experience. Hopefully that will be seen as taking good iniative?</p>

16

<p>50/50, on all the schools except 99/1 with BC and Rutgers.</p>

17

<p>Er, well, the AMC A tests were two weeks ago and the B tests are Wednesday, so unless you've already done some preparation, it's probably too late.</p>

18

<p>I'm aware...did minimal prep...missed A b/c of a snow-day (which was, to say the least, mildly retarded). Taking B Wednesday. We'll see. Math is not my strongsuit, it's just something I'm reasonably proficient at. If I can make AIME great; if not, I won't kill myself over it.</p>

19

<p>Any news from the Mayor on the debate list?</p>

20

<p>I'd be interested to see what colleges make of your EC's, which are mostly extensions of your academic classes. An impressive record nonetheless, but your chances hinge a lot on the reaction to those EC's. If a school likes the extra academic work, you have a good shot; if they want you to branch out more and get away from generic academic clubs, you'll have a tougher time.</p>