Chances...?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I'm currently a junior in a relatively competitive and ranked high school (somewhere in the 200s nationwide) in California--Southern California, and I'm wondering what my chances of acceptance and possibly merit aid are at these schools:
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Claremont McKenna
Pomona
Harvey Mudd
Occidental College</p>

<p>For starters, my GPA unweighted is 3.85 (cumulative means unweighted, right? :D) and my weighted GPA is 4.31 as of last semester. I'm in four AP courses--Chemistry (which I got a B in last semester), Psychology, History, and English--and I'm planning on taking either five or six next year.
I haven't taken the SAT yet, but through practice tests I'm currently at about a 2070, but I'm looking to hopefully get around 2200, if not more.
I can't say I'm from an underrepresented minority, and fortunately or unfortunately I don't think my family's income bracket will qualify us for aid anywhere, not even in an Ivy League.</p>

<p>I have a significant amount of extracurriculars, and am active in my school's Red Cross club. I also am running a club at my school--a club about Linguistics--that is the only one I know of. :D
I don't know if this information matters, but I was part of the John Hopkins University Talent Search in both fifth and seventh grade, and I'm certified in CERT, First Aid, and CPR.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>This may be a bit hasty in it, but bump (since I really do want people’s opinions on my chances).
Added information:
Age: 15
Applying: Class of 2012
Ethnicity: White (Jewish)</p>

<p>GPA:
Weighted: 4.31 (Junior year)
Unweighted: 3.85 (Junior year)
Received a mix of As and Bs as a Freshman, all As as a Sophomore, and one B in AP Chemistry in Junior year.</p>

<p>Registered for California Scholarship Federation every semester.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Certified and a practicing member of the Community Emergency Response Team
Certified in First Aid and CPR Training
HAM Radio Operator (do not know if this is useful information or not)</p>

<p>Attendee of Red Cross Meetings at school for 10th, 11th, and in the future 12th grade
Attendee of Philosophy Club for 9th and 10th grade
President and Founder of the Linguistics Club-11th grade</p>

<p>Volunteer at the Chabad Friendship Circle–an organization devoted to helping those with special needs (my brother is autistic and I have a form of epilepsy)
Web Designer/Editor for the Youth Congress Future Leadership Foundation in 11th, have done it for 10th, 11th, and future 12th grade</p>

<p>APs: 10th: European History (5), 11th: Chemistry (pending), APUSH (pending), English Language (pending), Psychology (pending); 12th grade (predicted): Human Geo, US Government/Economics, English Literature, Statistics, AP Physics, and possibly AP Bio or Academic Decathlon.</p>

<p>PSAT: 194 Sophomore, 205 Junior
SAT: Have not taken it yet, but am trying to get an average of 730 or above
SAT II: Have not taken it yet, will take in June</p>

<p>Extra information:
Participant in CTY Talent Search 5th and 7th, received awards for both
Volunteer at Community Rec Center during summer of 8th-9th, 9th-10th
Income level: 250,000+</p>

<p>I’m looking currently at these schools:
UCSD
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Pomona College
Claremont McKenna
Pitzer
and possibly
Occidental</p>

<p>I hope to have a 3.88 or higher unweighted GPA by 12th grade, and a weighted score of around 4.39.</p>

<p>Thanks. :D</p>

3

<p>bump… please. xD</p>

4

<p>Nearly 100 people have looked, so can someone please chance me? :frowning:
I’ll chance back.</p>

5

<p>if u can get 2200ish</p>

<p>UCLA - in
UC Berkeley - match
Claremont McKenna - low reach (slightly low)
Pomona - reach
Harvey Mudd - low reach
Occidental College - match</p>

<p>best of luck</p>

<p>chance back
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1085896-insert-attractive-interesting-title-here-promise-chance-you-back-3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1085896-insert-attractive-interesting-title-here-promise-chance-you-back-3.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thanks for your input. I could always use more, so anyway else? Any way I can improve my chances?</p>

7

<p>I only know about UCLA, UC Berkely, and Harvey Mudd but I would say:</p>

<p>UCLA - in
UC Berkeley - high match
Harvey Mudd - low reach</p>

8

<p>Any ways to improve my chances for the Claremonts? (Despite what my dad wants, I prefer the Claremonts to UCLA)</p>

9

<p>I don’t know much about your choices of college. But from what I have read, You have very good chance at UCs. </p>

<p>This thread has some of the profiles of admitted applicants.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/215577-can-more-graduated-seniors-do-actual-results-threads-91.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/215577-can-more-graduated-seniors-do-actual-results-threads-91.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>well if you have get a 2200+ score you have a good shot at each of those… lets say you do… with your EC’s and other academic stats</p>

<p>UCSD In
UCLA In
UC Berkeley Match/In
Pomona College low Reach/Match
Claremont McKenna low reach/Match
Pitzer ?
Harvey Mudd Low Reach</p>

<p>chance back
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1079059-chance-me-ambitious-applicant.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1079059-chance-me-ambitious-applicant.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>I know it’s probably nil, but:

  1. What are my chances in getting merit aid in any of the schools?
    and
  2. What are my chances in getting into Stanford?</p>
12

<p>;u; I’m new to this, buuut I think?</p>

<p>UCLA - match
UC Berkeley -match</p>

<p>( i haven’t heard of the other ones, but I think if you retake the SATs again and score in that 2200+, you should be fine for the other ones too :D)</p>

13

<p>Well, if you consider just SATs, check out this thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1088720-ranking-based-2010-11-sats-math-cr.html?highlight=harvey+mudd[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1088720-ranking-based-2010-11-sats-math-cr.html?highlight=harvey+mudd&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Harvey Mudd has a combined Math + CR of 1485. That’s an average of 742, considerably higher than your projected 720.</p>

<p>Pomona: 735</p>

<p>Claremont McKenna: 695. So that’s closer.</p>

<p>I don’t understand how anyone could put Harvey Mudd and Pomona as “low reach” - not just for you, for anyone. Those schools are way-super-extremely competitive, they’re a big old reach for anyone. Just having the stats will not get you in.</p>

<p>However, they are all also very different from each other - and you would need to do your research and understand what each school is really about (what do you want?) before you have a chance of admission.</p>

14

<p>Math unfortunately stumps me on the geometry. I’m not very good at geometry. Critical reading is pretty okay, and Writing grammar is my biggest issue. I’m going to try to get as high as possible, though.</p>

15

<p>^He still has time to improve things. SAT is considered in the admission process but it doesn’t mean SAT decides everything. </p>

<p>@Stevenf: Try to work on your GPA, SAT, and ECs. Work hard, it will pay off. And the essays are important too.</p>

16

<p>Of course, SAT scores don’t decide everything - but if your scores don’t fall inside their normal expected range, it’s going to be harder for you …</p>

<p>I think my point is that you need real match schools that you can be thrilled to go to - your list so far seems risky and reach-heavy, and a bit discombobulated as to types of schools. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment, you’re a bright kid and you should apply to places that would be a good fit academically. You need to learn more about specific schools so you can get excited about more than generalities. CMC and Harvey Mudd don’t attract the same kinds of kids - what do you want to study? Are you a humanities/literature/linguistics guy? Or a engineering/physics/other science guy? Or do you have a secret passion to become a Modern Interpretive Dance artist? :slight_smile: Most of the schools on your list are going to want to know why you want to be there specifically. You sound like an interesting kid, and I see you are young for a junior. You are clearly a strong student. My two cents: focus more on what you want, and that will lead you to schools that are a fit for you.</p>

<p>(Oh and btw you will be applying to the class of 2016, not 2012 - the year refers to the graduation year, not the entrance year.)</p>

17

<p>Well, I used to be more of a science and math guy, but that changed when I hit high school. :open_mouth: I’m aiming for either pre-med or going to law school, with a slight inclination towards business.
I have a strong inclination towards UCLA and the Claremont Colleges because I want to stay relatively close to home (within 100 miles), but my college advisor said a college like UC Berkeley actually is more likely to accept me. xD Occidental is in there mainly if I could qualify for merit (although I would probably take even a lesser school if they offered me like free tuition ;p), and they have some really good exchange programs with other schools.</p>

18

<p>I wouldn’t apply to Harvey Mudd (and related schools, like Caltech) unless you are absolutely sure that you want to do something in the hard sciences (or mathematics). The whole school is revolved around this, and you’ll be surrounded by like-minded students. Of course, there are more options at Harvey Mudd (due to the 5C’s), but that’s more for giving the science/engineering students opportunities to branch out and become more well-rounded. If you aren’t so interested in the hard sciences, then CMC/Pomona are better fits.</p>

19

<p>Well, is Harvey Mudd good for pre-medicinal studies?</p>

20

<p>UCLA in
UC Berkeley match
Claremont McKenna match
Pomona low reach
Harvey Mudd match
Occidental College match</p>

<p>… If you get a 2200. :)</p>