<p>Hi guys, I am entering my senior year of high school and I was wondering if I could get some input on my chances at Carnegie Mellon University and other top schools.</p>
<p>Here are my stats...</p>
<p>-White male from the northeast
-I go to a decent public school</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>-99 weighted average (the highest weighted GPA in my school about a 101)
-My school does NOT rank but I am most likely between 10 and 15 out of 250 students
-I have taken the most rigorous schedule possible and I will have taken 9 AP classes by the end of high school
-30 on the ACT and a 31 as my super score
-740 on the physics subject test
-Taking a math subject test in the fall (I will most likely score above 700)</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>
<p>-Science research program (will submit an INTEL STS paper)
-Key Club
-Italian Club
-Newspaper Club
-Quiz Bowl Team
-Principles Cabinet
-Golf Team
-Track Team
-NHS</p>
<p>Jobs/ Community Service:</p>
<p>-I have worked in the service industry for 4 summers in a row and I was promoted to a leadership position rather quickly
-Babysitter
-I have done an average amount of community service through Key Club and on my own
-Tutor in math and science</p>
<p>Other:</p>
<p>-I will have great recommendations from my teachers and from my employers
-I am a good writer and I plan on spending a lot of time on my essays</p>
<p>I plan on studying physics or a field of engineering. I understand that my scores are not stellar but I am hoping that the rest of my application will make up for it. Do I have a chance at CMU and other schools such as: University of Chicago, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Cornell, and MIT (I know I have a ridiculously small chance of getting in but it has been a dream of mine so I will apply anyway). I also have many safe schools that I am interested in.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking your time to read this and I am open to any advice that you can give me. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Make sure you score above 750 in math subject test to be competitive. as long as your math ACT scores are comparable to a 750, you have a chance.</p>
<p>I applied to CIT (1st choice) and MCS (2nd choice) and was accepted to both this year. I had an unweighted GPA somewhere between a 3.6 and 3.8 (not exactly sure, sorry) and an SAT score of 2070 (640 Reading, 650 Math, 780 Writing).</p>
<p>Obviously, grades and SAT scores are NOT all that matters with Carnegie Mellon. A lot of top-tier schools say they look beyond that stuff but really don’t care all too much. CMU does. Of course, try your best to get the highest GPA and SAT scores you possibly can, but definitely be honest in who you are and just be yourself. </p>
<p>Another important thing: SHOW INTEREST IN THE SCHOOL! I attended the SAMS summer program last summer (summer before my senior year) and that was what helped me decide CMU was the school for me. I took advantage of the opportunities I had while I was there and developed relationships with the stuff and faculty, even in admissions. I also met with the director of the Biomedical Engineering program individually.</p>
<p>Go for one of the Sleeping Bag Weekends of COD weekends or whatever and while you’re there, NETWORK! E-mail someone you meet who’s in charge of a program you’re interested in and chances are, they’ll be happy to meet with you one-on-one, even if just for a few minutes while you’re there.</p>
<p>I honestly think my honest interest in the school and passion I put into my supplement essays is what got me in. My other schools’ supplements were pretty generic and filled with statistics as reasons why I wanted to go, but my CMU essay seriously showed how serious I was about belonging there.</p>
<p>Good luck to you! :)</p>
<p>With all due respect to dom, in addition to her stats and ECs she is an African American female applying to engineering which likely had an effect on her decision. While her achievements are admirable, her situation is unique and you should keep that in mind while reading her advice to you.</p>