Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>For admissions and hopefully merit aid at the safeties.
I've done a couple of these threads before, but this one will more accurately reflect what I'm actually going to put on the Common App. Also, making chances threads is a fun exercise in narcissism. This one should be my last, though. </p>

<p>Demographics:
White, female, first-generation, Ohio resident, rural public school (my HS isn't in Cleveland...just me), intended major is math.</p>

<p>Numbers:
GPA: 3.99 UW
Class rank: 3/147 (top 3%)</p>

<p>SAT: 2340 (790 CR, 750 M, 800 W)
ACT: 35 (35 E, 36 M, 34 R, 33 S)
PSAT: 227</p>

<p>SAT II:
Chemistry - 740
Literature - 780
Math II - 800</p>

<p>AP:
4 - Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Calculus BC<em>, US History</em>
3 - Statistics<em>, US Government</em>
*self-study
This is all my school has.</p>

<p>Other:
I've taken only two years of Spanish, but I'll probably get a third year through independent study next year.
I tested out of pre-calculus and the regular calculus class at my school. I also tested out of physics, and I have a pass/fail credit for it.</p>

<p>Senior year courses (dual enrollment at local university)
First semester: Intro to Ethics, Linear Algebra, Intro to Differential Equations, Intro to Number Theory
Second semester: not scheduled yet, but will probably include more advanced math.</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist, at least (12)
AP Scholar with Distinction (12)
Yale Book Award (from school, 11)
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award (from school, 11)
Published in Teen Ink magazine (twice, 11)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (this is where I'm lacking):
Local chemical engineering mentorship (11)
Piano lessons (9, 10, 11, 12)
Working at McDonald's, 5 hrs/week because that's all they give me (11, 12)
Editorial internship with online magazine (12)
Cofounded book/filmmaking club at public library (10, 11)
Volunteering at public library children's program, ~200 hrs total (9, 10, 11, 12)
Volunteering at Safety Town, 100 hrs total (10, 12)
Volunteering at local arboretum, 50 hrs total (12)
Alateen (9, 10, 11, 12) ==> Not sure if appropriate, but it's given me a couple public speaking opportunities. Which I screwed up, but it still counts.</p>

<p>Other:
Essays and recommendations will be good. Probably not phenomenal, but good. </p>

<p>Additional Information:
I was in foster care from the ages of 9 to 12. I was later adopted by my grandmother, but she died the summer after my freshman year in high school and my biological parents regained custody. My mother is still an alcoholic and often drunk, which has affected my high school life. I will explain all this to colleges on the Common App. </p>

<p>Colleges:
University of Chicago EA (no visit, possible alumni interview)
University of Michigan EA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Case Western Reserve University EA (visit and on-campus interview)
Northeastern University EA
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Ohio State University
University of Alabama </p>

<p>I'll probably end up going to one of the last four because I need merit aid, but I figured I would apply to a couple reaches/matches anyway. I've always been overoptimistic.</p>

<p>Originally I was going to apply to Stanford because I like their supplement essay prompts, but their application fee is absurd and now they're never going to know what matters to me and why. Sucks for them.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>You’ll make it easily to all of them besides UChicago, strong test scores + decent essays/recs/e.cs should be enough for most of those schools.</p>

3

<p>Don’t expect too much merit aid from UMich for oos.</p>

4

<p>UMI: Match
UIUC: Safety
NEU: Low match
Case Western: Safety
UMinn: Safety
OSU: Safety
U Alabama: Safety
U Chicago: Reach (pay attention to your essays)</p>

5

<p>Based on what you said before, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Ask your guidance counselor. There’s a form (such as NACAC’s) that they fill out that indicates your family cannot pay for your application fees (when it is the case, of course - but you have to ask whether you qualify. Due to your “complex” family situation, it seems to me you may.) This would solve your Stanford problem. Also, look at it as an investment that may pay tenfold if not one hundred fold.</p>

<p>I would throw in MIT and/or Stanford for the heck of it, seriously, considering how much math you’ve taken/will have taken by the end of senior year (and what that indicates) + unique circumstances.
Too bad you’re not considering Harvey Mudd (they have special catch up classes for students who haven’t been into tech so much so even without a “techie” background you’d still find yourself among peers, and their math program is superb - not to mention options for FA, although with your situation it may be tricky. But it’s really too bad you’re not applying, considering how much math you’ve taken.) All three colleges may turn out to be more affordable than it looks, depending on how they treat your FA circumstances.</p>

<p>Your academic and financial odds are excellent at OSU, UA, CW and Northeastern; UMich should probably be removed from the list because their OOS aid (even merit) is paltry; UChicago is a crapshoot for everyone but you’ve got as good a chance as anyone, and it’s probably the best academic match for your potential.</p>

6

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</p>

<p>Yeah, I was really only expecting merit aid from the last four. Maybe Case. </p>

<p>My financial situation sucks, and from what I can tell it’s going to be somewhat difficult even to pay for Northeastern or Alabama, where I would get full-tuition scholarships (NMF).
The only real reason I have for applying to the first four is that I’m hoping for some kind of miracle. That, and I’ll be able to tell my parents’ nosy friends I’m only going to a lower-ranked college because they gave me money, and not because I couldn’t get into better ones. (I spend far too much time on this website.)</p>

7

<p>Some updates on this. </p>

<p>New extracurriculars:
Math club at university, might get leadership position (12)
Physics of Atomic Nuclei summer program at Michigan State (12)
And the Common App only has ten spaces, so take out Safety Town. </p>

<p>New college:
University of Miami (FL) EA</p>

8

<p>If you are qualify for need base aids, apply to some private schools. You will get more aid from them. Try Northwestern for instance, you should have a decent chance there.</p>

9

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</p>

<p>This came to fruition…I’m the vice president. My first leadership position. It won’t help much, but I guess it’s something.</p>

10

<p>U Miami: Match</p>

<p>NWU is good for need-based aid but not for merit, so GWU or Tulane might be better choices…</p>

11

<p>Look into the financial aid departments and start sending emails to various Ivy League schools. You’d be surprised at what they can offer you. </p>

<p>I personally would match you for Harvard. haha</p>

12

<p>I wish I had your sat and act scores</p>

13

<p>And applying to any one of HYPS wouldn’t hurt…</p>

14

<p>You should apply to one of HYPSM, seriously. I know your financial circumstances are tricky but if you’re admitted, the financial aid office may be able to do something - they have deep pockets and when they want someone they usually make sure s/he can come (and I have a feeling you are exactly the type of person they may want); plus you can’t be the first with parents who aren’t quite up to the task.
Most of your safeties aren’t commonapp exclusive so just apply directly. :)</p>