Columbia, MIT, Caltech

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Im a junior in a non-ranked public high school in the Chicagoland suburbs. Also, neither of my parents went to college (1st gen).</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>GPA: 4.51(W), 3.89 (UW)</p>

<p>Freshman: All honors
Sophomore: All honors, AP World (I got a 5)
Junior
1st Semester: AP Chemistry: A+
Hnrs Lit and Composition: B (hard teacher)
Hnrs Physics: A
Spanish 4(year before AP): A
APUSH: A
Acc Hnrs Precalculus (highest precalculus offered)</p>

<p>Senior Projected Schedule: AP Calculus BC
AP Stats
AP Physics C
AP Government
AP Spanish
AP English Literature</p>

<p>Should I drop Stats and Gov in order to take Biology? (since I'm applying as either a chemical engineering or astrophysics major)</p>

<p>I haven't taken a practice SAT test yet so I cant give a score, but:
IACT (sophomore year): 33
PSAT (earlier this year): 213</p>

<p>What subject tests should I take this year and which ones next year? I want to take Math II, Physics, Chem and Spanish (possibly others).</p>

<p>EC's:
I am fully aware that my EC's are weak in comparison to other prospective students, and I realize that my plans for Senior year may be too little too late.</p>

<p>Baseball: Freshman Year
Tennis: JV (sophomore year) Varsity (this year and next: guaranteed by coach)
Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team
Math Team: (at last year's regionals, I placed first for sohpomores, and at state, the sophomore team placed 7th
Community Hours: 100+ (including my projected hours for next year)
-Planning to run for the Senior Class Board next year
-Also planning to apply for the Argon Summer Internship Program, summer '08</p>

<p>What are my chances at Columbia, Caltech, Stanford, and MIT? I am also planning to apply to U of I-Urbana as a safety school. If I'm setting my sights too high, what schools should I consider? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. TiA</p>

2

<p>Those are reaches for you... and for everyone. Maybe U I- Ubana is a match for you</p>

3

<p>I would like to know how important ECs are regarding CalTech and MIT. CalTech is such a heavily research oriented school that I doubt non-academic ECs are important to the admissions folks. But I really do not have any experience to support my suspicion. Can anyone offer experienced advice?</p>

4

<p>I think that as far as Caltech is concern, non-academic(math/sci/engineering) EC is treated as an indicator of extra-capacity. First generation college student
get a good mark. You may want to post this at Caltech forum to get expert advise.</p>

5

<p>thanks for the input. anyone else?</p>

6

<p>bump .</p>

7

<p>Your ECs are a bit weak for those schools. Reach.</p>

8

<p>this is my last bump before my thread gets lost forever in the dark abyss that is disregarded posts. any other input?</p>